Body Mechanics

Question 1

Common injuries for massage therapists

Answer 1

Fingers, wrists, thumbs, elbows, shoulders, neck and lower back.

Question 2

Massage therapist warm up exercises

Answer 2

Squats, lunges, over and under the fence, shoulder, wrist and ankle circles, spine flexion and extension, reach and pull.

Question 3

Ideal massage table height.

Answer 3

The height of the practitioner’s patella

Question 4

How many contact points should the foot have with the floor?

Answer 4

3

Question 5

Contact points of the foot with the floor

Answer 5

Calcaneal tuberosity, the heads of the first and fifth metatarsals.

Question 6

Foot stance during a technique is determined by what?

Answer 6

Target area, length and excursion of the technique, direction of the body movement and the type of technique.

Question 7

Hips and abdomen point where during a massage technique?

Answer 7

In the direction of movement.

Question 8

When is the archer stance used?

Answer 8

When the target area is lateral to the practitioner and the the techniques are lengthy.

Question 9

Other names for the archer stance

Answer 9

Staggered, asymmetric, low or lunge stance.

Question 10

Lead foot

Answer 10

In the archer stance, the foot pointing in the direction of movement.

Question 11

Trailing foot

Answer 11

The foot which points under the table in the archer stance.

Question 12

Lead hip

Answer 12

The lead hip in the archer stance is rotated externally 15 to 90 degrees.

Question 13

Movement is produced from where in the archer stance?

Answer 13

The lower extremities.

Question 14

When should the horse stance be used?

Answer 14

When the target area is directly in front of the practitioner.

Question 15

Feet in the horse stance

Answer 15

Are symmetric and point directly under the table. Slightly wider than the hips.

Question 16

Other names for the horse stance

Answer 16

Parallel, symmetric or warrior.

Question 17

First application principle of massage therapy

Answer 17

Engage the core.

Question 18

The core includes what?

Answer 18

The abdomen, back, spine, pelvic floor, hips and knees.

Question 19

What does it mean to engage the core?

Answer 19

Contract the abs towards the spine, tuck the pelvis posteriorly and flex the hips and knees to drop the body.

Question 20

Second application principle of massage therapy

Answer 20

Stack the joints

Question 21

What does it mean to stack the joints?

Answer 21

Position the body above the client and arrange the joints vertically to enable weight transfer.

Question 22

Compression applied with the forearm is transmitted through the…

Answer 22

Proximal ulna.

Question 23

Compression applied with the hand is transmitted through the…

Answer 23

Radio-carpal joint.

Question 24

Compression applied with the fingers is transmitted through the…

Answer 24

Vertical stacked finger joints.

Question 25

Third application principles of massage therapy

Answer 25

Use bodyweight and gravity when possible.

Question 26

Fourth application principle of massage therapy

Answer 26

Use a variety of techniques.

Question 27

Fifth application principle of massage therapy

Answer 27

Hydrate and rest between clients.

Question 28

Sixth application principle of massage therapy.

Answer 28

Maintain a consistent, reasonable workload.

Question 29

Possible client positions

Answer 29

Prone, supine, semi-reclining, side-lying or seated.

Question 30

Prone position

Answer 30

Face down, ankles hip distance apart.

Question 31

Prone position bolstering

Answer 31

In front of the ankles. In the event of low back pain, under the abdomen.

Question 32

Supine position

Answer 32

Face up.

Question 33

Supine position bolstering

Answer 33

Behind the cervical spine and knees. Back pain may require a higher bolster under the knees.

Question 34

Semi-reclining position

Answer 34

The torso is elevated on a specialty table or with a wedge-shaped bolster.

Question 35

Other name for semi-reclining position

Answer 35

Fowler position.

Question 36

Other name for side-lying position

Answer 36

Lateral recumbent.

Question 37

Seated position

Answer 37

Feet on the floor, buttocks on the seat, hands or elbows supported.

Question 38

Purposes for draping the client

Answer 38

A barrier between the skin and equipment, comfort, modesty and warmth.

Question 39

Which regions of the body should always be covered?

Answer 39

The genitals, gluteal cleft and chest.

Question 40

How many sheets should be in use at any time?

Answer 40

A fitted sheet for the table and a flat sheet for the client.