On professional athletes were researched the effects of the oral and topical use of molecular hydrogen after acute soft tissue injuries (tendons, muscles and ligaments) using hydrogen as a supplement to conventional treatment of sports injuries.
Hydrogen has been used for two weeks in addition to taking the hydrogen pills (2 grams per day), Hydrogen Gel was also applied at the location of injury, which were used 6 times a day for 20 minutes. Athletes were monitored immediately after the injury and then after 7 and 14 days during recovery - the feeling of pain at rest and in motion, passive mobility of joints, swelling of damaged tissue as well as several inflammatory markers were measured.
The combined use of oral and topical hydrogen led to a significant reduction of inflammation and improvement of joint mobility after sports injuries of muscles and tendons.
On the other hand, there was no change of other parameters during the recovery of sports injuries, nor significant side effects of taking molecular hydrogen. This study indicated the possible beneficial effects of 2 -week intake of hydrogen as a supplement to traditional treatment of soft tissue sports injuries.