The Best Season by Aaron Linfield

I have been playing rugby since I was 5 years old, I am now 23.  It is a sport I love, and I currently play for Horsham 1st XV as Scrum Half.  We have just had the best season of the club’s 95-year history culminating in a Community Cup Championship Final at Twickenham Stadium.   It is a game that comes with injuries, lots of them.

Over the last few years, I have suffered from many injuries but the regular concussions that I have endured had become harder and harder to recover from.   A light tackle or general impact with another player would cause me to see “green diamonds” and I just couldn’t get better.

After having a brain scan and being rested for 3 months the suggestion of hyperbaric oxygen therapy was made.  I spoke to the team physio who said it was exactly what I needed.

I came to The Samson Centre just after Christmas 2022 to give it a try.  I had several sessions in quick succession and the improvement was quicker than I expected.   My constant headaches went, and the brain fog started to clear.  Even the physical injuries that I have sustained in my shoulders, ankles and wrists have improved, as well as many other muscle strains and tears (even my asthma has been less of an issue).

Recently I have been having weekly oxygen sessions and that has helped me enormously.   During the season, whilst playing at a higher level, I had drastically less injuries than I usually get.  I recover better after tackles, any injuries from the match heal quicker and my head is consistently clearer.  It is no longer keeping me out of the game. I don’t suffer the same effects as I did before I started oxygen sessions.  It really got me through the season and helped me finish this year with the opening try at Twickenham Stadium for Horsham.