LMTs Volunteer to Benefit Veterans

OSM teacher Marybetts Sinclair and OSM graduate Jennifer Hemmeyer volunteered as massage therapists for the 2023 National Veterans Wheelchair Games, held this year at the Portland Convention Center.

Each spent 2 days working with veterans, who were eager to receive massage and more than happy to wait in line, if thats what it took to see us. They came before or after competing in a variety of sports, including basketball, swimming, riflery, archery, pickleball, basketball and more. The receivers, both veterans and their caregivers, were very grateful for the touch and appreciated the relief of tightness from wheelchair riding, travelling from far away for the games, working out and competing. A very inspiring group of people! They came from all over the US, one gentleman originally from Cuba, a large team was from Puerto Rico, and 2 soldiers even flew in from England. We had a lot of fun working with them, and hearing their stories..

Here are the conditions of the veterans who we saw:
1. Cervical spinal cord injuries, thoracic spinal cord injuries, lumbar spinal cord injuries. High cervical injuries seemed to be the most common. Causes included motor vehicle accidents ( both motorcycle and car), bomb explosions, self-inflicted gunshots, failed surgeries for back problems, motocross injuries, and falls

2. Amputations-causes included those from IED blasts while serving in Iraq, motor vehicle accidents in many different locations, and diabetic-related amputations, and even one veteran who was struck by lightning.

3. Traumatic brain injuries caused by motor vehicle accidents and one soldier’s fall off a cliff.

4. 2 soldiers with multiple sclerosis.

Caregivers loved bodywork too: many caregivers spoke of exhaustion from traveling, stress and caregiving itself, and many mentioned aches and pains such as thoracic outlet syndrome, back pain caused by lifting others, and old injuries such as fractures.

It was a privilege to work with these folks, and a lot of fun! I highly recommend volunteering like this for our own education and a unique window into the life these folks are living. Learning how to fine-tune bodywork for different populations makes us all more versatile and wiser.