Mild vs. Medical-Grade Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy: What’s the Difference?

Q: What is mild hyperbaric oxygen therapy?

Mild HBOT uses soft-sided, inflatable chambers that pressurize to 1.3 ATA (atmospheres absolute). They typically use room air or slightly enriched oxygen through a mask. They're found at wellness spas, some chiropractic offices, and sold for home use. The FDA does not approve mild HBOT for treating any medical condition.

Q: What is the difference between 1.3 ATA and 2.4 ATA?

At 1.3 ATA you get roughly 30% more pressure than normal atmosphere. At 2.4 ATA you get 140% more pressure, which dissolves 10 to 15 times more oxygen into the blood plasma. All FDA-approved HBOT treatment protocols require 2.0 ATA or higher. No FDA-approved medical condition is treated at 1.3 ATA.

Q: Will insurance cover mild hyperbaric oxygen therapy?

No. Insurance does not cover mild HBOT. Coverage is only available for medical-grade HBOT (2.0 to 3.0 ATA) performed at an accredited facility for one of the 14 FDA-approved indications, and only with prior authorization.

Q: Can I treat a diabetic wound or radiation injury with a mild chamber?

No. FDA-approved conditions such as diabetic wounds, radiation tissue injury, and decompression sickness require medical-grade HBOT at 2.0 to 3.0 ATA with 100% oxygen under physician supervision. A mild chamber at 1.3 ATA does not provide the therapeutic dose needed for these conditions.

These are two very different things. Mild HBOT and medical-grade HBOT share a name, but the pressure levels, oxygen concentrations, settings, and clinical applications are not the same. Confusing them is common, and it matters a lot if you’re making a treatment decision.

What Medical-Grade HBOT Is

Medical-grade HBOT uses hard-sided chambers, either monoplace (one person) or multiplace (several people at once). These are the chambers you find in hospitals and accredited hyperbaric clinics.

Pressure runs from 2.0 to 3.0 ATA. At those pressures, you breathe 100% pure oxygen. That combination dissolves far more oxygen into the blood plasma than your lungs can achieve under normal conditions.

A physician supervises every session. Treatment follows a protocol matched to your diagnosis.

For patients with one of the 14 FDA-approved conditions, medical insurance may cover this treatment with prior authorization. See the cost guide for what to expect on pricing.

What Mild HBOT Is

Mild HBOT uses soft-sided, inflatable chambers. You’ll find them at wellness spas, some chiropractic offices, and listed on Amazon. Pressure tops out at 1.3 ATA, sometimes 1.5 ATA.

Most chambers use ambient room air. Some add supplemental oxygen through a mask, but even then you’re not breathing 100% pure oxygen under clinical-grade pressure.

These are cash-pay services or consumer purchases. Insurance won’t cover them. They’re used for wellness, athletic recovery, and investigational purposes, not medical treatment.

What the Pressure Difference Actually Means

Here’s the physiology that makes this distinction matter.

At normal atmospheric pressure (1.0 ATA), your red blood cells are already nearly fully saturated with oxygen. You can’t push much more in through the hemoglobin pathway.

What changes at higher pressures is how much oxygen dissolves directly into blood plasma. That’s where the real therapeutic action happens.

At 1.3 ATA, you get roughly 30% more pressure than normal. This provides a modest increase in dissolved oxygen in the plasma. Think of it as a small boost.

At 2.4 ATA, you get 140% more pressure. Dissolved oxygen in plasma increases by 10 to 15 times compared to normal. That creates a clinically different physiological environment, one capable of reaching tissue with poor blood supply and triggering the healing responses that FDA-approved protocols depend on.

Every FDA-approved HBOT treatment protocol requires 2.0 ATA or higher. No FDA-approved medical condition is treated at 1.3 ATA. That’s not a gray area.

Which One Is Right for You

If you have an FDA-approved condition, such as a diabetic foot wound, a compromised skin graft, carbon monoxide poisoning, or radiation injury, you need medical-grade HBOT at an accredited facility. A mild chamber won’t provide the therapeutic dose your condition requires.

If you’re pursuing HBOT for athletic recovery, general wellness, or an investigational use, mild chambers are an option to consider. Just go in with clear expectations. The evidence supporting mild HBOT for most of those applications is limited. Read about the home chamber option if you’re thinking about buying one.

Be skeptical of any clinic that claims to treat medical conditions using a 1.3 ATA soft chamber. That claim doesn’t align with FDA approval standards. Find accredited providers through the UHMS directory instead.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is mild hyperbaric oxygen therapy? Mild HBOT uses soft-sided chambers pressurized to 1.3 ATA with room air or slightly enriched oxygen. It’s used for wellness and investigational purposes. The FDA does not approve it for treating any medical condition.

What is the difference between 1.3 ATA and 2.4 ATA? At 2.4 ATA, dissolved oxygen in blood plasma is 10 to 15 times higher than at normal pressure. At 1.3 ATA, the increase is modest. All FDA-approved HBOT protocols require 2.0 ATA or higher.

Will insurance cover mild hyperbaric oxygen therapy? No. Coverage only applies to medical-grade HBOT at accredited facilities for FDA-approved indications, and only with prior authorization.

Can I treat a diabetic wound or radiation injury with a mild chamber? No. Those conditions require 2.0 to 3.0 ATA with 100% oxygen under physician supervision. A 1.3 ATA soft chamber doesn’t provide the necessary therapeutic dose.

Medical Disclaimer: This page is for informational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before pursuing any medical treatment.