Review exactly what you've learned
This review is intentionally limited to the chapters and lessons taught before Theory Exam #1. Nothing from later units is required here.
Exam-alignment map
Directional terms, anatomical position, planes, movements and massage terminology.
Tables, linens, lubricants, bolsters, room setup, equipment safety and care.
Therapist alignment and stances; prone, supine, side-lying and semi-reclined positioning; bolstering; sheet and towel draping; turning and boundaries.
Disease vocabulary, pathogens, chain of infection, transmission, Standard Precautions, hygiene, contraindications and endangerment sites.
Pressure, direction, excursion, rate, rhythm, sequence, compression/traction and core technique families.
Effleurage, petrissage, friction, compression, tapotement and vibration as taught in the course, plus practical identification.
Know these cold
Anatomical position; anterior/posterior, medial/lateral, proximal/distal, superficial/deep; planes and basic movements; massage-table and linen setup; therapist stances and body-weight transfer; client positions and bolstering; secure draping; disease/sign/symptom terminology; incidence versus prevalence; pathogen types; reservoir, portal of exit, transmission, portal of entry and susceptible host; contact, vehicle and vector transmission; fomites; hand hygiene and Standard Precautions; absolute versus local contraindications; the major endangerment sites; pressure, direction, excursion, rate and rhythm; and the core massage technique families.
Reasoning sequence for exam scenarios
1. Is massage appropriate today? 2. Is this body area appropriate? 3. Is there a transmission or endangerment-site risk? 4. What modification is needed? 5. Which technique fits the goal? 6. What client response would make me change or stop?
Chapter 3 check
Why should table height be adjusted to the therapist and the work being performed?
It supports efficient body mechanics, appropriate leverage and safer delivery of pressure.
Why should clean and used linens be stored separately?
To reduce cross-contamination and keep clean supplies from becoming fomites.
Chapter 7 check
Which position means lying face up?
Supine.
What is the main purpose of secure draping?
To protect privacy, modesty, warmth, security and professional boundaries while exposing only the area being treated.
What's a better source of deep pressure than shoulder and hand tension?
Aligned body-weight transfer through an efficient stance.
Chapter 9 check
What's the difference between incidence and prevalence?
Incidence counts new cases during a period. Prevalence includes all existing cases in the population being measured.
What is a fomite?
An inanimate contaminated object capable of participating in indirect disease transmission.
What are the course's three broad modes of transmission?
Contact, vehicle and vector transmission. Contact can be direct or indirect.
Why are Standard Precautions used with every client?
Because infection status may be unknown and safe exposure prevention shouldn't depend on appearance or disclosure.
A client has fever and an acute contagious illness. What's the decision?
Postpone the massage. This is an absolute contraindication for that session.
Pressure behind the fibular head creates a shock-like sensation down the leg. What should you do?
Stop or change the pressure immediately because the common fibular nerve is vulnerable there.
Chapter 8 / techniques check
What is excursion?
The distance traveled by a massage technique.
What's the difference between rate and rhythm?
Rate is speed or repetition frequency. Rhythm is the regularity or predictable pattern of the movement.
Which technique is rhythmic percussion?
Tapotement.
Which technique uses gliding or stroking contact?
Effleurage.
Which family includes lifting, kneading and squeezing tissue?
Petrissage.
Integrated practice
A client has a healing abrasion on one forearm and otherwise feels well. Does the whole massage need to be cancelled?
Not automatically. Treat it as a local safety/infection-control issue, avoid or appropriately protect the area and work elsewhere if massage is otherwise appropriate.
A therapist wants more pressure but notices a bent wrist and elevated shoulder. What's the correction?
Change stance, table position or contact so pressure comes through aligned body-weight transfer.
A client reports sharp electrical tingling during focused pressure. Should you tell them deep massage is supposed to hurt?
No. Change or stop the pressure immediately and reassess. Neurologic sensations aren't a goal of massage.