Massage therapist opens doors to those in pain

Cindy Scoggin rubs clients’ pain away from the comforts of home.

Scoggin moved to Florida five years ago from Las Vegas to spend more time with her children and grandchildren.

“All three of my kids are military or part of military families,” Scoggin said sitting on her couch in Santa Rosa Beach. “I came here because I wanted to be in a place where I could see my grandchildren grow up.”

Scoggin, who is certified by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork, in addition to being licensed in the state of Florida, has been performing massages for five years.

“I specialize in medical massages,” she said as she shows off the massage room in her Santa Rosa Beach home. “I have my own table and will travel to my patient’s houses if I have to.”

While she still hasn’t settled on a name for her business, Scoggin uses the slogan “Special Hands for Special Care” to describe her work.

“I can work forever,” she said. “I have customers who call me Helga because of how strong my hands are. Medical massage is hard work and is not for the faint of heart.”

In addition to growing her home business, Scoggin is currently working at Aquarius Spa in Grayton Beach.

“Medical massage therapy is all together different from a regular massage,” Scoggin said. “There are actually very few of us around.”

One of the main reasons people get medical massages is because of car accidents. And this is the reason Scoggin started in her field of choice.

“About five years ago, I got into a really bad car accident in front of the mall in Mary Esther,” Scoggin said shifting on the couch. “My truck was t-boned and totaled. I think I slid like 20 to 30 feet.”

After her accident, Scoggin started going to a massage therapist and a chiropractor.

“It really helped with the pain,” she said. “To this day I still don’t feel any pain from it.”

Scoggin can treat a multitude of injuries that affect most people.

“Since becoming a medical massage therapist, I have treated everything from knee and back pain to leg injuries, rotator cuff problems and headaches,” she said. “Would you rather get a massage, or take a bunch of anti-inflammatory meds and pain-killers?”

Moving forward, Scoggin has a dream to grow in the area and build up her clientele.

Although business has been slow, Scoggin has received praise from her clients.

“I have had people tell me that after getting a massage they were able to stop taking various pain medicines,” she said. “They are also having the best nights of sleep they have had in years.”