Oxygen Ozone Therapy: what it is, when to use it and what contraindications it has

By Cristiano Antonino On Jan 31, 2023

Oxygen Ozone Therapy is a medical practice that consists of administering a mixture of pure oxygen and ozone at varying concentrations

It can be used in numerous pathologies, since different routes of administration (intradermal, intramuscular and periarticular infiltration) and different ozone concentrations bring different therapeutic effects.

The scientific literature recognises this particular ‘drug’ as having therapeutic efficacy that in some cases is even superior to other treatments, and in others improves the response, emphasising both the very low incidence of side effects due to the gas’s own action, and that of complications relating to application techniques, if they are carried out ‘by expert hands and in compliance with the guidelines’.

Since it is a gas, it can also be conveyed through very thin, and therefore painless, needles.

What are the effects of the ozone-oxygen mixture?

Anti-inflammatory, anti-edemigenous and pain-relieving action; dehydrating action on the nucleus pulposus in the case of herniated discs; reactivating action on the microcirculation, therefore effective in all vascular-type pathologies; tissue regenerating action also through growth factors; direct neurotrophic action; healing action.

What are the indications for Oxygen Ozone Therapy treatment?

Lumbosciatica, cervical pain, dorsal pain from cervical, dorsal and lumbar discopathies; osteoarticular pathologies including coxarthrosis, gonarthrosis; knee arthrosynovitis; shoulder pain (rotator cuff tendinopathies); carpal tunnel syndrome; trigger finger; painful foot pathologies (tarsal tunnel, Morton’s neuroma, plantar fasciitis, hallux valgus); tendinopathies.

How is it performed?

The gas mixture can be injected in the muscle bundles (disc-radicular conflict, myofascial syndrome); by percutaneous injection, symmetrically at paravertebral level, in the disc space affected by herniation or discopathy; by perinervous injection at the level of the roots involved; by intra-periarticular injection (gonarthrosis, coxarthrosis, painful shoulder); by peritendinous injection; and finally by intradermal and/or subcutaneous injection in the painful areas.

Infiltration is performed, after thorough disinfection, with thin, sterile, single-use needles.

The gaseous mixture is then injected safely and accurately, using special syringes and antibacterial filters, ensuring adequate asepsis.

Several infiltrations are performed, usually twice a week, at successive times.

If necessary, recalls are recommended at least twice a year.

Oxygen Ozone Therapy, are there any contraindications?

Contraindications include a previous history of serious heart attacks or the presence of severe cardiopathy, severe arterial hypertension, pregnancy, severe hyperthyroidism, current therapy with antidepressants or psychotropic drugs, and favism.