Physicians in this specialty treat patients suffering from numerous diseases and illnesses, but some of the most common are Lyme disease, cerebral palsy, stroke, dementia, rheumatic disease, Necrotizing fasciitis, Sports injuries, Post-polio syndrome, Carbon monoxide poisoning, absence seizure, Decompression sickness, necrosis and radiation osteonecrosis, Severe infection by anaerobic bacteria, Certain non-healing wounds, Air or gas embolism, Severe uncorrected anemia, and Chronic refractory Osteomyelitis.

Once properly diagnosed, practitioners can perform numerous procedures on patients including Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT).

To diagnose patients with possible illnesses and diseases, specialists will often perform one of many tests including transcutaneous oxygen testing.