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ADVANCED MASSAGE THERAPY PROGRAM CONTENT
The second year of studies
is designed for those students with the ability and intent to provide therapeutic
(corrective) treatments for their clients.
Not all students are able
to /or want to take advanced training and this is why we offer two separate
diploma programs.
At NIMT INC. we believe
that this area of training has been substandard in the industry for many
years and results in graduates that use relaxation techniques for therapeutic
treatments.
The intent of our second
year course is to correct this situation by the teaching proper assessment
and correction techniques used specifically for therapeutic applications. All
concepts taught in first year are reinforced and expanded upon, but the
emphasis is now on assessment and corrective techniques for acute and chronic
pain found in the soft tissues and associated structures of the body.
The format and pass
requirements are the same as first year, but the program runs for ten months
instead of seven, and is recognized for 1280 HOURS.
Successful completion of
both courses entitles the student to receive a Diploma of Advanced
Therapeutic Massage (2288 hours) and the ability to successfully challenge
the 2200 hour equivalency examination of the Massage Therapy Association of
Alberta.
Upon successful completion
of the ADVANCED THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE COURSE graduates will possess the
following skills:
A. SAFETY OF THE THERAPIST
& CLIENTS
1. Contraindications to
Massage Therapy
- ability to identify
contraindicated conditions at a more comprehensive level
- explain why the
contraindication exists and the systems involved at a more
comprehensive level
- know when treatment
modification is appropriate and why at a more comprehensive level
- know what modifications are
appropriate and how to apply them at a more comprehensive level
2. Basic Draping, Positioning
and Turning Techniques
- clearly direct the client regarding
getting on and off of the table
- exhibit proper draping and
bolstering techniques
- exhibit proper positioning
and turning of the client
- exhibit competency
positioning the elderly and/or infirm, clients with casts, clients
confined to a wheelchair
3. Environment for Practicing
Massage Therapy
- prepare and maintain a hazard
free clinical environment
- exhibit appropriate personal
and clinical hygiene
- exhibit appropriate clinical
dress and conduct
- properly launder supplies
- appropriate choice and use of
supplies
- appropriate advertising,
promotions and venue association
4. Communication Skills
- awareness and respect of
emotional and physical boundaries of the client
- awareness and respect of
emotional and physical boundaries of the therapist
- provision of a professional
non-threatening environment
- ability to maintain clear
open communication
- the ability to explain the
responsibilities of both client and therapist to identify and
appropriately address physical or emotional discomfort during a treatment
- to request permission to
proceed with treatment when required
- ability to communicate with
underage and/ or elderly or infirm clients and their caregivers
5. Professionalism and Ethics
- differentiate between the
legal and ethical responsibilities of the massage therapist
- explain why confidentiality
is important and how to maintain client confidentiality
- explain the importance of the
right to refuse treatment by the client or therapist
- confidently provide suitable
responses to boundary violations
- explain and maintain zero
tolerance for inappropriate behavior including that of a sexual nature
- recognize treatment
limitations
- refer clients to other health
care professionals when appropriate
- describe the Code of Ethics
and Scope of Practice guidelines of their personal associations
- describe the business
regulations of the student's relevant jurisdiction
6. Self Care for
Massage Therapists
- demonstrate body awareness
and proper body mechanics during treatments
- demonstrate ability to use
alternate techniques based on the available energy level of the
therapist
- ability to identify
preferences regarding treatment types, lengths and hours of employment
- awareness of personal and
professional goals and limitations
- exhibit awareness of personal
biases and how to manage them
- self care techniques
- use of suitable stretching
and strengthening exercises
- explain the physical and time
constraints of treatment times
- explain the financial
implications of these limitations
B. INFORMATION GATHERING
1. Terminology
- exhibit proper spelling and
usage of medical terminology when communicating with colleagues
- have the ability to describe
the same structures in layman's terms when dealing with clients
- proper understanding and
usage of anatomical terms of direction and movement
- understanding of proper posture,
anatomical position, and other Western medical terms.
