AQA · A-Level · Physical Education

    Course version: 7582 · Version from Sept 2016

    Hyperbaric chambers, cryotherapy.

    Full specification wording

    Injury prevention and the rehabilitation of injury: Hyperbaric chambers, cryotherapy.

    Hyperbaric chambers and cryotherapy are contrasting rehabilitation methods with different physiological actions.

    Checked against the AQA 7582 specification (opens in a new tab) on .

    • Point 11 of 12
    • 4 key terms

    Study notes

    From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.

    The idea

    Hyperbaric chambers and cryotherapy are contrasting rehabilitation methods with different physiological actions. A hyperbaric chamber exposes the body to raised atmospheric pressure with a high oxygen concentration, so more oxygen dissolves in plasma and delivery to hypoxic tissue improves, which can support healing and reduce swelling. Cryotherapy applies cold to tissue, lowering local temperature, metabolic demand and pain, and reducing blood flow, which limits secondary hypoxic damage and swelling in the early stage. Cryotherapy includes whole-body cryotherapy and local ice application. Both methods must be matched to the injury stage and used within safe limits, since oxygen toxicity and cold injury are possible risks.

    What earns the marks

    • A hyperbaric chamber uses raised atmospheric pressure with high oxygen concentration, increasing dissolved oxygen in plasma and delivery to hypoxic tissue.
    • Improved oxygen delivery can support tissue healing and reduce swelling after injury.
    • Cryotherapy lowers local tissue temperature, reducing metabolic demand, pain and blood flow.
    • Reduced blood flow and metabolic demand limit secondary hypoxic damage and swelling in the early stage of healing.

    Common mistakes and how to put them right

    • Confusing the two methods.

      Put it right: Hyperbaric therapy raises pressure and oxygen delivery, while cryotherapy lowers tissue temperature.

    • Thinking cryotherapy speeds healing by increasing blood flow.

      Put it right: Cold reduces local blood flow and metabolic demand, which limits secondary damage rather than directly repairing tissue.

    • Believing hyperbaric chambers are risk-free.

      Put it right: Raised oxygen pressure can cause oxygen toxicity, so exposure is controlled.

    Exam tips

    • Contrast the two methods directly by naming the physiological variable each changes: pressure and oxygen delivery versus temperature and blood flow.
    • Use correct terminology such as dissolved oxygen in plasma, metabolic demand and secondary hypoxic damage.
    • Link each method to the healing stage where it is most appropriate rather than listing benefits without context.

    Try the lesson

    The start of the Injury prevention and the rehabilitation of injury: Hyperbaric chambers, cryotherapy. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.

    Have a go first

    A performer with a swollen ankle sits in a cryotherapy chamber set to a very low air temperature for a few minutes. What is the main physiological effect of this treatment?

    Listen

    Hyperbaric chambers and cryotherapy are contrasting rehabilitation methods with different physiological actions. A hyperbaric chamber exposes the body to raised atmospheric pressure with a high oxygen concentration, so more oxygen dissolves in plasma and delivery to hypoxic tissue improves, which can support healing and reduce swelling. Cryotherapy applies cold to tissue, lowering local temperature, metabolic demand and pain, and reducing blood flow, which limits secondary hypoxic damage and swelling in the early stage. Cryotherapy includes whole-body cryotherapy and local ice application. Both methods must be matched to the injury stage and used within safe limits, since oxygen toxicity and cold injury are possible risks. A strong answer earns marks for these points. A hyperbaric chamber uses raised atmospheric pressure with high oxygen concentration, increasing dissolved oxygen in plasma and delivery to hypoxic tissue. Improved oxygen delivery can support tissue healing and reduce swelling after injury. Cryotherapy lowers local tissue temperature, reducing metabolic demand, pain and blood flow. Reduced blood flow and metabolic demand limit secondary hypoxic damage and swelling in the early stage of healing. Exam tip: Contrast the two methods directly by naming the physiological variable each changes: pressure and oxygen delivery versus temperature and blood flow.

    See it

    A top-down flowchart with two branches. The left branch starts at a node labelled Hyperbaric chamber, which leads to Raised atmospheric pressure with high oxygen concentration. That node leads to More oxygen dissolved in plasma, then to Improved oxygen delivery to hypoxic tissue, then to Supports healing and reduces swelling. A separate arrow from the pressure node leads to Risk: oxygen toxicity. The right branch starts at a node labelled Cryotherapy, which leads to Cold applied to tissue. That node leads to Lower local temperature, metabolic demand and blood flow, then to Limits secondary hypoxic damage and swelling in early stage. A separate arrow from the cold node leads to Risk: cold injury.
    It contrasts the physiological actions and risks of hyperbaric chambers and cryotherapy in injury rehabilitation.

    Key words

    Say what each word means before you turn the card.

    Hyperbaric chamber

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    Cryotherapy

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    Oxygen toxicity

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    Cold injury

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    See every definition
    Hyperbaric chamber
    Exposes the body to raised atmospheric pressure with a high oxygen concentration, so more oxygen dissolves in plasma and delivery to hypoxic tissue improves.
    Cryotherapy
    Applies cold to tissue, lowering local temperature, metabolic demand and pain, and reducing blood flow to limit secondary hypoxic damage and swelling in the early stage.
    Oxygen toxicity
    A possible risk of hyperbaric therapy, so exposure must be controlled and used within safe limits.
    Cold injury
    A possible risk of cryotherapy, so use must be matched to the injury stage and kept within safe limits.

    Label the diagram

    Some boxes have lost their names. Pick the right name for each number.

    The diagram again, with 3 boxes numbered instead of named. A top-down flowchart with two branches. The left branch starts at a node labelled Hyperbaric chamber, which leads to Raised atmospheric pressure with high oxygen concentration. That node leads to More oxygen dissolved in plasma, then to Improved oxygen delivery to hypoxic tissue, then to Supports healing and reduces swelling. A separate arrow from the pressure node leads to Risk: oxygen toxicity. The right branch starts at a node labelled Cryotherapy, which leads to Cold applied to tissue. That node leads to Lower local temperature, metabolic demand and blood flow, then to Limits secondary hypoxic damage and swelling in early stage. A separate arrow from the cold node leads to Risk: cold injury.

    • 1Box 1

    • 2Box 2

    • 3Box 3

    0 of 3 labelled

    There is more to this lesson

    The full lesson goes on to check your understanding and help you earn the marks. Create a free account to carry on, with your progress saved.

    Carry on with the full lesson

    A week of Premium from your first lesson · Then the free plan continues · No card, no charge

    Test your understanding of Injury prevention and the rehabilitation of injury: Hyperbaric chambers, cryotherapy.

    Active recall beats re-reading. Take an instant quiz now to test what you’ve learned and lock it into long-term memory.

    Take topic quiz

    A week of Premium from your first lesson · Then the free plan continues · No card, no charge

    Start free

    Cookies on MasteryMind

    Essential cookies keep you signed in.

    Analytics and advertising cookies stay off unless you accept.

    Read our Privacy Policy.