Common Pathologies & Complaints

Materials

• 8 Original Articles - 24 pages
• Online multiple-choice test
• Certificate upon completion

Description

Earn credits through articles you've already read in our Massage Professionals Update e-newsletter.

Through this brief program you will learn how massage can affect specific pathologies and client complaints. This includes:

• Recognizing alopecia areata (hair loss) and identifying the autoimmune conditions associated with alopecia areata.
• Differentiating between common constipation and severe symptoms that require a physician’s evaluation, potential causes of constipation, learning examples of serious complications that can result from severe constipation as well as appropriate massage techniques to help alleviate constipation.
• Discovering TCM meridians associated with eye health.
• The association between deep vein thrombosis and peripheral arterial disease (PAD), PAD signs and symptoms, lifestyle modifications that can benefit clients with PAD as well as appropriate massage techniques for clients with PAD.
• Learning about popular theories of ganglion cysts and where they most commonly occur.
• Summarizing the effects of alcohol and bodywork on the body and determining legal and ethical responsibilities if clients are served alcohol in the massage setting.
• Vital steps you should know before beginning bodywork on a client who has cancer.
• Safety concerns and appropriate massage therapy techniques for use on diabetic clients.

In the Common Pathologies & Complaints program we've combined articles written especially for the Institute's Massage Professionals Update. These articles include:

• Aromatherapy Massage for Alopecia Areata - The purposeful application of human touch alone may lessen the psychological distress of alopecia areata. Discover how bodyworkers with training in aromatherapy can turn a massage for alopecia areata into an especially therapeutic session.
• A Massage Therapist's Guide to Constipation - When a healthy diet and exercise do not successfully relieve constipation for your clients, learn which massage techniques you can use to help relax their abdomen, reduce their discomfort and encourage regular defecation.
• Massage and Eye Health - From the time we open them in the morning, until the time we close them at night, our eyes are always on call. Our feet get a break when we sit, our hands work intermittently throughout the day but, aside from our ears which never seem to get a break, our eyes are just about the busiest part of our body. Learn how massage can reduce the symptoms experienced with eye fatigue and how bodywork can help keep them healthy.
• Peripheral Artery Disease for Bodyworkers - Affecting 8 to 12 million Americans, peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a vascular disease most healthcare professionals are likely to encounter. A circulation disorder where narrowed arteries reduce blood flow to the limbs, PAD typically affects the lower limbs causing leg pain when walking. Find out the signs and symptoms, risk factors, suggested lifestyle modifications, as well as how massage therapy can significantly reduce a sufferer’s symptoms.
• When Massage Therapists Should Know About Ganglion Cysts - Extremely common on the wrist and hand, ganglion cysts are still somewhat of a mystery.
• Alcohol and Massage: A Dangerous Combination - Is it okay to offer clients wine or champagne before a massage to help them relax? To some it may seem a good marketing ploy…but it could lead to some unpleasant circumstances. Learn about why serving alcohol to clients is a BAD idea.
• Massage Therapy and Cancer - Is it Becoming More Accepted? - While massage therapy has gained greater acceptance in recent years with regard to its therapeutic value, one area still remains somewhat controversial. It is the field of massage for individuals with cancer. As time goes on though, the therapeutic value of oncology massage, or massage for those with cancer, is gaining recognition. Learn how the possible benefits of massage are currently being studied and used in oncology.
• Massage Therapy and Diabetes - Each year almost two million individuals over the age of 20 are diagnosed with the disease in the U.S. Since 1992, newly diagnosed cases of diabetes have almost tripled. If left untreated it can be fatal. It is the seventh highest cause of death in the United States. The World Health Organization estimates that there are 347 million individuals with diabetes worldwide. Learn some important facts about diabetes and if massage might be helpful.

You can either read the articles by clicking on any of the titles above or upon enrollment you'll be able to access these articles and your online test through your online course account.

Course Objectives

• Recognize alopecia areata (hair loss) as a chronic inflammatory disease.
• Explain the medical definition of constipation.
  
• Differentiate between common constipation and severe symptoms that require a physician’s evaluation.
  
• Give examples of serious complications that can result from severe constipation.
• Name potential causes of constipation.
  
• Discover appropriate massage therapy techniques to help alleviate constipation.
• Identify the TCM meridians associated with eye health.
• Associate deep vein thrombosis with peripheral arterial disease (PAD).
• Express the signs and symptoms associated with PAD.
• Discuss the risk factors associated with PAD.
• Review the lifestyle modifications that may benefit someone with PAD.
• Address the appropriate massage therapy techniques for a client with PAD.
• Paraphrase the two most popular theories of ganglion cysts and identify where they most commonly occur.
• Interpret state laws and professional code(s) of ethics regarding serving alcohol to clients
• Summarize the effects of alcohol and bodywork on the body.
  
• Describe oncology massage and the concerns specific to it.
  
• Iidentify three vital steps before beginning bodywork on a client who has cancer.
• Define diabetes mellitus I and diabetes mellitus II.
• Determine safe massage therapy techniques for use on diabetics.
• Express safety concerns to be cognizant of when working on diabetic clients.
  

Course Reviews

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Instructors

Nicole Cutler, L.Ac., MTCM

Nicole Cutler is a long time advocate of integrating perspectives on health. With a Bachelor of Science degree in Neuroscience from the University of Rochester and a Masters Degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine from Five Branches Institute, Nicole has been a licensed acupuncturist since 2000. She has earned acupuncture licenses in the states of California and New York, is a certified specialist with the National Acupuncture Detoxification Association, has earned diplomat status with the National Commission of Chinese and Oriental Medicine in Acupuncture and Chinese Herbology and is a member of the Society for Integrative Oncology. In addition to her acupuncture practice that focuses on stress and pain relief, digestion, immunity and oncology, Nicole contributes to the integration of healthcare by writing articles and courses such as Infectious Disease: Hepatitis for health care providers.

Leslie DeMatteo, MS, LMT

Leslie L. DeMatteo, LMT, MS, has been an active massage therapist since 1998, after graduating from the Sarasota School of Massage Therapy in Sarasota, FL. There she completed the massage therapy program along with a certificate program in Nuad-Bo-Rarn: Traditional Massage of Thailand.

Since then, she has completed continuing education in cranial-sacral fundamentals, cancer and mastectomy massage, reflexology, trigger point therapy and prenatal massage. She is also certified by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) and is a Professional Level member of Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals (ABMP).

Her work in massage therapy continuing education and teaching in a massage school ignited a passion for adult training and education, which led her to pursue her Bachelor's Degree in Adult Learning: Vocational Instruction, followed by her a Master's Degree in Adult Learning.

Ms. DeMatteo is the instructor for many of the Institute's courses including such courses as Advanced Prenatal Massage, Ethics of Diversity. Cupping Therapy: A Step-by-Step Approach, Diversity: Cultural Competence, Mastering Pregnancy Massage, and many more.

Linda Fehrs, LMT

Linda Fehrs attended both the Swedish Institute of Massage Therapy and Hudson Valley School of Massage Therapy in New York – a state with some of the most rigorous licensing requirements in the U.S. – and also served as an instructor at the Hudson Valley School of Massage.

She is a professional member of the AMTA and the New York State Society of Medical Massage Therapists. Linda has actively practiced massage therapy in the Mid-Hudson Valley since 2002 with a focus on medical massage and massage for those with special needs, such as developmental and physical disabilities.

Ms. Fehrs has authored such courses as Build Your Massage Practice, Cancer & Massage, Women & Massage as well as Marketing Massage and the Economy.