Virginia Massage Therapy Continuing Education

About the Course

• Outline key principles of professional ethics in massage therapy.


• Define the concept of power dynamics.


• Distinguish between transference and countertransference.


• Describe the nature of the fiduciary role.


• List four ways practitioners might work outside their scope of practice.


• Explain the risks of dual or multiple-role relationships between practitioners and clients.


• Explain the relationship between patient autonomy and agreements, including the client’s bill of rights, informed consent, and right to refuse treatment.


• List four strategies that reinforce appropriate boundaries.

About the Author

• Recognize the physical demands of massage therapy and the importance of self-care for career longevity.
• Examine your techniques and body mechanics for optimal safety.
• Set a sustainable work schedule and implement healthy boundaries to avoid burnout.
• Recognize the importance of a healthy lifestyle, including diet and exercise.
• Practice what you preach: get regular massage.

Learning objectives

• Identify their niche market or target demographic.
• Develop a marketing strategy to reach and attract their niche market.
• Generate referral business by building a solid reputation.
• Establish an online/social media presence to engage their audience.
• Maximize their business’ online visibility by using the available tools.

Learning objectives 

• Define an orthopedic test.
• Identify techniques common to orthopedic massage.
• Analyze the difference between structural and functional soft-tissue dysfunctions.
• Determine if an orthopedic test is necessary.
• Recognize the most accurate and common orthopedic tests used by physicians and physical therapists.
• Demonstrate how the most accurate and common orthopedic tests are conducted.

• Define pathology and relate it to the practice of massage therapy.
• Describe the different forms of cerebral palsy and how they affect functioning of people.
• Explain what causes cerebral palsy and where its effects are manifested.
• List the kinds of treatments that may be used to help cerebral palsy patients.
• List the symptoms that people with fibromyalgia may exhibit.
• Explain how fibromyalgia is diagnosed.
• List the benefits of massage for people with fibromyalgia and the general types of massage that should be used.
• Explain the differences in symptoms of fibromyalgia and myofascial pain.
• Define trigger points and their relation to myofascial pain.
• List treatments for myofascial pain, including indications for massage.
• Describe the criteria for diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome.
• List possible causes of chronic fatigue syndrome.
• List treatment options for chronic fatigue syndrome.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, the learner should be able to:

• Recall the criteria for each headache type.
• Identify the major muscles indicated in headache pain.
• Employ the appropriate assessments during the intake process.
• Apply unstructured conversation techniques to the intake process.
• Formulate a treatment plan.
• Recognize the warning signs of an underlying life-threatening condition.

Upon completion of this course, the learner should be able to:

• Recognize the importance of research competency for massage therapists.
• Explain the scientific method.
• Define the different types of research.
• Identify the components of a research article.
• Summarize the consequences of not being involved with massage research.
• List the scientifically verified benefits of massage therapy.

Upon Completion, the participant will be able to:

1. Demonstrate professional Information Literacy
2. Distinguish between Qualitative and Quantitative research
3. Differentiate Objective from Subjective data
4. Define and calculate the measures of central tendency
5. List key components of the Scientific Method

You will:
• Review major anatomy, identify bones of axial vs. appendicular regions and define muscle attachment sites: origin, insertion
• Describe the interrelation of muscle location and function: origin/insertion to skeletal regions, directional terminology, and joint actions
• Define major terms of muscle function: agonist, antagonist, stabilizer, fixators
• Identify muscles of stabilization & fixation in upper & lower extremity movements
• Identify Three Planes of Movement
• Label all major joint actions as 1st, 2nd or 3rd degree levers
• Calculate torques in select exercise motions: dumbbell lateral raise, bicep curl
• Locate origin and insertion of all major muscles of the lower body
• Demonstrate the actions of selected muscles
• Identify muscles roles, joints actions and planes involved in high hurdle
• Locate origin and insertion of all major muscles of the upper body
• Demonstrate the actions of selected muscles

• Distinguish between coverage associated with private health insurance, personal injury insurance, and workers' compensation coverage.
• Explain how personal injury and motor vehicle accidents are more receptive to insurance reimbursement than other types of coverage.
• Name the primary standardized billing form for insurance reimbursement.
• Explain the role of Worker's Compensation in cases of on-the-job injury.
• List the four main steps of SOAP charting and identify the information associated with each part.
• Explain what ICD and CTP codes are, where and how they are used.
• Define "functional outcomes" and their significance in SOAP charting.
• Define "scope of practice" and its relationship to insurance reimbursement for massage.

