Vets Got Game

A veteran does not have to consider themselves an athlete to walk into an adaptive sports clinic at the Tomah VA Medical Center. They can start with a pickleball paddle, a bow, or a conversation with someone who understands why showing up took courage.

Marissa dos Santos, a recreation therapist who specializes in adaptive sports and recreation at the Tomah VA, said the clinic helps veterans build physical strength and confidence. Still, more importantly, she said, it offers the chance to enjoy an activity with other veterans.

"A lot of veterans tell us that this really fosters a sense of community for them," dos Santos said. The clinics can offer peer support and help veterans regain some of the teamwork they experienced in the military.

Pickleball draws the most interest and has grown so much that they are talking with Tomah Parks & Rec to find another location at the fairgrounds. Air rifle, cycling, and archery are other options. The VA provides equipment for its clinics, including adaptive equipment, and dos Santos works with veterans to find ways for them to take part.

Sometimes that means changing how a sport is played. Sometimes it means helping a veteran realize they can play at all. “We’re usually able to find some way for a veteran to engage in sports if they’re wanting to,” dos Santos said. Some people see the word adaptive and assume the clinic is only for veterans with major physical limitations. “And that’s kind of far from the truth,” she said.

The work is especially rewarding when a veteran improves while doing something they love, she said. "You're regaining or maintaining your mobility, but you're doing it by having fun in sports."

Fun matters, but so does the company. Dos Santos said some veterans come for the chance to spend time with others, even if they have little interest in exercise. "You don't have to be a sports person," she said. "Even just the social aspect of adaptive sports is a huge thing for veterans."

She hopes veterans who have tried a clinic will tell others about it. Staff can explain what the programs offer, she said, but hearing it from a fellow veteran carries more weight. "It means a lot more coming from them."

The clinics are open to veterans receiving VA care whose medical provider has cleared them. A service-connected disability isn't required, and veterans don't need a physical disability to participate. Dos Santos said the programs can also benefit veterans dealing with isolation, anxiety, or other mental health concerns.

For a new participant, the first visit includes an introduction to the clinic and a conversation about any limitations or adaptations that might help. Dos Santos said staff assess things like mobility, strength, and pain, then check in again after the activity.

Dos Santos came to recreation therapy through a love of sports and health care. An internship in the spinal cord injury unit at the Milwaukee VA led her toward working with veterans. "It just kind of changed the game for me," she said.

Her broader work as a recreation therapist follows the same idea: Find something a veteran enjoys, then use it to support their health and independence. On Tomah's rehabilitation unit, that may mean helping someone continue an activity they loved before their health declined. For an outpatient, it may mean trying a sport they had assumed was beyond their reach.

Dos Santos recalled one veteran who uses a wheelchair and found a renewed sense of purpose through adaptive sports. He became active in Tomah's clinics and went on to participate in the National Veterans Wheelchair Games for years, she said. He tells people adaptive sports saved his life.

Stories like his show what can happen when veterans get past the first barrier. Often, dos Santos said, that barrier is not knowing the clinics exist.

For veterans who are unsure, her advice is to try an activity. If that activity is not a good fit, another might be.

Family members and caregivers are welcome to come along and support a veteran. To take part in a clinic themselves, however, they must also be veterans. There is no cost to attend the local clinics, dos Santos said, although participating in national events can involve expenses.

Veterans interested in adaptive sports can ask to be connected with Marissa dos Santos or the recreation therapists in Tomah VA's Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Services department. Information about programs is also shared on the Tomah VA Facebook page.

If you're interested in donating to Tomah VA Adaptive Sports, please contact the Center for Development and Civic Engagement (CDCE) at 608-372-1727.