2. Advanced Anatomy &
Physiology
- identify, label and palpate
bones and bony landmarks at a more comprehensive level
- identify, label and palpate
joints and joint structures at a more comprehensive level
- identify, label and/or
palpate muscles, fiber directions, origins and insertions at a more
comprehensive level
- identify the actions, innervation and vascular supply of muscles
- describe the range of motion,
flexibility ranges of healthy and unhealthy structures
- explain how to recognize and
identify basic signs and symptoms of common pathological states
- explain how to recognize and
identify specific signs and symptoms of various pathological states
- define, compare and contrast
the terms clinical signs and clinical symptoms
- identify signs and symptoms
of common inflammatory, infective and traumatic tissue conditions
- identify and explain common
surgical procedures and their impact on tissue health
3. Advanced Assessment and
Treatment Techniques
- collect and interpret
relevant data in a pre treatment interview
- develop client intake forms
- clarify desired treatment
result with client
- maintain client feedback
during treatment
- provide a relevant treatment
- provide a relevant corrective
treatment
- assess the efficacy of the
treatment
- record and track the efficacy
of the corrective treatments
- ability to document
treatments and to compile reports and correspondence as required
- explain likely post treatment
effects
- clarify if further treatments
are required
- demonstrate proper
osteopathic and orthopaedic testing
techniques
- describe palpatory
procedures to identify soft tissue lesions
4. Various Complimentary
Therapies
- explain awareness of the
various allopathic and wholistic therapies in
an unbiased manner
- explain the philosophies,
advantages, limitations and applications of various allopathic and wholistic complimentary therapies in an unbiased
manner
C. ADVANCED INFORMATION
ASSESSMENT
1. Pathophysiology
- describe the concept of the
homeostatic mechanism at the general systemic and cellular levels, and
how this is reflected in healthy and unhealthy tissue function
- describe the concept of the
homeostatic mechanism at the systemic and cellular levels, and how this
is reflected in healthy and unhealthy tissue function
- describe primary and
secondary causes of the disease process
- describe the inflammatory
response and its chronological progression
- explain the role of the
immune system in the inflammatory response
- explain edema
- describe desirable and
undesirable types of tissue repair
- describe how to manipulate
scar tissue for optimal health
- describe the mechanism and
presentation of injuries and congenital and idiopathic disease states
- explain the effects of
massage therapy on injuries and idiopathic and congenital diseases
- describe pain, its causes and
effects, and how to determine acceptable levels during treatment
- identify nociception
sites of the various body systems
- explain how to discriminate
between personality types and resultant pain perception
- effectively communicate
realistic expectations regarding pain during the treatment process and
afterwards
2. SYSTEMS
- explain the in depth
structural and functional organization of the following subjects
- explain the physiological
effects of stress, injury and disease of the following subjects
- explain how to effect the
mechanisms of repair of the following subjects with therapeutic massage
techniques
- demonstrate knowledge and
application of Universal Precautions when providing massage therapy
- explain the general
limitations and effects of massage therapy on the following subjects:
- explain the specific
limitations and effects of massage therapy on the following subjects:
- histology
- arthrology
- osteology
- myology
- cardiovascular systems
- lymphatics
- immune systems
- digestive system
- urinary system
- respiratory system
- central nervous system
- peripheral nervous system
- endocrine system
- integument
D. ADVANCED IMPLEMENTATION OF
TREATMENT PLAN
1. MASSAGE TECHNIQUES
- describe and demonstrate
advanced massage techniques and specialized applications
- apply the massage techniques
that will best achieve the intended result
- integrate various massage
techniques with non-ballistic joint manipulations to achieve desired
results
2. PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
- explain the primary
distinguishing characteristics of different tissue types
- explain the possible effects
of various massage techniques on tissue types at a more complex level
- ability to adjust techniques
based on the state of health of the various tissues
- describe the implications of
various common medications to the application of massage techniques
- describe the implications of
surgeries, injections and pregnancy to the application of massage
techniques
3. ASSESSMENT AND TREATMENT
- formulate a plausible
functional hypothesis regarding soft tissue dysfunction based on
collected data
- utilize osteopathic and orthopaedic techniques to verify the hypothesis and
to correct the problem
- develop a treatment plan
- develop a comprehensive
treatment plan including timelines and desired outcome
- demonstrate appropriate
massage techniques to achieve the desired outcome
- explain and utilize
hydrotherapy applications
- demonstrate ability to
evaluate treatment efficacy
- describe post-therapeutic
advice including lifestyle changes and ergonomic improvements for
clients
- clearly advise clients how to
initiate and maintain these changes
- formulate a realistic
therapeutic exercise plan for clients
- provide an exercise / stretch
repertoire for specific musculoskeletal dysfunctions
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