Massage Therapy

Question 1

What is a mechanical effect?

Answer 1

Any physical changes in the body that are the direct result of massage.

Question 2

What are reflexive effects?

Answer 2

Changes in the body that occur by stimulation of the Nervous System as a result of massage.

Question 3

What is an active joint movement?

Answer 3

Involves the client actively performing a movement without assistance from the massage therapist.

Question 4

What is an active assistive joint movement?

Answer 4

Involves the client performing a movement with assistance from the massage therapist.

Question 5

What is a passive joint movement?

Answer 5

Involve the massage therapist moving the joint, with the client completely relaxed, not helping at all.

Question 6

What is a resistive joint movement?

Answer 6

When the client and massage therapist are moving a joint in opposite directions at the same time.

Question 7

What is Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF)?

Answer 7

A stretch highly useful in loosening adhesions and scar tissue in muscles, and is beneficial to athletes.

Question 8

How is PNF performed?

Answer 8

•Massage therapist moves a client’s joint into a stretch.
•Once resistance is met, the client actively resists the movement being performed by the massage therapist putting the muscle into an isometric contraction.
•After holding this resisted movement for 5-10 seconds, the client relaxes, and the massage therapist is able to move the stretch further, until resistance is met again.
•The process is then repeated.

Question 9

What is a soft end feel?

Answer 9

The result of soft tissues, such as muscles and tendons, pulling back on the joint, preventing any further movement.

Question 10

What is a hard end feel?

Answer 10

The result of structures, primarily bone, preventing a joint from moving further. An example is extension of the knee or elbow. Straightening

Question 11

What is an empty end feel?

Answer 11

Caused by neither muscles nor bones interfering with movement, empty end feels are the result of trauma to an area, which prevents movement.

Question 12

How does a bolster under the ankles help clients lying prone?

Answer 12

Low back pain is likely caused by tight hamstrings. A bolster under the ankles produces slight flexion of the knee, which shortens and takes pressure off the hamstrings.

Question 13

How does a bolster under the knees help clients lying supine?

Answer 13

Low back pain is likely caused by a tight psoas major, iliacus, or rectus femoris. A bolster under the knees produces slight flexion of the hip, which shortens and takes pressure off all these muscles.

Question 14

Describe the Bow/Archer stance

Answer 14

Performed with the therapist’s feet placed parallel to the massage table.
This allows the therapist to perform long, gliding strokes, such as those seen in effleurage.

Question 15

Describe Horse/Warrior stance

Answer 15

When the therapist’s feet are facing the table, the knees will be slightly flexed. This allows short, powerful strokes to be performed, such as compression and friction.

Question 16

Describe Craniosacral Therapy

Answer 16

A very light massage technique that helps to release blockages in the flow of cerebrospinal fluid, which runs from the cranium to the sacrum. Blockages in these fluids may cause numerous side effects, including head-aches, dizziness, and difficulty processing and understanding information.

Question 17

What is Deep Tissue?

Answer 17

Performed by working the deeper layers of tissue in the body, including muscles and fascia.
Deep tissue may require deeper pressure to be used by the massage therapist to reach deeper structures.

Question 18

What is Lymphatic Drainage?

Answer 18

a technique designed to increase the circulation of lymph utilizing very light strokes directed towards the heart. Increasing lymph circulation may help reduce swelling in areas such as the limbs or face.

Question 19

How would lymphatic drainage be performed on a lower extremity?

Answer 19

The thigh should be cleared of lymph first, then the knee, then the leg, then the foot.

Question 20

What is myofascial release?

Answer 20

-A type of treatment aimed at releasing restrictions in muscles and fascia.
-Uses light strokes that move in the direction of the restriction, helping the muscle “unwind” on its own.

*Skin rolling is a form of myofascial release, and is useful when performed on areas of scar tissue to help loosen adhesions.

Question 21

What is Positional Release?

Answer 21

Also known as strain-counterstrain, is a technique used to relax tender areas in muscles that a person may be experiencing.

Question 22

How is positional release performed?

Answer 22

Positional release is performed by identifying a tender area a client may have, then positioning the body in such a way to reduce tension in the area.

For example, if a person is experiencing tenderness in the tibialis anterior due to hypertonicity of the muscle, the body is positioned into dorsiflexion to further shorten the muscle. This position is typically held for 90 seconds to several minutes, serving to re-educate the muscle to conform to this new length. The position is released, and the tender area is reassessed.

Question 23

What is Rolfing?

Answer 23

A structural realignment technique involving the body being placed back into proper vertical alignment by working on the fascia of the body. Loosening the fascia helps the body return to its natural position.

Question 24

What is reciprocity?

Answer 24

The ability for a massage license in one jurisdiction to be recognized as valid in another jurisdiction Some jurisdictions may require a new license to be obtained, but no more schooling required. Others may require more schooling in addition to paying for a new license.

Question 25

What is a business plan?

Answer 25

A business plan is a document prepared to state the objectives of a future business, and its means of achieving them.

Question 26

What is a mission statement?

Answer 26

May be included in a business plan. A mission statement is a statement that defines the overall objective and values of the business.

Question 27

What is Market Analysis?

Answer 27

Used to assess a market, helping determine things such as customer volume, money spent in specific-locations, money spent on specific products, the competition, and more. Market analysis can help determine the kind of business to launch, where to launch it, when to launch it, who to market it to, how much to price the product or service, and how to properly advertise the product or service.

Question 28

What is Accounts Receivable?

Answer 28

When money is owed to a business, such as credit or debt from a vendor.

Question 29

What is Accounts Payable?

Answer 29

When the business owes money to another company.

Question 30

When operating a business at a physical location where there is customer exposure, liability insurance is often required. Describe the two types of liability insurance.

Answer 30

-General liability insurance protects the massage therapist in cases such as accidental falls by the client that result in bodily injury.
-Professional liability insurance protects the therapist from lawsuits regarding malpractice or negligence.

Question 31

Tax form used to submit tax return documentation to the IRS that includes gross income, taxes withheld, and deductions.

Answer 31

1040

Question 32

Form issued to an independent contractor by the company they contract with, detailing the amount of income accrued by the independent contractor through the year.

Answer 32

1099

Question 33

An attachment to form 1040, filed by sole proprietors, detailing the amount of money the business made during the previous year including barter.

Answer 33

Schedule C

Question 34

An attachment to form 1040 detailing Social Security tax information for self employed individuals.

Answer 34

Schedule SE

Question 35

A form filed by individual partnership members. It is similar to a W-2, detailing the amount of money each partnership member made during the previous year.

Answer 35

Schedule K-1

Question 36

What is a Respondeat Superior?

Answer 36

An employer being held legally responsible for the actions of an employee. Independent contractors and federal employees are not included.

Question 37

What is Res Ipsa Loquitur?

Answer 37

When a plaintiff sets out to prove that harm that has been done would not have occurred without negligence.

Question 38

What is Pro Bono?

Answer 38

A lawyer performing work for a client or entity without being compensated. Commonly, given to non-profit organizations or low-income citizens who cannot otherwise afford an attorney.

Question 39

What is Deposition?

Answer 39

A statement given under oath and outside of court, generally only in civil cases.

Question 40

What is arbitration?

Answer 40

A form of ADR two parties in a court dispute may not wish to go to trial, and instead begin alternative dispute resolution (ADR).
An intermediary is an impartial party who will hear both sides of the argument, and then make a binding decision on the outcome.