When it comes to contact sport, recovery isn’t optional — it’s essential. Whether you’re bouncing back from a big hit or managing ongoing fatigue, your ability to recover determines how well (and how often) you play.
And increasingly, athletes are turning to Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) as a science-backed way to support faster recovery, reduce inflammation, and even improve brain health after concussion.
But what does the research actually say?
Let’s break it down.
HBOT Reduces Inflammation After Impact (Study 1)
Study: Hyperbaric oxygen therapy in sports injuries (2020)
Key finding: HBOT significantly reduced swelling and inflammation in soft-tissue injuries — especially relevant for athletes recovering from muscle trauma, sprains, or impact injuries.
This matters for rugby players who:
- Take repeated knocks during training and games
- Suffer from joint or muscle inflammation
- Need faster return-to-play recovery windows
By increasing oxygen concentration in the bloodstream, HBOT helps flush out inflammatory by-products and brings in nutrients that aid tissue repair. The result? Less pain. Less downtime. More game time.
HBOT Improves Cognitive Recovery Post-Concussion (Study 2)
Study: Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for post-concussion syndrome
Key finding: Patients with post-concussion syndrome showed significant improvement in memory, attention, and reaction time after HBOT treatments.
In a sport like rugby — where head injuries are unfortunately common — this is a big deal.
Whether you’ve had one diagnosed concussion or multiple sub-concussive impacts over time, HBOT is showing potential in supporting brain function, neuroplasticity, and cognitive recovery.
Athletes also report feeling:
- Mentally sharper
- More focused
- Less foggy or fatigued after treatment
HBOT Enhances Athletic Performance & Recovery (Study 3)
Study: Effects of HBOT on exercise-induced muscular fatigue and performance
Key finding: Athletes who underwent HBOT after high-intensity exercise showed improved muscle recovery, reduced fatigue, and faster return to baseline strength compared to controls.
Translation for rugby players:
- Quicker muscle bounce-back after matches
- Less DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness)
- Enhanced training capacity between games
HBOT gives your body the cellular support it needs to repair faster — and that’s a competitive edge.
At ReWell, We Make HBOT Accessible to Every Athlete
Whether you're a pro player, club athlete, or dedicated weekend warrior, you deserve access to the same science-backed recovery used by elite sportspeople around the world.
ReWell offers:
- At-home HBOT rentals
- Custom protocols tailored for athletes
- Safe, clinically guided care you can trust
Ready to Recover Smarter?
If you play a contact sport like rugby and want to:
- Recover faster
- Improve cognitive function
- Reduce inflammation and downtime
We’re here to support your next move.
👉 Book a Free Discovery Call
Let’s build your personalised recovery plan.