Pathology for Massage Therapists
Massage Pathology will be one of the core classes offered by most massage schools. You will need to learn about various diseases and conditions so that you will know how to work with each client. Massage will be indicated or contra-indicated for some diseases and conditions.
Since little research has actually been done in this area, things will be constantly changing. For instance 20 years ago, massaging people with cancer was not allowed and totally contra-indicated. Today we know more because of the many researchers who took the time to study the how massage effects people with cancer.
Pathology will also be a major part of your massage school training. Pathology is the study of diseases associated with various structural and functional changes in the body. You will be learning about:
Etiology – the study of the cause of diseases
Signs – objective evidence of disease that can be measured or observed
Symptoms – subjective changes in the body function that can not be measured or apparent to an observer
Diagnosis – distinguishing one disease from another. A massage therapist is not allowed to make a diagnosis. Physicians or chiropractors will need to make a diagnosis.
Treatment – is the care and management of the pathology.
As a massage therapist pathology may be seen as ‘following the path of the “ology” (A branch of learning.)”
Here is a sample massage pathology syllabus:
I. General Pathology
A. Identify and define the theory and causes of disease
1. Direct causes
2. Indirect causes
3. Infectious disease
B. Disease Terminology definitions
1. Acute
2.Chronic
3.Diagnosis
4.Disease
5.Endemic
6.Epidemic
7. Etiology
8. Pathogenesis
9. Pathology
10.Pathophysiology
11.Prognosis
12.Signs
13.Symptoms
14.Syndrome
C. Identify and define the theories and stages of inflammation and injury repair
1.Mechanics of soft tissue injury
2.Physiology of acute stage
3.Physiology of subacute/regenerative stage
4.Physiology of remodeling/maturation stage
5.Clinical signs and symptoms of each stage
6.Levels of severity in musculoskeletal trauma
7.Reactions of soft tissue to injury
II . Identify and define skeletal conditions
A.Bones
1.Postural deviations
2.Osteoporosis
3.Fractures
B.Joints
2.Spondylothesis / spondylosis
3.Bone spurs
4.Subluxation/fixation
5.Dislocation
6.Chrondromalacia
7.Whiplash
8. Sprain
9. Degenerated, herniated and ruptured disc
10. Tempormandibular Joint dysfunction
III. Identify and define connective tissue conditions
A.Contractures
B.Bursitis
C.Bunions
D. Tendinitis
F.Lipomas
G.Baker’s ganglion and other cysts
H.Lupus ( DLE and SLE)
I. Fasciatis : Plantar Fasciitis
J. Sprains
IV.Identify and define Muscular conditions
A.Myofascial pain syndrome
B.Spasm/cramp
C.Torticollis
D. Tibial stress syndrome/periostitis
E. Fibromyalgia(myofibrositis)
F.Adhesion
G.Myositis ossificans
H. Strains
I.Muscular dystrophy
V.Identify and define Neurological conditions
1.Central Nervous system
A. Headaches
B.Peripheral Neuropathy
C. Neuritis
D.Multiple sclerosis
E. Polio
F. Alzheimer’s disease
G. Cerebral palsy
H.Stroke-CVA, TIA
I.Epilepsy
J.Hyperesthesia
K.Meningitis
L.Dementia
M.Encephalitis
N.Huntington’s disease
O.Parasthesia