You will:

• Review major anatomy, identify bones of axial vs. appendicular regions and define muscle attachment sites: origin, insertion
• Describe the interrelation of muscle location and function: origin/insertion to skeletal regions, directional terminology, and joint actions
• Define major terms of muscle function: agonist, antagonist, stabilizer, fixators
• Identify muscles of stabilization & fixation in upper & lower extremity movements
• Identify Three Planes of Movement
• Label all major joint actions as 1st, 2nd or 3rd degree levers
• Calculate torques in select exercise motions: dumbbell lateral raise, bicep curl
• Locate origin and insertion of all major muscles of the lower body
• Demonstrate the actions of selected muscles
• Identify muscles roles, joints actions and planes involved in high hurdle
• Locate origin and insertion of all major muscles of the upper body
• Demonstrate the actions of selected muscles
  

Learning objectives

• Identify client goals in order to begin treatment planning.
• Demonstrate the ability to understand the importance of documentation and how to use it.
• Develop the ability to use an intake form and conduct an interview.
• Describe the two most common documenting formats.
• Explain how to assess a client’s pain.
• Describe the importance of a client’s medications and their infl uence on treatment planning.
• Understand a massage therapist’s scope-of-practice.
• Develop the ability to use several assessments and the process of treatment planning based on their outcomes.
• Describe the most common massage techniques employed in a clinical massage.
• Describe how to proceed at the conclusion of the massage.

You will be able to:
• Explain to their client how a trigger point forms in a muscle and what events lead to their formations and perpetuation
• Describe to their client the use of trigger point charts and the research that created them and demonstrate how they are used to locate trigger points
• Visibly perform an assessment of the clients posture to help determine possible locations of trigger points
• Demonstrate the use of flat, pincer and probing palpitation skills to locate trigger points and explain their choice their modality used as therapy
• Demonstrate the use of hot and cold therapy properly applied to a trigger point and demonstrate the use of passive/static stretching
• Demonstrate the use of pressure therapy when applied to a trigger point from the therapists perspective
• Explain the effects of manual therapy on a trigger point and describe the physical sensations of trigger point release from the clients perspective

• Discuss the major points of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
• Identify the “covered entities” of HIPAA.
• Define “business associate” as the term is used in HIPAA.
• Identify the health information that is protected by HIPAA.
• Discuss the permitted uses and disclosures of protected heath information (PHI).
• Discuss the principle of “minimum necessary” use and disclosure.
• Identify the requirements for privacy practices notices.
• Discuss the HIPAA provisions for minors and personal representatives.
• Identify penalties for non-compliance.\n

• Recognize the basis for possible conflicts between massage therapists and their employers.
• Examine which massage therapy Standards of Practice should apply to the employers of massage therapists.
• Describe several unethical or illegal activities massage employers have been known to engage in.
• Identify the reasons why a massage employer might misclassify a massage therapist’s employment status.
• Review the general rule for distinguishing between independent contractors and employees.
• Identify six of the eleven tests in the IRS’s Independent Contractor Test.
• Explain what questions a massage therapist should ask when researching a potential massage employer.
• Assess what questions a massage therapist should ask a potential massage employer during an interview.
• Determine what steps a massage therapist should take if offered employment.
• Define sexual harassment according to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
• Identify situations that fit the definition of sexual harassment.
• Describe several ways a massage therapist can minimize their exposure to sexual harassment.
• Describe the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and explain what they do.
• List several of the Basic Principles of Universal Precautions.
• Summarize OSHA’s enforcement policy.
• Describe the reporting procedure for massage employees that are not compensated.
• Review the particulars of break and meal periods.
• Assess why most massage therapists are not protected by the Family and Medical Leave Act.
• List four of the six situations presented that may indicate a corrupt employer.
• Analyze how ethics and legal requirements pertain to each case.
• Review the most important action massage therapists must take to protect themselves in workplace disputes.
• Determine which agencies an employer’s illegal activities should be reported to.
• Name the most important agency an employer’s illegal activities should be reported to if a massage therapist doesn’t know who to report violations to.
• Review the steps to report an employer’s illegal activities.

