MTH-MTH7021 - Massage Therapy I

Course Description

Permission required prior to enrollment

Contact cehealth@cpcc.edu for details

The 657-hour Massage Therapy Program offers a comprehensive education, preparing students for productive careers in massage and bodywork. Central Piedmont currently offers a traditional day-time program in therapeutic massage and a supervised, student-run clinic. The program is divided into three modules focusing on body-oriented therapies, anatomy, kinesiology, and business practices.

To take this course, students must:

• Be at least 18 years of age
• Have an official transcript on file showing the graduation date from that institution (high school, GED, or college/university)
• Be eligible to take ENG 111
• Have a valid state issued picture ID

Course Outline

Anatomy & Physiology I  - 45 Hours
Introduction to the Human Body: Medical Terminology, Cells, Tissues and the Body Compass
Basics of Anatomy and Physiology, Cells, Tissues, and Membranes
Define anatomy and physiology and homeostasis and discuss medical terminology.
Discuss cells, tissues, and membranes.
The Body Compass
Describe the body compass, including anatomic position, planes, directional terms, body cavities, and body regions.

Integumentary System and Pathologies
List anatomic structures and physiologic processes related to the integumentary system, and describe the epidermis, dermis, and subcutaneous layer.
Discuss skin color, hair, nails, skin glands, thermoregulation, and skin receptors.
Describe dermatologic pathologies and state their massage modifications.

Skeletal System: Function and Classification of Bones and Divisions of the Skeleton
List anatomic structures and physiologic processes related to the skeletal system and discuss bone tissue, bone cells, ossification, bone growth, and bone remodeling.
Classify bones by their size and shape, and discuss long bone anatomy and divisions of the skeleton.

Skeletal System: Structure, Function, and Types of Joints, and Skeletal Pathologic Conditions
Classify joints by their structure and their function, and discuss synovial joint anatomy, types of synovial joints, and synovial joint movements.
Describe skeletal pathologies and state their massage modifications.

Muscular System: Physiology of Muscles and Muscle Contraction
List anatomic structures and physiologic processes related to the muscular system and describe muscle fibers, muscles, and connective tissues.
Explain mechanisms involved in muscle contraction.

Muscular System: Classifying Muscles and Muscular Pathology
Classify muscles by their shape, their actions, how many joints they cross, and by their lever system arrangement.
Describe muscular pathologies and state their massage modifications.
 
Nervous System: Overview, Neurons, and Synaptic Transmission
List anatomic structures and physiologic processes related to the nervous system and discuss its basic organization.
Outline types of cells, neural structures, and their function, including neuroglia, neurons, reflexes, reflex arcs, nerves, and nerve impulses, synapses, and synaptic transmission.

Nervous System: Central, Peripheral, and Autonomic Nervous Systems
List structures, functions, and characteristics of the central and peripheral nervous systems, including the brain, spinal cord, cranial and spinal nerves, and the autonomic nervous system and its divisions.

Nervous System: The Senses, Receptors, and Nervous System Pathologies
Identify the senses and their receptors.
Describe neurologic pathologies and state their massage modifications.

Kinesiology I - 45 Hours
Define kinesiology and bony markings, and identify bones and relevant bony markings of the upper extremity, the lower extremity, and the axial skeleton.

Identify skeletal muscles and their origins, insertions, and actions with palpation and movement
Muscles of Trunk and Vertebral Column
Muscles of Scapular Movement
Muscles of Shoulder Joint Movement

Massage Therapy I - 129 Hours
Foundational massage techniques
Demonstrate proper body mechanics to avoid injury and increase effectiveness of strokes.
Demonstrate how to effectively drape a client, creating a comfortable and secure environment.
Demonstrate how to apply Effleurage, Petrissage, Compression, Friction, Tapotement, Vibration.
Demonstrate the therapeutic uses/benefits of each technique.
Create a healthy, hygienic environment for the practice of massage.
Identify indications and contraindications for massage.
Perform stroke integration into a sixty minute full body massage sequence. 

North Carolina Law & Ethics - 15 Hours
Ethics and the Therapeutic Relationship
Define ethics and discuss key ethical principles.
Discuss the therapeutic relationship, its characteristics, and cultural competencies.
Examine Ethics, Boundaries, Laws, Regulations in the therapeutic relationship
Ethical behavior
The therapeutic relationship
Confidentiality
Principles
Review and Discuss North Carolina Practice Act and NC Rules and Regulations 

Clinic I - 40 Hours
Integrate Massage I experience in a live clinical setting with public clients.
Model professional work setting including schedule, set up and breakdown of supplies and equipment. 
Model professional ethical behaviors and practice in accordance with best practices and state law.
Analyze and examine client intake forms with support of licensed faculty members.
Generate with increasing proficiency session charting notes in SOAP format.

Learner Outcomes

Our objective is that each student of Central Piedmont Community College’s Therapeutic Massage Program will come to the practice of therapeutic massage and bodywork therapy with a creativity firmly rooted in education and experience. Graduates of the program will be trained to practice massage and bodywork therapy in diverse settings. To prepare graduates for employment in a variety of settings, the program strives to offer a massage and bodywork therapy education that provides:

Provides students with the principles and techniques to apply, with increasing confidence, a variety of classical and clinical massage and bodywork therapy modalities

Apply Knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and pathology to provide safe and beneficial treatments

Utilize efficient  body mechanics to promote ease in the administration of massage and bodywork therapy techniques, while at the same time, preventing injury to themselves

Understand small business management skills to develop and operate a successful career within the laws and rules of North Carolina and other governing authorities. 

Demonstrate knowledge of psychological and ethical concepts to ensure dynamics of a professional therapist/client relationship are uncompromised. 

Integrate knowledge of health and hygiene into the practice of self-care for the massage therapist and the creation and maintenance of a safe and effective work environment

To enable students to communicate effectively with clients, other health care providers, and the community at large as to the benefits and advisability of massage.

Notes

Method of instruction: Classroom and Lab

Evaluation: Participation in discussions and hands-on lab work with live clients and classmates.

Accrediting Associations

• NC Board of Massage and Bodywork Therapy

Applies Towards the Following Certificates

• Massage Therapy Certificate Program : Massage Therapy Program