Hyperbaric treatment dates back to 1664 when an English doctor named Henshaw first used a pressurized room for treatment purposes. Over the next two centuries, English, French, and Dutch workers continued to experiment with various types of diving equipment. However, it wasn’t until 1834 when Dr. Junod of France developed the first hyperbaric tank, and cited wonderful recovery instances from a variety of debilitating conditions. In 1879, French physician J. A. Fontaine built a mobile operating room that provided hyperbaric conditions, and used it to conduct one of the most serious clinical studies in hyperbaric medicine. Popularity of the technology quickly spread throughout Europe and North America, resulting in Dr. John S. Haldane’s development of the hyperbaric diving tables for the Royal Navy. This innovative invention awarded Haldane the title “The Father of Oxygen Therapy,” and physicians to this day continue to build on his groundbreaking foundation.
Throughout the following decades, scientists and doctors would seek to improve on the hyperbaric chamber and extend its medical uses. From helping combat pneumonia in 1918 to Harvard Medical School’s research chamber in 1928, hyperbaric treatment was growing. After World War II, with an increase in diving medicine and other submarine activities, hyperbaric medicine became widely accepted as an effective treatment option. Celebrities and world-class athletes throughout history have also helped spur its popularity. President John F. Kennedy rushed his sick infant son to the hospital with the hopes that hyperbaric treatment, “one of the newest interests of medical researchers,” would save him. And modern athletes are starting to turn to hyperbaric chambers to boost endurance levels and speed recovery from injuries, including swimmer Michael Phelps and football stars Maurice Jones-Drew and James Harrison.