About the Course

• List 12 massage techniques that can help rehabilitate or prevent sports injuries.
• Describe the manner in which each massage technique is
  performed.
• List 14 general terms associated with sports injuries.
• Summarize each of the general terms to include symptoms
  of bodily conditions.
• Identify the conditions that contraindicate massage therapy.
• List 14 conditions associated with sports injuries.
• Define each of the specific conditions to include its symptoms.
• Discuss which massage techniques are most effective for
  each condition.
• Provide any self-care techniques that may help rehabilitate these conditions.

Learning Objectives

• Develop and implement a clinical reasoning protocol to serve individuals with special needs.
• Explain the concepts of "therapeutic change" and "condition management," and their practical significance to massage therapy and palliative care.
• List some of the benefits of massage for people with chronic and terminal illness.
• Explain the etiology of chronic illness and the differences between acute and chronic illness.
• List some special considerations for elderly clients.
• Define therapeutic change, condition management and palliative care, and describe a context for each.
• Identify indications for massage therapy in chronic illness and explain the benefits of those indications.

You will:

• Understand the history & it's founders of Manual Lymph Drainage
• Verbalize understanding of superficial lymphatic structures & their functions
• Discuss 3 primary reasons for lymphatic edemas
• Understand 7 contraindications of MLD
• Discuss the difference between medical grade compression garments & non medical grade compression garments
• Be able to demonstrate 3 assessment techniques
• Be able perform 5 basic Lymphosize exercises

About the Course

Learning Objectives

• Identify anatomical structures involved with carpal tunnel syndrome and similar conditions.
• Delineate "true" carpal tunnel syndrome from other similar conditions.
• Recognize research that indicates the effectiveness of massage therapy for carpal tunnel syndrome patients.
• Perform bodywork techniques designed to reduce the signs and the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome.

• Define “communication.”
• Identify the difference between verbal and non-verbal communication.
• Explain the difference between marketing and advertising.
• Recognize the actions that attract clients. 
• Explain how to talk to clients over the phone. 
• Demonstrate how to greet a client.
• Demonstrate the proper way to interview a client.
• Articulate common post-massage recommendations.
• How to recognize sexual misconduct of a client.

• Distinguish between HIV infection and AIDS.
• Describe ways to prevent the spread of communicable diseases like HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and hepatitis.
• Describe professional compliance and infection control procedures.
• Explain proper sanitation techniques for your instruments and workplace.
• Identify and explain the main points of OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogen Standard and its applications in massage therapy.
• List the standards and guidelines established for occupational safety and exposure to viral hepatitis, HIV infection, and AIDS.
• Identify ways communicable diseases can be spread in the context of massage therapy and strategies to reduce risk of transmission for increased massage therapist and client safety.

About the Course

• List steps in the initial interview protocol.


• Describe the rationale and method for establishing client rapport.


• Describe how to discuss past massage experience with clients.


• Determine the type of session the client is seeking and appropriate questions to ask.


• Explain the rehabilitative process for clients needing pain relief.


• Describe the pain scale, palpation application, and necessity for client feedback.


• Explain what to consider in a treatment plan and session protocol.


• Explain body positioning, draping and how to create a setting conducive to client relaxation and comfort.


• Explain how to receive a massage.


• Describe what clients may expect to feel following a massage session.


• List steps to conclude a successful client session.

About the Author

Learning objectives

• Define the terms cultural competence, race, ethnicity and culture as they apply to health and wellness professions.
• Describe five ways that race and culture impact health.
• Identify patterns of health disparities and strategies to address them.
• Discuss the importance of diversity factors that influence effective cross-cultural communication in clinical encounters.
• List assessment tools to help therapists identify personal attitudes toward culture and cultural differences, and improve communication between clients, patients and massage therapists.
• Give three examples of stereotyping and its effect on health.
• List strategies to uncover and eliminate stereotyping.
• Describe three models of effective communication for providing culturally competent care.
• Explain the impact of limited English language (LEP) proficiency on health outcomes.
• Identify legislative actions to promote equity in language access for LEP patients.
• Select and discuss four reasons for the under-utilization of interpreters for LEP patients in health care settings.
• Describe four practical strategies to improve interpretation services to support culturally competent care.
• List and explain four components of self-evaluation and reflection to enhance culturally competent care.

