South Dakota Massage Therapy Continuing Education

Massage has some benefits for people with chronic and terminal illness, what are the differences between acute and chronic illness, and what are some special considerations for elderly clients.

Thiscourse provides a comprehensive overview of carpal tunnel syndrome for massagetherapists. This overview allows the reader to gain greater knowledge ofanatomy, perspectives on how carpal tunnel syndrome affects individuals, aswell as specific bodywork methods to alleviate classic symptoms of thecondition.

This course focuses on the most importantelements of the communication that takes place between massage therapists andmassage clients. Through proper, professional communication, a massagetherapist will be able to attract and maintain a clientele. 

This course will define HIV infection and AIDS and list ways to prevent the spread of the communicable diseases. This course will also explain proper sanitation techniques and identify the main points of OSHA’s Blood-borne Pathogen Standard and its applications in massage therapy.

When conducting a session it is important to establish a rapport with your client, explain how to receive a massage, and what they may expect to feel after the massage.

The need for cultural competency training as an ethical precept has been articulated at many levels: through federal and state legislatures, public health administrations, the medical profession, and other professional health education organizations. This course will discuss how race and culture impact health, identify patterns of disparities, and emphasize the importance of diversity factors that influence effective cross-cultural communication in clinical encounters.

As a massage therapist, you may be in the position to hire new employees for your organization. Even the smallest of businesses are required to follow legal codes regarding staffing, and there are a substantial number of do’s and don’ts inherent in human resource policies and the hiring process. This course will guide you through the legal rights and obligations of employers, reviewing common human resource practices and the legal guidelines of hiring and firing, with strategies for selecting good candidates who will be good employees.

This course emphasizes the principles and standards of ethical practice for massage therapy and bodywork, and ethical issues that impact the professional in daily practice. The course includes steps to identify potential ethical conflicts, and strategies for ethical decision-making to avoid and resolve ethical issues before they become problematic. The components of informed consent, documentation and records maintenance, establishing boundaries, and collaboration with supervisors and colleagues for integrated healthcare, are detailed based on ethical standards of best practice.

Ethical code and professional standards of conduct have important values and concepts in professional massage, also within the boundaries that define therapeutic relationships.

This course providesguidance on fundamental business policies to those just starting out as smallbusiness owners, as well as for those who want to learn to manage their massagetherapy practice more effectively and efficiently. The “Five Essential Practice-BuildingPolicies” outlined in this course are intended to be a starting point inbusiness education for massage therapists and are intended to provide the basictools for the creation of a sustainable business model.

Human trafficking is one of the fastest growing criminal industries, so what steps can be taken if trafficking is suspected, what are the signs to look for, and what types of intervention are used to address it.

To succeed in business, massage therapists must attract and retain a growing base of satisfied clients. This course will explore the components of marketing, list the benefits of competitor analysis, and discuss promotional strategies designed to help you grow your business.

This course will discuss Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and is designed to increase your awareness about this condition. Since touch can reactivate trauma, you should be aware that the condition exists and there are particular methods of massage therapy that address the special circumstances of individuals with PTSD. The course will provide information about how to identify PTSD and list several modalities that combine bodywork and psychotherapy.

This course will define HIV and AIDS, their relationship and the differences between the diseases. The course will examine how HIV is transmitted, the associated risk factors, and ways to avoid transmission.

To survive in business, a massage therapist must attract and retain a growing base of satisfied clients. This course will provide an overview of marketing research and how to conduct it. It examines how to create surveys, addresses the reliability and validity of surveys, and discusses how to interpret the results.

This course will distinguish between coverage associated with private health insurance, personal injury insurance, and workers compensation coverage. The course will provide the massage therapist with basic rules of documentation and record keeping as it pertains to insurance.

The purpose of this course is to discuss the positive roleprofessional massage therapy can play in the stress epidemic in our modernculture. We will examine the negative physiological and biochemical processesthat occur in the body under stress and counterpoint them with the beneficialprocesses that occur in the body during massage. We will also look at thecultural symptoms that contribute to our collective stress and discuss thestatistics that qualify stress as a national epidemic.

This course is designed to familiarize massage therapists with the techniques most commonly used to treat sports injuries, the general terminology associated with sports injuries, the most common sports injuries, the anatomy and physiology involved, and the sports each injury is usually associated with. The course also reviews several tips for helping athletes avoid specific injuries. In several instances, learners will discover that massage therapy is contraindicated given the specifics of an athlete’s condition.

