Ozone is a gas that occurs naturally in the atmosphere. However, medical ozone is not pure ozone, but mixed with oxygen and in programmable concentrations and dosages according to the pathology to be treated. It has been used successfully in medicine since the 1950s, especially in Germany and Austria.
Objective of ozone therapy
Its fundamental role lies in the stimulation of endogenous antioxidant mechanisms (superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase). Thus, periodic and repetitive stimulations with ozone provoke a controlled respiratory burst capable of initiating activating signals of different mechanisms. Thanks to this, ozone therapy is endowed with a diverse mechanism of action making it a broad spectrum therapy, very powerful as it acts not only as an oxygenating, anti-inflammatory, germicidal and immunomodulator, but also as a powerful activator of the enzymatic antioxidant systems.
Ozone therapy treatment
In the Pain Unit, we use a personalized protocol of Ozone Therapy according to the region, the pathology to be treated and the patient’s characteristics. In this sense, we program a cycle of ozone therapy as initial treatment and, subsequently, maintenance sessions with a personalized follow-up of each patient.
Advantages of ozone therapy
Medical ozone has a powerful anti-inflammatory effect, without the side effects of medications, and an immediate analgesic capacity that is maintained over time. It is used in degenerative diseases such as osteoarthritis of the knee, hip, shoulder, etc., and nondegenerative diseases such as fibromyalgia, chronic muscle fatigue syndromes, etc..
In addition, thanks to its anti-inflammatory effect, it shortens the recovery period in sports injuries. When exercise intensity is moderate, an increase in antioxidant enzyme activity is observed, sufficient to neutralize the excess of free radicals generated by exercise. However, when the physical activity is strenuous, as often happens during continuous physical exercise and even more so during sports competition, this antioxidant treatment is insufficient, which can lead to the phenomenon of Oxidative Stress. Its harmlessness and great benefits make this therapy a very effective alternative to conventional treatments (drugs or surgery), very useful in numerous diseases and conditions of the locomotor system such as: sprains, muscle fatigue pain, herniated discs, low back pain, sciatica, neck pain, fibromyalgia, chondromalacia, tendinitis; and delays in recovery after surgery such as arthroscopy, ligamentoplasty, etcetera.