Ozone in Athletes
Athletes and Performance
• Exercises are considered as aerobic and anaerobic
activities in which fatigue occurs by consuming
much of ATP and forming lactic acid in muscles
and blood that requires recovery to be able to
resume work.
• The fatigue and time of recovery are problems
has been noticed and they affect the athletic
performance level.
Ozone and Athletes
• Safe effective agent
• Not prohibited if used by the proper way of
administration (R.H. & Steam Bath)
• Effective in enhancing the performance
• Effective in reducing the recovery period
Ozone Benefits for Athletes
• Increases tissue oxygenation
• Increases production of ATP resulting in
more energy and faster recovery
• Delays the onset of anaerobic fermentation
of sugar in the cell reducing lactic acid
buildup
• Oxidizes lactic acid, helping prevent sore
muscles
Ozone Benefits for Athletes (cont.)
• Reduces swelling, bruising and pain from
injuries and speed healing
• Prevents and treat colds and flu and enhances
immunity
• Eliminates need for antibiotics, protecting
intestinal flora
• Increases hormone production to optimum
levels, eliminating need for artificial steroids
Persons and Methods
Persons
• Two groups; the first is the study group and
the second is the control group.
• Each group includes female athletes;
students in the final year of Faculty of
Physical Education, Helwan University.
There age ranged between 20 and 21 years
of age
Methods
• Lactic acid measurements:
– First Stage:
• Study group: Lactic acid was measured before
exercise, ten minutes of physical exercise using ergo
metric bicycle (60 cycles/min.) till the pulse rate
reached more than 160/min.(consedered to be the
maximum oxygen utilization rate) and after 20
minutes of rest. The second day the same procedure
was repeated, but instead of having rest each athlete
had a 20 minutes exposure to ozone steam bath (using
Ionozone Bath Cabinet – Nemectron Company)
Methods (cont.)
• Second Stage:
– Same like the first stage but all the
measurements for the study group were
repeated after having six sessions of ozone
steam bath in a two month period
Methods (cont.)
• Rhythmic Gymnastics Performance
– Includes the art of Jumps & Leaps, Balances,
Flexibility, Turns & Pivots and Waves. This
was carried on for five minutes
– Evaluation was made by three judges from the
professors of the University and scores were
given
– This evaluation was done for all athletes of
both groups twice: at the start of the study and
after two months
Results
Average Lactic Acid Level Before & After
Exertion and Following Rest and Following
Single Session Ozone
12
10
8
6
Lactic Acid
4
2
0
Before
Exer
Rest
Ozone
Average Lactic Acid Level Before & After
Exertion and Following Rest and Ozone
Single and Six Sessions Ozone
12
10
8
Single
Six Sess.
6
4
2
0
Before Exert.
Rest
Ozone
Average Performance Score Before and After
Ozone in the Study Group Compared to the
Control Group
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
Study
Control
Before
After
Conclusion
Ozone administration in Athletes
enhances the performance and
decreases the recovery period
Ozone Sauna
Ozone Sauna
• It is not a Sauna, but special steam bath:
– Wet heat (humid) not dry like sauna
– Temperature around 40 ºC not 70 like sauna
• Heat and humidity is not the main method
of treatment but they are a tool for the
treating gases to be delivered to the tissues
Ozone Sauna Modalities
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Oxygen / Ozone
Carbonic Acid
H2O2
Ultraviolet Irradiation
Aromatherapy
Heat / Humidity
Ionized H2O2
Oxygen / Ozone
• It has been proved that ozone is absorbed through
the skin. This, together with the non-specific heat
stimulation produces considerable hyperemia.
• According to Kunzmann treatment of the whole
body for 30minutes in an ozone cabin increases
the oxygen partial pressure of the peripheral
venous blood up to 25%.
Oxygen / Ozone
• Ozone Sauna is suitable for conditions with
or general reduction of oxidation processes
in the tissues, e.g. degenerative disorders of
the blood vessels, the connective tissue, the
locomotor system, the parenchyma and
CNS.
Oxygen / Ozone
• Good results have also been obtained in
bronchial asthma, chronic bronchitis,
hypertension, obesity, psoriasis, and in
dermatological conditions, nutritional
disorders of the skin with ulcers, as after
long resting (e.g. bed sores)
• prophylactically in fatigue and stress and in
convalescence.
Carbonic Acid
• Vasodilatation of B.Vs.
–
–
–
–
–
Peripheral vascular diseases (Raynauds, Burgers)
Coronary insufficiency
Diminished memory
Post-myocardial Infarction
Hypertension
• C.N.S. Sedating
– Anxiety & Stress
Ultraviolet Irradiation
• When the unstable oxygen compound O3 is
dissociated Ultraviolet radiation is emitted.
• The radiation acts on the epidermis and on
the deeper layers of the skin, where it
contributes to the production of protective
agents, hormones and vitamins.
Heat / Humidity
• In a hyperthermia bath the nuclear body
temperature is increased by 2 °C on an average
due to cessation of heat output (hyperthermia).
This causes perspiration with excretion of organic
acids and end products of metabolism i.e. an
increased output of waste products.
• In addition to this external effect, the internal
effect of perspiration increases metabolism with
functional stimulation of all organs.
Heat / Humidity
• The combined ozone-oxygen-hyperthermia
treatment results in a lasting relaxation of
muscles. Quite remarkably, spastic and stiff
limbs can be moved after a few minutes
treatment, often without pain. This fact is of
importance in the aftercare of paralysis, e.g.
poliomyelitis
Indications for Ozone Sauna
• Patients
– Musculoskeletal System: myositis, muscle
spasm, arthritis ….
– Cardiovascular System
– Dermatological conditions
• Non Patients
– Athletes
– Beauty
– Vitality
Factors Enhancing Ozone
Absorption Through the Skin
•
•
•
•
•
Heat / Humidity
High solubility in H2O
H2O2
LOPs
Area of Skin exposed
Factors Enhancing Ozone Absorption
Through the Skin
• Ozone dissolves in water-sebum film overlying the
outer layer of the stratum corneum and reacts
immediately with PUSFAs generating ROS (among
which H2O2 and LOPs)
• These compounds can be partly absorbed and pass
through the transcutaeneous barrier, facilitated by
the intense vasodilatation induced by the sauna.
• Both lymphatic and venous capillaries can rapidly
transfer LOPs into the general circulation.