The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) introduced “Universal Precautions” in 1985, mostly in response to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic. At the time, Universal Precautions were a set of guidelines for health care professionals aimed at preventing the transmission of bloodborne pathogens like HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C.16 In 1996, the […]
Lesson 3-3: Standard Precautions Read More »
It is impossible to know if a client who walks into your business is infected with a pathogen. Similarly, you may be infected and not know it. Because pathogens that cause serious illness are all around us, sanitation and hygiene practices are required at all times to prevent the spread of disease. These practices include
Lesson 3-2: Preventing the Transmission of Disease Read More »
To prevent the spread of disease, you should understand the different types of diseases, infectious agents (also called pathogens) and their forms, and the processes by which disease may be transmitted.
Lesson 3-1: Disease Read More »
Massage therapists are required by health standards and professional ethics to provide a clean, hygienic, and safe environment for their clients. Therapists adopt standard sanitation procedures to prevent the spread of infectious disease. Sanitation protocols include therapist hygiene; the sanitation of the treatment room, equipment, and product containers; and general cleanness of the facility. In
Lesson 3-0: Introduction Read More »
Your client’s perception of their massage is created or altered through their five senses because this is how we interpret our environment. Therefore, we shape client comfort by paying attention to what the client sees, hears, smells, tastes, and feels during the session. Look at your client’s experience through the lens of the five senses.
Lesson 2-3: Creating a Comfortable Massage Environment Read More »
Lubricants are used with many massage techniques to prevent undue friction between the therapist’s hands and the client’s skin. While some techniques are performed on dry skin without a lubricant, most strokes feel uncomfortable to clients without some sort of lubrication. The choice of lubricant is based in part on the degree of slip and
Lesson 2-2: Lubricants Read More »
Massage equipment includes all items and tools therapists might use in their massage practice (Box 2-1). The equipment must be well made, safe, attractive, and comfortable for the client and should not cause undue stress to the therapist’s body. Each piece of equipment represents an investment in your business and your clients. Therefore, when you
Lesson 2-1: Massage Equipment Read More »
Early in your massage training program, it is important to appreciate the tools of the trade, work with them safely, and consider your equipment needs for professional practice. Scroll through the slides below to get a quick overview of what you can expect in each lesson of this chapter on Massage Equipment. More specialized equipment
Lesson 2-0: Introduction Read More »
This section examines the reasons why people seek massage and how different work environments focus on the needs of particular client groups. Lesson 1-3 also discusses how massage fits into the American health care system.
Lesson 1-3: Contemporary American Massage Read More »
Throughout the history of massage, new techniques were developed to cause physiological or psychological changes in the body. Techniques usually were later grouped together within a formalized system (also called a modality, form, or style). Different systems that share similar characteristics are collectively called an “approach” (which might also be referred to as a modality,
Lesson 1-2: Overview of Techniques, Systems, and Approaches Read More »
Interactive and engaging digital textbooks and online continuing education for the 21st century massage therapist.