Massage can be a highly effective treatment for many conditions however you can do harm if done incorrectly, also be aware of any medications including non-prescription and herbal supplements, as these can influence or be influenced by the massage.

Following completion of this couse, you will be able to name common medications for pain and inflammation that may require adjusted manual techniques, name common gastrointestinal conditions in which massage may be contraindicated, and list symptoms associated with drug toxicity.

This course provides guidance tomassage therapy business owners and solo practitioners on developing aneffective marketing strategy. The modern marketing tools outlined here areintended to be a starting point for defining a target market, or a “niche,” andnavigating the modern tools available, such as referrals, social media and Internetmarketing, to reach that market. 

Forinjured clients seeking relief from their pain and movement dysfunctions, aquality massage therapist should seek short- and long-term solutions. This requiresknowing what tissues are at fault and how. While this may seem simple andobvious (for example, pain in the neck is due to some neck muscle dysfunction) preciselypinpointing the causes of pain and dysfunction can be more complex. While itmay not always be possible to know exactly what tissues are primarily at fault,there are many tests for soft tissue and joint injuries that therapists canconduct prior to (or even during) the massage treatment. Commonly referred toas “orthopedic tests,” these are assessments that test for skeletomuscularinjuries and help sort out whether an injury is functional (muscular) orstructural (skeletal) in nature.

Massage is used to help reduce pain and in some reduce chronic symptoms of cerebral palsy, fibromyalgia, myofascial pain syndrome and chronic fatigue syndrome, so to help people get better therapists must understand the illness.

There are responsibilities in regard to laws for reporting medical error, but what are the most common sources of medical error, the behaviors and situations that can make errors high risk and what steps can be taken to prevent errors from happening.

Headaches can be warning signs of underlying life-threatening conditions, however most are harmless and respond to basic treatments. Massage therapy has grown in acceptance as a viable treatment option, and more physicians have been suggesting it.

Research competency is an important aspect to massage therapists, some studies have scientifically verified information on massage therapy, and this knowledge helps the therapist provide truthful answers to clients on how massage works.

In this course, you will be able to demonstrate professional information literacy, distinguish between qualitative and quantitative research, and list key components of the scientific method.

This course outlines basicself-care practices for massage therapists with the goal of creating asustainable career in a profession with a high rate of practitioner burnout. Itis designed for both new practitioners who are just beginning their massagetherapy careers and seasoned professionals who would benefit from a refreshercourse on these practices.

The purpose of this course is to identify what plantar fasciitis is and what methods we, as massage therapists, can use to treat it in our clients. We will examine the anatomy of the plantar fascia, its role in the movement of the foot and ankle, and what happens when it becomes inflamed. We will also examine massage therapy techniques that can be used to treat it when our clients present with either an acute or chronic plantar fasciitis, as well as some self-care tools they can use at home. 

To begin massage treatment planning gather the client information including any medications that could affect the treatment plan, and understand that it is important to document all the information.

This course will discuss the major points of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and the health information protected by this act. Additionally, the course will identify the requirements for privacy practices notices, the HIPAA provisions for minors and personal representatives, and the penalties for non-compliance.

Understand the history of Manual Lymph Drainage (MLD), discuss the primary reasons for lymphatic edemas, and understand contraindications of MLD.

This is a video course.  In the second part of this series, you will continue to understand the history of Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD), understand superficial lymphatic structures & their functions, be able to demonstrate 3 assessment techniques, and perform 5 basic Lymphosize exercises.

In this first part, you will review major anatomy, identify bones of axial vs. appendicular regions and define muscle attachment sites, as well as define major terms of muscle funtion: agonist, antagonist, stabilizer, and fixators.

In this second part, you will be able to identify muscles of stabilization and fixation in upper and lower extremity movements, identify three planes of movement, and calculate torques in select exercise motions.

In this course you will learn a comprehensive understanding of the background basics of trigger points.  You will also learn how trigger points develop, where the common locations are for trigger points, the difference between active and latent trigger points and be able to locate and palpate individual muscles or groups of muscles that affect headaches.

In this course you will learn a comprehensive understanding of the background of trigger points.  You will also learn how trigger points develop, what common locations are, the difference between active and latent trigger points and also be able to locate and palpate individual muscles or groups of muscles that affect the rotator cuff and cause hip pain.

In this course you will learn a comprehensive understanding of the background basis of trigger points.  You will also learn how trigger points develop, where the common locations are, the difference between active and latent trigger points and also be able to locate and palpate individual muscles or groups of muscles that affect the rotator cuff and cause hip pain. 

