Oregon Researchers Test Oxygen Therapy for Muscle Injuries

Athletes who tear their muscles might soon have a faster path back to the field, thanks to a research team in Lebanon, Oregon.

Dr. Belinda McCully at Western University of Health Sciences is studying whether hyperbaric oxygen therapy combined with hands-on treatment can help Grade II muscle injuries heal better. These injuries damage muscle fibers without fully tearing them, and they're common in athletes who need to recover quickly.

The treatment uses a special chamber where patients breathe pure oxygen at twice normal air pressure. This higher pressure pushes more oxygen into damaged tissues, potentially speeding up healing.

McCully's team is testing the oxygen therapy alone and with osteopathic manipulative treatment, a hands-on method that reduces inflammation through lymphatic drainage. The combination could work better than either treatment alone.

Three second-year medical students are running the show. Carter Mills, Taylor Gill, and Sydney Pickett handle everything from ultrasounds to tissue analysis, gaining skills they'll use in their future careers.

Mills, who wants to work in sports medicine, jumped at the chance to study treatments for athletic injuries. Gill wanted to learn about hyperbaric therapy, which was completely new to her. Pickett examines tissue samples at the molecular level, tracking exactly how the injuries heal.

The students have grown more confident as the research progresses. Mills says the team can now quickly locate injured areas using ultrasound, a skill that took practice to master.

Safety runs deep in this project. Laboratory manager Tammie McQuistan ensures the hyperbaric chamber is used properly and everyone follows strict protocols. The team works with a veterinarian and completes yearly safety training.

Dr. Sean McCully, Belinda's husband and a former medical director for hyperbaric medicine, serves as the safety director. He spent three years overseeing patient care at McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center, experience that helps connect lab findings to real-world treatment.

The husband-wife team brings different strengths to the research. Belinda leads with her biomedical expertise while Sean contributes his patient care background. They challenge each other's thinking, which makes the research stronger.

Why This Inspires

This project shows how good mentorship creates the next generation of medical innovators. McCully's teaching style gives students enough guidance to stay safe while letting them take charge of their work. She wants the lab "on autopilot" so students can run it themselves.

The research could help countless athletes return to their sports faster and stronger. But it's also training three future doctors who know how to ask tough questions, use advanced equipment, and turn scientific curiosity into real solutions.