Massage for Headaches & Neck Pain

Materials

• Online Text - 155 pages
• Online Videos - Approximately 50 minutes
• Online multiple-choice test
• Certificate upon completion

Description

Headaches and neck pain are both extremely common and nearly everyone has had this type of pain on occasion. In some cases the pain is more frequent and debilitating. Through this continuing education course, discover how you can assist clients in alleviating frequent headaches and neck pain.

Through online text and video, authors Sandy Fritz and Leon Chaitow will:

• Identify types and causes of headaches and name contributing factors in the development of headaches and neck pain.
• Describe assessment tools for identifying signs and features of headache and neck pain dysfunctions.
• Review various massage techniques used to assess pain characteristics and address the release of fibrotic connective tissue and trigger points.
• List signs and symptoms occurring in conjunction with headache and neck pain that would be indicative of medical attention.
• Match massage applications with the specific pain management goals.
• List physiological benefits of outcome based massage therapy for headache and neck pain.
• Select specific massage strategies for treating vascular and tension headaches and neck pain.

Course Objectives

• Identify types and causes of headaches and name vital anatomic structures of the neck involved with headaches.
• Explain symptoms of breathing pattern disorders (BPD) and how tension and vascular headaches are affected.
• List signs and symptoms occurring in conjunction with headache and neck pain that would be indicative of medical attention.
• Explain the implications and considerations of massage therapy for clients receiving drug treatments for tension and vascular headaches.
• Describe pain classifications and major components of somatic and visceral pain.
• Match the massage application with the specific pain management goal.
• Describe the phases involved in the adaptation of load on tissues.
• State research evidence indicating the benefits of massage for pain relief.
• Describe assessment tools for identifying signs and features of headache and neck pain dysfunctions.
• Name muscles involved in upper and lower crossed syndrome patterns.
• Classify levels of pressure, direction, and patterns used in tissue palpation assessments and techniques for release.
• Choose muscles involved in assessing muscle weakness and firing patterns.
• Assess symptoms of breathing disorder patterns and determine corrective breathing strategies.
• Explain the causes of fascial or fibrotic connective tissues.
• Determine various massage techniques used to assess pain characteristics and address the release of fibrotic connective tissue and trigger points.
• Choose the most effective muscle energy technique (MET) for addressing shortened muscles.
• Describe characteristics and features of the Positional Release Technique (PRT) and related modalities.
• Review the application of SCS for the upper trapezius to reduce neck pain.
• List physiological benefits of outcome based massage therapy for headache and neck pain
• Select the type of touch or force applied to soft tissues for the relief of headache and neck pain
• Identify symptoms of breathing pattern dysfunctions and how they are exacerbated over time.
• Describe the rationale behind functional assessments and techniques to address various muscles involved in headache and neck pain.
• Select specific massage strategies for treating vascular and tension headaches and neck pain.
• Name contributing factors in the development of headaches and neck pain.
• Identify steps in the clinical management of soft tissue modalities to address headaches.
• Explain how postural dysfunctions and breathing pattern disorders affect soft tissue functioning.
  

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Instructors

Lydia Riedell, LMT

Lydia Riedell, LMT is a licensed massage therapy professional trained at the Core Institute in Tallahassee and licensed in Florida since 1992. In concert with her practice of massage therapy, Lydia became a Reiki practitioner in the Usui System of Natural Healing and applied this energy based healing art as a volunteer with Big Bend Hospice and as a first responder with the Lake Lamonia Volunteer Fire Department. After becoming a Reiki Master in the Usui System, Lydia opened a massage establishment where she specialized in massage therapy for patients with TMJ, fibromyalgia, and sports injuries. Lydia practices Acutonics Sound Healing with tuning forks and crystals and teaches Qigong fundamentals and Light Balancing techniques for health and vitality.

Ms. Riedell is the instructor on many Instutute massage CE courses, including The Impact of Fibromyalgia, Infectious Disease: Hepatitis, Massage for Headaches & Neck Pain, Massage for Lower Back & Pelvic Pain, and many more.