Massage therapy is often seen as a great way to unwind and relax; but for many veterans in the Coastal Bend, it is much more than that. Offering long-term benefits that increase mobility and reduce dependence on medication, it’s an essential part of recovery and pain management routines.

A Life-Changing Healing

Retired Petty Officer David De Jesus knows the benefits firsthand. He faced even greater challenges after retiring after sustaining injuries during his time in the Coast Guard. While working at a Navy base in 2020, De Jesus suffered a serious injury that caused him to lose mobility in his legs. By mid-2020, he couldn’t even walk without the help of a cane.

“It was hard. I couldn’t walk, I couldn’t move,” he recalls. “But everything changed when he was introduced to massage therapy.”

“Massage therapy has worked wonders. This wasn’t just a temporary solution; changed my life. I am walking again and although I cannot run like I could when I was 20, I move without pain,” De Jesus said.

VA Approves Massage Therapy for Veterans

massage therapy It was officially approved by the VA in 2019 as part of its Complementary and Integrative Health approach and is available at no cost to qualified veterans. For veterans like De Jesus, this therapy helped reduce the need for heavy medications, allowing them to regain mobility and independence.

“I had a lot of problems due to the service, especially with walking and spine issues. Massage therapy has helped me do more without relying on medications,” De Jesus shared.

Expanding Access to Care

To increase access to this vital treatment, Corpus Christi Athletic Club recently became certified to offer massage therapy to veterans starting on Veterans Day this month. This new service aims to help veterans with a variety of issues, including service-related injuries, arthritis and general mobility challenges.

“Massage therapy helps veterans regain mobility, whether due to combat-related injuries or long-term conditions like arthritis,” explained Alex Perez of the Corpus Christi Athletic Club.

Increasing Demand

The demand for massage therapy among veterans is on the rise, and for good reason. Founder: Charlotte Valdez Peace to the SoldiersThis may be evidence of its growing popularity. Since debuting in the local Veterans segment at Focus earlier this year, Valdez has seen an increase in requests for service, leading him to expand his facility.

“We were stuck after the episode aired. We had to add five new rooms and hire more staff to keep up with demand,” Valdez said. “We can now accommodate more veterans and get them to the hospital faster when they are in pain.”

A Holistic Approach to Healing

Tranquility for Troops, a local nonprofit, has expanded its services to include infrared therapy, which penetrates deep into tissues and bones, providing additional relief from chronic pain.

“We have seen incredible results with infrared therapy. It reaches deeper than traditional massage, helping veterans with everything from spine issues to joint pain,” Valdez said.

For Valdez, helping veterans isn’t just a job, it’s a privilege. “We get incredible feedback from veterans, which makes this job very rewarding,” he said.

How to Access Massage Therapy?

If you are experienced and think massage therapy might help, you should get a referral from your VA doctor. Although it may seem like a relaxing experience, for some veterans it may be the pain relief they’ve been looking for for years.

“You can settle for a relaxing massage, but for some, this may be the relief they are looking for,” Valdez said.

As awareness grows and the number of providers offering services increases, massage therapy is becoming a vital resource for veterans in the Coastal Bend. For those dealing with chronic pain or mobility issues, this is a promising path forward.