Medical Terminology – 5 hours
Medicine has a language of its own. This course gives an overview of current medical vocabulary terms built from Greek and Latin word parts. Some of these words were first used by Hippocrates and Aristotle more than 2400 years ago. By learning important word roots, suffixes and prefixes, a massage therapist will be better equipped to discuss medical conditions with their clients and other medical practitioners. A thorough understanding of medical terminology is necessary for a massage therapist to make decisions regarding indications and contraindications for massage.
Consultation and Documentation – 3 hours
Proper consultation techniques that allow the therapist to assess the needs of the client while screening for potential contraindications are discusses. Consistent and professional documentation skills are taught giving the therapist a better way to communicate with members of a healthcare team and with insurance companies. This course details the significant importance of the interview process that helps determine the course of treatment and sets the tone of the therapeutic relationship between the therapist and client. Effective strategies for understanding verbal and nonverbal communication between the therapist and the client are discussed. Instructors will discuss the various types of Client Intake forms and explain the necessity of including policies and procedures information onto them.
SOAP Notes – 2 hours
The importance of SOAP charting is detailed during this course. The initial consultation chart containing Subjective, Objective, Assessment & Application and Planning categories are discussed. Various software and online services for SOAP note charting are reviewed.
Clinical Massage and Deep Tissue Massage – 70 hours
Practitioners of clinical massage have a strong background in pathology, disease, illness and injury. A thorough knowledge of contraindications of specific massage techniques relating to various medical conditions is necessary. This class is based on the three principles: the individual is a whole organism therefore everything is connected and related, shortened muscle tissue can do no work and the soft tissues of the body respond to touch. This means that the clinical massage therapist is one who approaches persistently shortened soft tissues and uses direct manipulation of the soft tissues to reduce pain and inflammation, while keeping the whole client in mind. Instructors will focus on the relationship of agonist and antagonist muscle pairs because it is reflected in clinical problems. Posture assessment, gait assessment and range of motion tests are described in this course and students are taught basic techniques to infer indications of muscular imbalances and structural deviations.
Deep-tissue massage utilizes slow strokes, direct pressure or friction applied across the grain of the muscles with the fingers, thumbs or elbows. Deep-tissue massage works deeply into the muscles and connective tissue to release chronic aches and pains. Its main purpose is to reach the fascia beneath the surface muscles. Fascia is the most pervasive type of tissue in the body and serves many functions. In-depth palpation skills are taught in this course. Several specific techniques will be taught by instructors, like skin rolling and myofascial release, dealing with differing approaches to fascial work. Instructors will demonstrate techniques that are directed specifically toward hypertonic and hypotonic muscles with techniques such as gliding techniques, cross fiber friction, ischemic compression, positional release techniques and muscle energy techniques.
The Business of Massage
Equipment, Products and Environment – 2 hours
This course gives the student the skills necessary to open their own practice or to work for another. A checklist of supplies and equipment that could be needed for therapeutic massage is given. Instructors describe various products and their uses for massage. Table selection, lighting, music choices and overall experience enhancements are discussed in detail. Infection Control and Safety Practices – 3 hours This class describes the path of infection for common pathogens. The importance of cleanliness for the therapist and their surroundings to protect against the transmission of disease is discusses. Current CDC and State Health department guidelines will be covered in detail with particular importance to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Business Practices – 5 hours
Instructors will help the students to create a strategic business plan. Realistic goals are set and possible employment situations are discussed. The differences between operating as a sole proprietorship, a partnership or a corporation are highlighted in this course. Additionally, startup costs, accounting practices, licensing, insurance needs and tax records will be discussed.
Hydrotherapy/Cryotherapy – 5 hours
The application of heat or cold to a normal body temperature of 98.6 F causes certain physiological changes to occur. The nature and extent of those changes depends of the temperature and duration of the application, as well, as the size of the area being treated. This course details the sources of several different types of heat application including dry heat, moist heat and diathermy. Hydrotherapy is the therapeutic application to the body of water in any of its three forms: water, solid or vapor. Cryotherapy is the application of cold agents for therapeutic purposes. Its primary goal is to reduce the tissue temperature and is beneficial on painful, inflamed and swollen areas. It acts as an analgesic to reduce pain and causes vasoconstriction. Instructors in this course outline the benefits of cryotherapy, hydrotherapy and alternating application methods. Bath accessories such as bath salts, oils, soap and effervescent tablets are also discussed. Benefits of cool bath, saline baths and hot baths are also contrasted so that the massage therapist can determine which is appropriate for their client. If used properly, hydrotherapy and cryotherapy can be used to assist in the healing process of damaged tissues.
Swedish Massage Hands-On Practice – 40 hours
At the instructor’s discretion, the student will be allowed to start student massage practice sessions on classroom volunteers. The student will be responsible for obtaining a client intake form, consent to student massage form and for completing SOAP notes on the session.
Pathology – 40 hours
This is a continuation of previous classes with a specific emphasis on pathologies of the endocrine, respiratory, digestive, excretory, and reproductive systems. This information is provided as reference material only. A massage therapist is not legally allowed to diagnose disease but should be able to recognize various symptoms and determine if a client needs to be referred to another practitioner. An in-depth knowledge of pathology is necessary for a therapist to develop a safe and appropriate treatment plan for their clients and to be able to work with other healthcare practitioners. The effects, benefits, indications and contraindications of massage for specific pathologies are discussed.
Yoga and Stretching: Self-care part two – 10 hours
Restorative and Flow yoga styles and routines are taught by a certified Yoga Instructor with specific emphasis on restoring muscles to proper functionality from overuse syndromes. Static, dynamic and ballistic stretches are reviewed.