What Is Oxygen Multistep Therapy?
Oxygen multistep therapy (SMT) is a treatment approach developed by German physicist Manfred von Ardenne that combines high-oxygen breathing with exercise and other stimulating factors. The foundational book on this approach outlines the physiological principles and technical requirements for this therapy.
Professor Manfred von Ardenne was a prolific German physicist who transitioned from physics research to cancer and oxygen therapy research in 1959. His 1987 book “Oxygen Multistep Therapy: Physiological and Technical Foundations” remains the primary reference for this treatment approach.
Dr. Kumar’s Take
This book represents the theoretical foundation for what we now commonly call EWOT (Exercise with Oxygen Therapy). Von Ardenne was a genuine scientific innovator who held over 600 patents during his lifetime. His oxygen therapy concepts emerged from basic observations about how oxygen reaches tissues.
However, I must note that this is a theoretical framework rather than a collection of clinical trial results. The book presents physiological rationales and technical specifications, but readers should understand that modern evidence standards require controlled trials to confirm clinical benefits. Von Ardenne’s ideas have influenced oxygen therapy practice, but the evidence base has evolved since this book’s publication.
The Core Concept
Von Ardenne’s oxygen multistep therapy is built on a simple observation. Under normal conditions, your blood carries oxygen primarily through hemoglobin in red blood cells. When you breathe high concentrations of oxygen, more oxygen dissolves directly into your blood plasma.
This dissolved oxygen can reach tissues that red blood cells cannot easily access. By combining high-oxygen breathing with physical activity and other factors, the therapy aims to improve overall tissue oxygenation.
Historical Context
Von Ardenne began this work in 1959 after a distinguished career in physics. He published the basic concept of his cancer treatment approach (Multistep Cancer Therapy or MCT) in 1965. From this, he developed the simpler Oxygen Multistep Therapy for general health improvement.
The SMT Society, primarily active in Germany, has been responsible for spreading these ideas and the associated equipment. The book provides detailed technical specifications for delivering oxygen therapy according to von Ardenne’s protocols.
Important Limitations
This book is a theoretical framework, not a clinical trial report. While von Ardenne’s concepts have influenced oxygen therapy practice, the book itself does not contain the kind of randomized controlled trial data that modern medicine requires for treatment validation.
Readers interested in oxygen therapy should also review more recent research that has tested these concepts under controlled conditions.
Practical Takeaways
- This book provides the theoretical foundation for oxygen multistep therapy
- It covers physiological principles and technical equipment specifications
- The concepts influenced modern EWOT practices
- Clinical evidence from controlled trials should be consulted separately
- Available through the Internet Archive for those interested in the original source material
Related Studies and Research
- Double-blind study on the long-lasting improvement of physical endurance following oxygen-multistep-therapy
- Effect of hyperoxia during the rest periods of interval training on perceptual recovery and oxygen re-saturation time
- Optimal type and dose of hypoxic training for improving maximal aerobic capacity in athletes: a systematic review and Bayesian model-based network meta-analysis
- Advances in hyperbaric oxygen to promote immunotherapy through modulation of the tumor microenvironment
FAQs
Who was Manfred von Ardenne?
Manfred von Ardenne was a German physicist and inventor who held over 600 patents. He made significant contributions to electron microscopy, nuclear technology, and medical physics. In 1959, he shifted his focus to cancer and oxygen therapy research, developing the concepts outlined in this book.
What is the difference between oxygen multistep therapy and EWOT?
Oxygen multistep therapy (SMT) is the original term used by von Ardenne. EWOT (Exercise with Oxygen Therapy) is a more recent term that describes similar practices. Both involve breathing high-concentration oxygen during physical activity.
Is this book a clinical study?
No. This book presents theoretical foundations and technical specifications for oxygen therapy. It is not a clinical trial report. Readers seeking evidence of clinical effectiveness should consult published controlled trials.
Bottom Line
Manfred von Ardenne’s “Oxygen Multistep Therapy: Physiological and Technical Foundations” is the foundational text for oxygen multistep therapy practices. Written by a prolific physicist and inventor, the book outlines the theoretical basis for combining high-oxygen breathing with exercise and other factors to improve tissue oxygenation. While influential in shaping oxygen therapy practices, particularly in Germany, the book represents a theoretical framework rather than clinical trial evidence. Those interested in oxygen therapy should use this as background reading while consulting more recent controlled studies for evidence of clinical effectiveness.
