Oxygen pressure aids recovery for speedway rider

Breaking a bone for any sportsman or woman can spell disaster - think of Becks, Rooney and many others - but Swindon speedway rider Billy Legg’s recovery from injury in May was boosted by sessions in the oxygen tank at the Swindon Therapy Centre for Multiple Sclerosis.

The 18 year old Swindon Academy rider from Lydiard Millicent, broke a finger riding for Plymouth in April and was told he would be out of action for six weeks following an operation.

But he was put in touch with the MS Centre in Cheney Manor and after just four ‘dives’ in their hyperbaric chamber, he was fit enough to ride again.

"After just one session I could feel the strength coming back," said Billy. "I was amazed that the bone started to knit so quickly. I’m sure the oxygen therapy gave me three extra weeks to compete."

Centre manager Jackie Wray, pictured with Billy, said, "MS sufferers find the pressurised oxygen relieves their symptoms. We had to ask the hyperbaric specialist at the Dundee medical school to prescribe sessions for Billy."

"We’re all delighted he was back in the saddle so quickly."

The centre receives no grants and Billy made a donation for his treatment and agreed to sport the MS Centre’s logo on his bike.