This course will explain how a trigger point forms in a muscle and what events lead to the formation and perpetuation. You will be able to describe to your client the use of trigger point charts and explain the effects of manual therapy on a trigger point.

Massage employers have been known to engage in several unethical or illegal activities, what steps to take to report illegal activity and what agency do you report it to.

Massage in chronic illness can offer relaxation, stress reductions and some relief of muscle ache and tension, learn the basic information about these chronic conditions that may be present in clients, what causes the condition, the symptoms and treatments.

This class takes every learner through a comprehensive, yet amazingly clear tour of human movement. The course unlocks key principles which can easily be applied to every muscle and joint action. Lessons are supported by study materials specifically designed to strengthen the learner’s understanding of how humans create movement.  New learners and experienced professionals alike will enjoy this concise tutorial and gain powerful insight into the fun and fascinating world of Kin-EZ-Ology
Includes bonus study materials and printouts to further strengthen your knowledge. 

We will be offering many different Clinical Massage Protocol Living Streaming events.  During each we’ll explore the pathology in depth, including its pathophysiology, it’s related anatomy, and symptoms related to it. We will also cover effective and proven techniques, arranged in a logical and easy to remember protocol to help your client achieve positive results. Further, will cover common contraindications and explore related pathologies to help you make a more informed treatment plan. In short, this course will give you both the skills and the confidence to positively affect your client’s wellbeing when they are suffering from these conditions!

This class will start to prepare massage therapists for working with the senior, elderly and hospice population by teaching them strategies on how to adapt their massage to match the aging and dying population. During this course, the student will develop the understanding necessary to use the skills they already possess to work with these populations. In this course, the massage therapist will tap into their own awareness of what dying and death means to them. Students will gain the knowledge of targeting massage treatment(s) that best benefits clients by helping them gain immediate relief and long term improvements in movement thus improving their wellbeing for the senior population. Each participant will learn the benefits of touch for the hospice client and how to massage a client at the end of life. Students will also acquire new proficiencies to add to their skill set which will help them navigate working with a rapidly growing senior population. Participants will discover methods on how to evaluate clients, focusing on contraindications, skin fragility, muscle contraction and prevalent body issues. 

Advance Kinesiology of the Upper Extremity takes the learner through a clear, yet comprehensive tour of the gross and fine mechanisms of movement. The class starts with a cogent review of the mechanics and structures governing motions of the shoulder, elbow and forearm. The fundamental laws of kinetics are systemically applied to each aspect of the upper extremity. Students will see and apply foundational rules of human movement and build their ability to predict and assign the appropriate agonists, antagonists and synergists to each movement. The course features a thorough view of the supporting tissues and their essential contribution to shoulder and arm function. The class brings a series of supporting information based on the names of the structures, rationale for terms and designations, and offers the learner a set of resources to build genuine comprehension of the intricate design of the human upper appendage. Class learning goals are supported by a set of student activities including visual presentation, hand-outs for labeling/matching, and self-graded quiz. Newly credentialed and experienced professionals will all increase their mastery of the human shoulder/arm and leave with new skills which they can immediately apply in service to their clients.

This workshop identifies some of the major causes of back pain, which affects over 80% of American adults at some time.  Attendees will enhance their understanding of crucial structures related to the spine.  They will gain a deeper knowledge of some of the major pathologies which impede spinal health and the leading causes of these imbalances.  The class arms the massage therapist with a comprehensive approach to assisting clients which will include powerful hands-on techniques as well as key stretching and muscle activation techniques.

In the world we live in, as therapists, we must do our part in bringing awareness to the reality that 8 out of 10 individuals are living with some sort of Mental Health issues and anxiety & depression are only two (2) of the most common and can impact not only our own lives as healers, but can have major impact on the clientele that that you will have on your table and by providing a safe, supportive and confidential environment to those trying to cope with mental health issues, often times alone we can start eliminating the stigma attached in our society and giving your clients that compassionate touch we can make a deeper connection with them – giving hem a sense of hope! We already know that massage therapy research has an extensive list of benefits in reducing the symptoms of generalized anxiety and depression but in this course we will dive a little deeper into specific techniques we can use within our scope of practice and how it can aid as a complimentary therapy to a client’s mental health therapy program. Disclaimer: this course is NOT intended to be a substitution to any other health care provider’s/physician’s advice on a professional evaluation, diagnosis, or treatment program and a client should never disregard or delay in seeking in a professional opinion.

