Molecular Hydrogen (H₂) Therapy in sports medicine. It highlights H₂ as a promising, non-invasive therapeutic tool due to its potential antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cytoprotective properties. The paper notes that intense physical activity can lead to oxidative stress and inflammation, which contribute to muscle fatigue, injuries, and delayed recovery. H₂ is presented as a way to mitigate these effects by selectively neutralizing harmful reactive oxygen species (ROS) without disrupting essential cellular functions.

The review discusses the application of H₂ therapy for both injury recovery and athletic performance. For injuries, the paper suggests that H₂ may be an effective adjunct to traditional treatments like the RICE protocol by helping to reduce inflammation and enhance recovery. A study mentioned in the document found that hydrogen intervention augmented a decrease in plasma viscosity and enhanced the recovery of joint flexibility in male athletes with soft tissue injuries. For performance, H₂ therapy has been shown to potentially improve endurance, lower heart rate during exercise, reduce delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), and enhance energy production by improving mitochondrial function and ATP production.