P.Paralysis
Q.Myesthenia gravis
R.ALS-Lou Gherigs disease
S.Parkinson’s disease
T.Myelitis
U.Neoplasms
V.Neurofibromotosis
W.Seizure
X.Spina Bifida
2. Peripheral Nervous System
A.Bell’s Palsy
C.Herpes Zoster/Shingles
D.Neuralgia
E.Neuritis
F.Neruopathy
G. Sciatica
H.Trigeminal Neuralgia ( Tic Douloureux)
3. Special Senses
a.The Eye
A.Astigmatism
B.Cataract
C.Color Blindness
D.Conjunctivitis
E.Diabetic retinopathy
F.Hyperopia
G.Myopia
H.Nyctalopia
I.Presbyopia
J.Strabismus
b.The Ear
A.Meniere’s Disease
B.Ottis Externa
C.Ottis Media
D.Ottis Interna
E.Tinnitis
4. Mental Disorders
A.Affective disorders
B.Anxiety disorders
C.Organic Disorders
D.Personality Disorders
E.Schizophrenia VI.Identify and define gastrointestinal conditions
A.Diverticulosis/ -it is
B.Crohn’s Disease
C.Irritable Bowel Syndrome
D.Hiatial Hernia
E.Ulcers
F.Colitis
G.Lactose intolerance
H.Constipation
I.Appendicitis
J.Peronitis
K.Gastrointestinal inflammation
L.Polyps
M.Colon cancer
VII.Identify and define gastrointestinal related conditions
A.Enlarged liver-hepatitis, cirrhosis, jaundice
B.Gall stones
VIII.Identify and define skin conditions
1.Skin lesions
2.Burns
a.First degree
b.Second degree
c.Third degree
3.Skin Infections
a.Impetigo
b.Carbuncle
c.Folliculitis
d.Furnuncle
e.Cellulitis
f.Acne
4. Viral Skin Infections
a.Fever Blisters
b.Shingles
c.Warts
4.Fungal Infections
a.Ring worm
b.Athelete’s foot
c.Jock Itch
d.Sun spots
e.Candidas
5.Parasitic Skin Infections
a.Scabies
b.Lice
6.Hypersensitivity Reactions
a.Contact dermatitis
b.Eczema
c.Sebborheic dermatitis
7. Massage for Cancer: Neoplasms/Hyperplasias
a.Angioma
b.Lipoma
c.Mole
d.Liver spots, age spots
e.Seborrheid Keratosis
f.Sebaceous Cyst
g.Malignant Skin Tumors
8.Miscellaneous skin disorders
a.Scleraderma
b.Psoriasis
c.Eczema
d.Lupus erythematosis
IX.Define and Identify Cardiovascular conditions
A.Athero/arteriosclerosis
B.Heart attack
C.Degenerative heart disease
D.Hypertension
E.Aneurysm-aortal
F.Phlebitis
G.Raynaud’s disease
H.Hematoma
I.Hemophilia
J.Varicose veins
K.Anemia
L.Blood poisoning
M.Diabetes
N.Congestive heart failure/systemic edema
O.Arrhythmia
P.Rheumatic Heart disease
Q.Heart murmurs
R.Allergy
S.Thrombus
T.HIV/AIDS
X.Lymphatic conditions
A.Hodgkin’s disease
B.Lymphangitis
C.Edema
D.Mononucleosis
XI.Respiratory conditions
A.Pulmonary congestion
B.Pneumonia
C.Pleurisy
D.Bronchitis
E.Emphysema
F.Common cold
G.Sinusitis
H.Asthma
I.Tuberculosis
XII.Genito-urinary conditions
A.cystitis
B.Nephritis
C.Kidney infection
D.Kidney stone
E.Kidney failure
F.Pelvic inflammatory disease
G.Endometriosis
H.Dysmennorrhea and amenorrhea
I.Ovarian cyst
J.Fibroinds
K.Sexually transmitted disease
L.Genital herpes
M.Prostratitis
N.Prostatic hypertrophy
XIII.Systemic conditions
A.Fatigue
B.Epstein-barr virus
C.Insomnia
D.Substance abuse
E.Fever
F.Influenza
G. Cancer
H.Tuberculosis
I.HIV/aids
XIV.Miscellaneous
A.Recent surgery
B.Amputation
C.Emotional/stress related responses
D.Pregnancy related conditions
XV. Determine when massage is indicated or contraindicated for all of the above conditions.
Diseases and conditions and how to work with them
Anxiety and Depression
Fibromyalgia
Back and Neck Pain
Herniated Discs
PTSD