Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (1.3 ATA)

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) at 1.3 ATA represents the mildest commercially available pressure tier, creating an atmospheric pressure roughly 30% above normal sea level — equivalent to approximately 3 metres below the water surface. At this pressure, the partial pressure of oxygen dissolved in blood plasma increases modestly, allowing somewhat more oxygen to reach peripheral tissues than under normal breathing conditions.

The 1.3 ATA tier is often described as an entry point to hyperbaric therapy. It is the pressure at which most consumer-grade soft-shell chambers operate, and several published studies have explored its effects on concussion recovery, cognitive function, general wellness, and inflammatory markers — though the evidence base is more robust at higher pressures (2.0-2.4 ATA) used in clinical hyperbaric medicine.

At House of Salt, the 1.3 ATA session runs for 90 minutes, including pressurisation, treatment time, and depressurisation. Clients may experience mild ear pressure during the descent phase, similar to the sensation during an aeroplane landing. The studio provides guidance on ear-equalisation techniques before the first session.