Bubble Evolution and Decompression Sickness Risk

By Rubicon Foundation editorial team

5 min read · 22 October 2026

Does the time course of bubble evolution explain decompression sickness risk? is a 1995 journal article by Ball R and colleagues, published in Undersea & Hyperbaric Medicine. It addresses the relationship between bubble development over time and decompression sickness, a central question in understanding how pressure exposure can affect divers.

Why do bubbles matter in decompression?

During a dive, increased pressure causes more inert gas from breathing gas to dissolve in body tissues. As a diver returns to lower pressure, that gas must leave the body, mainly through the lungs. If pressure falls faster than gas can be eliminated, bubbles may form in or around tissues and blood vessels.

Bubble formation is not, by itself, a complete explanation of decompression sickness. Bubbles can occur without symptoms, while illness involves a range of possible effects on circulation and tissue function. Understanding how bubbles change over time may therefore help frame the distinction between gas bubbles as a physical observation and decompression sickness as a clinical condition.

What does “time course” mean here?

The time course of bubble evolution refers to how bubbles develop and change across time, rather than treating them as a single event at the end of a dive. Their appearance, growth, movement and disappearance are all relevant concepts in decompression physiology. The subject invites questions about how these processes relate to pressure exposure and the body’s response during and after ascent.

This perspective matters because decompression is dynamic. Gas continues to move between tissues, blood and lungs after a diver leaves depth, and the conditions affecting bubbles can change throughout that period. A time-based view connects the mechanics of gas exchange with the timing of symptoms and the practical challenge of managing decompression exposure.

How is bubble activity related to decompression sickness?

Decompression sickness can involve different tissues and systems, and its manifestations vary. Bubbles may obstruct or disturb blood flow, interact with vessel walls, or contribute to local tissue stress. The consequences depend on more than whether bubbles are present: their location, behaviour and the surrounding physiological conditions also matter.

Researchers studying this problem examine whether patterns in bubble evolution help explain risk, while recognising that a relationship does not automatically establish a simple cause-and-effect rule for an individual diver. Decompression schedules aim to manage inert-gas uptake and release, but biological responses vary. This makes the link between measurable bubble activity and clinical illness an enduring research question.

Inert-gas exchange: gas dissolves under pressure and is eliminated as ambient pressure falls.
Bubble dynamics: bubbles can change in size, location and persistence over time.
Clinical significance: bubble presence and symptomatic decompression sickness are related concepts, but they are not interchangeable.
Risk assessment: decompression outcomes reflect interacting physical and biological factors.

Where does this question fit in diving research?

Decompression research brings together physics, physiology and clinical medicine. It examines how pressure changes influence inert-gas movement, how the body responds, and how those processes can be represented in approaches to decompression planning. Bubble behaviour is one part of that wider picture, alongside exposure history, individual physiology and the signs and symptoms of illness.

The article’s subject also connects laboratory and field observations with practical concerns in recreational, commercial and scientific diving. A better account of bubble evolution could inform how researchers think about decompression risk, but clinical decisions require the whole context of a diver’s exposure and condition. For symptoms after diving, assessment by a diving-medicine physician is appropriate; this general information is not individual medical advice.

Frequently asked questions

What is decompression sickness?

Decompression sickness is an illness associated with pressure reduction and inert-gas bubbles in the body. It can affect different tissues and body systems, and requires clinical assessment when suspected.

Do bubbles always cause symptoms?

No. Bubble presence and symptomatic illness are not the same thing. Their significance depends on factors such as where they occur, how they behave and the body’s response.

Why study bubble changes over time?

Following bubble evolution over time helps researchers consider how decompression processes unfold and how bubble behaviour may relate to risk. It places gas movement within the changing conditions of ascent and recovery.

Citation details

Title: Does the time course of bubble evolution explain decompression sickness risk?
Authors: Ball R; Himm J; Homer LD; Thalmann ED
Year: 1995
Published in: Undersea & Hyperbaric Medicine 22(3): 263–80
Identifiers: PMID 7580767
Record type: Journal article
Repository record: Rubicon Research Repository, handle 123456789/2187

This page is an original summary written by the Rubicon editors from the publication’s bibliographic record. It does not reproduce the paper, its abstract or its data; consult the publication itself for its methods and findings.