Athletes are always looking for a new cutting edge approach to improve performance and avoid injuries at all costs. One way to do this is through the practice of kinesiology or muscle testing, a therapy technique which identifies imbalances by testing an individual’s ability to hold various muscles throughout the body against applied pressure. As a massage therapist, muscle testing not only reveals whether specific muscles have sufficient strength, it can also alert you to any serious imbalances. Your instructor, J. Nicholas Tortoreiello, will you teach you how you can improve your clients’ range of motion by locating the weak muscles and improving on their function. This webinar will primarily focus on the hip. 

We will be offering many different Clinical Massage Protocol Living Streaming events.  During each we’ll explore the pathology in depth, including its pathophysiology, it’s related anatomy, and symptoms related to it. We will also cover effective and proven techniques, arranged in a logical and easy to remember protocol to help your client achieve positive results. Further, will cover common contraindications and explore related pathologies to help you make a more informed treatment plan. In short, this course will give you both the skills and the confidence to positively affect your client’s wellbeing when they are suffering from these conditions!

In the world we live in, as therapists, we must do our part in bringing awareness to the reality that 8 out of 10 individuals are living with some sort of Mental Health issues and anxiety & depression are only two (2) of the most common and can impact not only our own lives as healers, but can have major impact on the clientele that that you will have on your table and by providing a safe, supportive and confidential environment to those trying to cope with mental health issues, often times alone we can start eliminating the stigma attached in our society and giving your clients that compassionate touch we can make a deeper connection with them – giving hem a sense of hope! We already know that massage therapy research has an extensive list of benefits in reducing the symptoms of generalized anxiety and depression but in this course we will dive a little deeper into specific techniques we can use within our scope of practice and how it can aid as a complimentary therapy to a client’s mental health therapy program. Disclaimer: this course is NOT intended to be a substitution to any other health care provider’s/physician’s advice on a professional evaluation, diagnosis, or treatment program and a client should never disregard or delay in seeking in a professional opinion.

The vast majority, of commonly reoccurring headaches are of muscular origin. Current research will be presented, using a full-color power-point presentation on trigger point development and referred pain patterns, showing the contribution of an active TP to the typical headache experience. This course will itemize all muscles that contribute a referred pain pattern to the head, face, and jaw. Trigger Point development will be explained and demonstrated using a 3D model of a sarcomere, the contractile unit of a muscle. Migraine headaches will receive special attention and, also what differentiates a migraine from any other type of headache. Each muscle has its own unique and documented pain pattern. Multiple, active TP’s at the same time can produce wide ranging and sometimes overlapping symptoms. Treatment protocols will be demonstrated. After this class, each attendee will be able to specialize in the treatment of muscular related headaches for a more successful office practice.

This course clearly explains the nature and function of nutrients within the human body.  The categories of nutrients will be defined and the vital functions of energy, structure and metabolic regulation will be revealed.  We will explore each class of nutrient, examine how the structure and role of each nutrient are related.  This clear and enlightening class will add meaning to ubiquitous but nebulous terms such as saturated fats, complex carbohydrates, compete proteins and good vs bad cholesterols.  In doing so, the class forms a succinct didactic on the importance of an adequate and balanced diet.  Participants will gain insights to the effects of diet and nutrition and enhanced knowledge of how they can tailor their massage services to best fill clients’ needs.  

We will be offering many different Clinical Massage Protocol Living Streaming events.  During each we’ll explore the pathology in depth, including its pathophysiology, it’s related anatomy, and symptoms related to it. We will also cover effective and proven techniques, arranged in a logical and easy to remember protocol to help your client achieve positive results. Further, will cover common contraindications and explore related pathologies to help you make a more informed treatment plan. In short, this course will give you both the skills and the confidence to positively affect your client’s wellbeing when they are suffering from these conditions!

This course is Part 1 and a pre-requisite for part 2 and 3. In part two we expand into more pre-postures and a Fundamental Movement Algorithm(FMA). Part 3, FMA plus Active Isolated Stretching. This course is a pre-requisite for supported safe range of motion, massage techniques that address core stabilization and movement. It is evidence based stress resilience, core stabilization, lumbar pelvic stabilization, proper alignment, ergonomics, body mechanics, self-care, performance enhancement, fundamental stabilization to mobilization and massage techniques. This body of work bridges the gap between complimentary and western medicine. These principles are targeted for use within a massage therapy session. You will experience 4 breathing practices and an internal support system called locks. We will review current research regarding stability and sequences for safe education of posture with support. We will consider a holistic model of healing that you can bring into your sessions, into your own care. We will begin to learn a few “pre-postures” or safe progressions that help one to assess ranges of motion.