• Design a legal application form.
• Know what not to ask in an interview.
• Describe strategies for hiring that get the best candidate.
• Identify the basics of reference-checking.
• Avoid common mistakes that risk legal liability.

• Identify the principles of the professional Code of Ethics from the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA), the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB), and the Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals (ABMP).
• List and define five standards of practice from the AMTA, the ABMP and the NCBTMB, and give an example of each standard.
• Explain the concepts of power dynamics, transference and counter transference related to the scope of practice in massage and bodywork.
• List five key elements of documentation and records maintenance, including the HIPAA Privacy Rule. 
• Define the risks involved with dual or multiple-role relationships between therapists and clients and list four strategies that reinforce appropriate boundaries. 
• Explain the relationship between patient autonomy and therapist/client agreements, including the client’s bill of rights, informed consent, and right to refuse treatment.
  

Learning objectives 

• Create and implement basic operational policies for your business (five essential policies).
• Identify how to effectively communicate your policies to clients.
• Develop a professional relationship with your clients from the first contact.
• Collect and store client information.
• Determine your rates for service and make adjustments as needed.
• Establish a professional online presence and increase brand awareness.

• Understand the history & founders of Manual Lymphatic Drainage. 
• Verbalize understanding of superficial lymphatic structures & their functions.
• Discuss 3 primary reasons for lymphatic edemas.
• Understand 7 contraindications of MLD.
• Discuss the difference between medical grade compression garments & non medical grade compression garments.
• Be able to demonstrate 3 assessment techniques.
• Be able to perform 5 basic Lymphosize exercises.

• Define stress in clinical terms and describe its effects on the body and brain.
• Identify the effects of stress on the body and the difference between acute and chronic stress.
• Examine the relationship between our modern lifestyle and our indicated levels of stress.
• Recognize current cultural norms of overstimulation and overmedication.
• Identify the physiological, neurological, and biochemical changes that take place during massage and their role in reducing stress.
• Establish the importance of consistent massage therapy as a long-term stress-reducing practice.

About the Course

• Explain the difference between human trafficking and human smuggling.


• List and describe five "push" and "pull" factors that contribute to human trafficking.


• Identify five reasons why some states have a high number of human trafficking victims.


• Describe the psychological factors affecting trafficking victims.


• Discuss the factors that make children vulnerable to sexual exploitation and trafficking.


• Identify six locations where human trafficking for sexual exploitation may occur.


• Identify six locations where human trafficking for labor exploration may occur.


• Outline the routes that international trafficking victims take to arrive in the United States.


• List 10 types of physical abuse that trafficking victims endure.


• Identify 10 signs that may indicate human trafficking is occurring.


• Discuss three types of intervention that is used to address human trafficking.


• Describe the steps to take if human trafficking is suspected.


• Identify three national resources for information, rescue and support to address human trafficking.

About the Author

• Define "target marketing" and list two ways to segment a market.
• List the four key components of every marketing program.
• Explain the benefits of preparing a Competitor and Issues Analysis.
• List four items that belong in a Competitor Analysis.
• Name and describe the "four P's" of marketing strategy.
• Define "U.S.P." and explain its significance to marketing.
• Distinguish between public relations and advertising.
• List the five components of most print ads.
• Define "client-centered" marketing and explain its significance.
• List the five critical points you should learn from a survey of clients.
• Describe six potential strategies you can implement in your business this year and how you will track your degree of success.

• Identify symptoms of PTSD.
• Distinguish between acute stress disorder and PTSD.
• Explain why some individuals may be more likely than others to experience PTSD, and list some of the possible factors involved.
• Describe the population first associated with PTSD.
• Define dissociation and explain how it occurs.
• List a number of modalities that combine bodywork and psychology.
• List four types of psychotherapy that have proven especially effective in treating PTSD.
• Describe three tenets of Trauma Touch Therapy.
• Refer to chapter resources for further information.

About the Course

• Define HIV, AIDS, their relationship and the differences between them.
• Identify how HIV is transmitted from one person to another – and how it is NOT spread.
• List risk factors for being infected by HIV.
• Describe HIV tests and what they measure.
• Define CD4 counts and "viral loads."
• List ways a person who is HIV positive can avoid transmitting the virus to others.
• Name some common "opportunistic infections."
• Explain HIV "drug cocktails" and their role in treating people with HIV.
• List common side effects of HIV/AIDS drugs.

  About the Author

  
  Every year 200,000 professionals nationwide use Elite Continuing Education. They do so because we provide the highest quality continuing education nationwide at an affordable price. I hope you enjoy our course and find it to be beneficial and informative.
  
  All our courses are written by professionals with extensive research and educational backgrounds.
  
  Should you have any questions please feel free to email us at office@elitecme.com.

Learning Objectives

• Recognize the importance of research competency for massage therapists.
• Explain the scientific method.
• Define the different types of research.
• Identify the components of a research article.
• Summarize the consequences of not being involved with massage research.
• List the scientifically verified benefits of massage therapy.

Learning objectives

• Define the characteristics of sciatica.
• Recognize the causes of sciatica.
• Compare sciatica with other conditions of the low back.
• Distinguish the muscle imbalance patterns attributing to sciatica.
• Understand the pattern of referred pain resulting from sciatica.
• Illustrate application of massage techniques to treat the client.
• Discuss how to construct a treatment plan.
• Discuss how to assess the client’s posture and gait.
• Describe the evaluation of the client’s pain patterns and symptoms.
• Demonstrate practice of test assessments to rule out other conditions of the low back.

You will:

• Learn how to best support the pregnant client is all stages of pregnancy and labor.
• Learn the effects different hormones have on the body during pregnancy
• Have an understanding of the emotional changes that occur with pregnancy
• Explore the body changes within the three trimesters of pregnancy
• Have an understanding of the common conditions that may require cautions during a massage session
• Have an understanding of the benefits massage has to the pregnant woman
• Demonstrate on a partner the different massage techniques that are effective for releasing tension in the pregnant body
• Explore the various ways of loosening the low back and hips.
• Have an understanding of the best positions used for the comfort of the mother to be
• Be able to assess the mother to decide which position should be used during each session
• Explore the best range of motion and stretching techniques used for a pregnant client
• Gain the knowledge of the best stretches for their clients to do at home to benefit their massage
• Learn the various physical and emotional body changes that occur during the labor process
• Have an understanding of the best massage techniques to support their client through labor
• Learn how to best interact with the medical staff during the labor process
• Learn the best effective strategies to market their prenatal massage practice

You will:

• Learn how to best support the pregnant client is all stages of pregnancy and labor
• Learn the effects different hormones have on the body during pregnancy
• Have an understanding of the emotional changes that occur with pregnancy
• Explore the body changes within the three trimester of pregnancy
• Have an understanding of the common conditions that may require cautions during a massage session
• Have an understanding of the benefits massage has to the pregnant woman
• Demonstrate on a partner the different massage techniques that are effective for releasing tension in the pregnant body
• Explore the various ways of loosening the low back and hips.
• Have an understanding of the best positions used for the comfort of the mother to be
• Be able to assess the mother to decide which position should be used during each session
• Explore the best range of motion and stretching techniques used for a pregnant client
• Gain the knowledge of the best stretches for their clients to do at home to benefit their massage
• Learn the various physical and emotional body changes that occur during the labor process
• Have an understanding of the best massage techniques to support their client through labor
• Learn how to best interact with the medical staff during the labor process
• Learn the best effective strategies to market their prenatal massage practice

• Describe the symptoms of osteoarthritis, lymphedema, fibromyalgia, and Parkinson’s disease.
• Identify the populations that are most likely to have each of these conditions.
• Describe the most common treatments and lifestyle adaptations used by clients for these conditions.
• Discuss the available research on the benefits of massage therapy for individuals with these conditions.