Nearly 40 million Americans endure at least 1 migraine or similar headache episodes per year with a staggering 9 million suffering 15 ore more headaches per month.  Conventional medical approaches and pain medicines carry high costs, risk of side effects and are only partially effective.Fortunately, there are safe, effective techniques available to massage therapists which have been met with outstanding success.  These inexpensive, noninvasive techniques can be applied almost anywhere, require no special equipment and allow for wonderful relief and healing of our clients.  The hands-on approach to relieving headaches often brings immediate, lasting relief to the client.  The specific skills required are well within the reach of Licensed Massage Professionals and can be mastered in a short time.

This class will start to prepare massage therapists for working with the senior, elderly and hospice population by teaching them strategies on how to adapt their massage to match the aging and dying population. During this course, the student will develop the understanding necessary to use the skills they already possess to work with these populations. In this course, the massage therapist will tap into their own awareness of what dying and death means to them. Students will gain the knowledge of targeting massage treatment(s) that best benefits clients by helping them gain immediate relief and long term improvements in movement thus improving their wellbeing for the senior population. Each participant will learn the benefits of touch for the hospice client and how to massage a client at the end of life. Students will also acquire new proficiencies to add to their skill set which will help them navigate working with a rapidly growing senior population. Participants will discover methods on how to evaluate clients, focusing on contraindications, skin fragility, muscle contraction and prevalent body issues. 

The hip/sacroiliac portion of this combined class will concentrate on the many muscular maladies of the hip and pelvic region. Lecture will include identifying issues of the region which can be benefited by massage therapy and, also those that cannot. Special attention will be devoted to sciatica ad its frequent muscular cause.  Treatment protocols will be demonstrated and practiced by all attendees. Orthopedic tests for iliotibial band tightness, its contribution to sacroiliac distortion, along with hip and knee pain will be highlighted. Treatment protocols will be demonstrated and practiced by all attendees. Many muscles of the lower back and pelvic region have referred trigger point pain patterns into the hip and on down the leg. Each will be examined individually using a full color power-point presentation, anatomical models, and course handouts.

This class will start to prepare massage therapists for working with the senior, elderly and hospice population by teaching them strategies on how to adapt their massage to match the aging and dying population. During this course, the student will develop the understanding necessary to use the skills they already possess to work with these populations. In this course, the massage therapist will tap into their own awareness of what dying and death means to them. Students will gain the knowledge of targeting massage treatment(s) that best benefits clients by helping them gain immediate relief and long term improvements in movement thus improving their wellbeing for the senior population. Each participant will learn the benefits of touch for the hospice client and how to massage a client at the end of life. Students will also acquire new proficiencies to add to their skill set which will help them navigate working with a rapidly growing senior population. Participants will discover methods on how to evaluate clients, focusing on contraindications, skin fragility, muscle contraction and prevalent body issues. 

Advance Kinesiology of the Lower Extremity presents an in-depth examination of the bony structures, connective tissues, and muscular components of the human hips and legs. The class instills clear, reliable principles of human movement and applies the governing axioms to every movement of each joint. Movements are discussed and demonstrated, including identification of agonist/antagonist/synergist contribution, planes of movement, and relation to movements in sports, rehab and daily life. The course features a comprehensive inspection of connective tissues, including their respective functional contributions and common injuries. Students will explore the often Injured ACL and other vulnerable structures of the knee. Demonstrations of assessment and discovery of multi-planar movement pathologies will enhance students’ skill at addressing muscle imbalances in the lower extremity. Attendees will have opportunity to strengthen and assess their progress through a set of labeling, matching activities and a self-graded quiz. The class will build and improve students’ cognizance of the optimum and impaired function of the human lower extremity and impart applicable skills for movement restoration and maximum performance.

Athletes are always looking for a new cutting edge approach to improve performance and avoid injuries at all costs. One way to do this is through the practice of kinesiology or muscle testing, a therapy technique which identifies imbalances by testing an individual’s ability to hold various muscles throughout the body against applied pressure. As a massage therapist, muscle testing not only reveals whether specific muscles have sufficient strength, it can also alert you to any serious imbalances. Your instructor, J. Nicholas Tortoreiello, will you teach you how you can improve your clients’ range of motion by locating the weak muscles and improving on their function. This webinar will primarily focus on the hip.