Pathology classes can be custom-built for your group, or you can choose from any of the following pre-set classes.
Massage Therapy and Pathology: Cardiovascular Conditions
(3 or 4 hours)
Almost 40% of all Americans die of some form of heart disease. Because massage influences fluid flow and fluid management capacity, it is important for massage therapists to understand the mechanisms of these diseases. This class covers the definition, demographics, etiology, signs and symptoms, treatment options, and role of massage for the following: hypertension, atherosclerosis, heart attack, heart failure, thrombophlebitis, deep vein thrombosis, and pulmonary embolism.
Participants will be able to…
- Identify and describe the definition, demographics, etiology, signs and symptoms, and common treatment options for each of the conditions under discussion
- Discern the variables that inform clinical decision-making for massage therapy for each of the conditions under discussion
- Describe risks and benefits of massage therapy for each of the conditions under description
Massage Therapy and Pathology: Fibromyalgia and the “Invisible Diseases”
(3 or 4 hours)
Fibromyalgia is the second most common diagnosis of musculoskeletal pain, but its etiology remains elusive. Further, it overlaps several other conditions, leading to confusing signs and contradictory treatment options. This class covers the definition, demographics, etiology, signs and symptoms, treatment options, and role of massage for the following: fibromyalgia, myofascial pain syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic pelvic pain syndrome, and others as time permits.
Participants will be able to…
- Identify and describe the definition, demographics, etiology, signs and symptoms and common treatment options for each of the conditions under discussion
- Discern the variables that inform clinical decision-making for massage therapy for each of the conditions under discussion
- Describe special communication skills that are especially important for clients who live with chronic pain disorders
- Describe risks and benefits of massage therapy for each of the conditions under description
Massage Therapy and Pathology: Reproductive System Disorders
(3 or 4 hours)
Many massage therapists were short-changed in their education about the reproductive system and associated disorders, but these are common conditions that affect our clients’ quality of life. This class covers the definition, demographics, etiology, signs and symptoms, treatment options, and role of massage for the following: prostate enlargement, prostate cancer, testicular cancer, chronic pelvic pain syndrome, dysmenorrhea, endometriosis, perimenopause, and others as time permits.
Participants will be able to…
- Identify and describe the definition, demographics, etiology, signs and symptoms, and common treatment options for each of the conditions under discussion
- Discern the variables that inform clinical decision-making for massage therapy for each of the conditions under discussion
- Describe risks and benefits of massage therapy for each of the conditions under description
Massage Therapy and Pathology: Common and Contagious Skin Disorders
(3 or 4 hours)
Massage therapists work so closely with the skin that it is vital to be well-informed about common and contagious skin problems. This class covers the definition, demographics, etiology, signs and symptoms, treatment options, and role of massage for the following: herpes simplex, fungal infections (ringworm), staph infections (including MRSA), psoriasis, dermatitis/eczema, and skin cancer.
Participants will be able to…
- Identify and describe the definition, demographics, etiology, signs and symptoms, and common treatment options for each of the conditions under discussion
- Discern the variables that inform clinical decision-making for massage therapy for each of the conditions under discussion
- Describe risks and benefits of massage therapy for each of the conditions under description
Herpes and Help and Flu – Oh My!: Public Health Issues for Massage Therapists
(3 or 4 hours)
Massage therapists are public health providers, and it is our responsibility to stay up to speed on information about these contagious diseases. This class covers a review of immune system function and the definition, demographics, etiology, signs and symptoms, treatment options, and role of massage for the following: HIV/AIDS, hepatitis A, B, and C, flu, methicillin-resistant staphylococcus Aureus, and others as time permits.
Participants will be able to…
- Describe how the immune system is involved with contagious diseases
- Identify and describe the definition, demographics, etiology, signs and symptoms and common treatment options for each of the conditions under discussion
- Discern the variables that inform clinical decision-making for massage therapy for each of the conditions under discussion
- Describe risks and benefits of massage therapy for each of the conditions under description
Touching the Mind: Mental and Mood Disorders for Massage Therapists
(3 or 4 hours)
This class addresses some of the most common mental health and mood disorders seen in our culture today.
In addition to reviewing some of the pathophysiology and contributing factors to mental health and mood-related conditions, we will discuss common conventional treatment options and what we know about how massage therapy can have the most positive impact for clients who live with these challenges.
In alignment with the newest edition of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V), this class will examine various types of depression, bipolar disease, anxiety disorders, PTSD, obsessive-compulsive disorder, addiction, and others as time allows.
The research about the positive effects of massage for mood disorders is strong and consistent, and it is our responsibility to deliver the safest, and most compassionate, and most effective massage therapy our clients can ask for. Don’t miss this chance to learn more about the conditions that affect your clients’ lives: you’ll be a better therapist for it!
Participants will be able to…
- Identify and describe the definition, demographics, etiology, signs and symptoms, and common treatment options for each of the conditions under discussion
- Discern the variables that inform clinical decision-making for massage therapy for each of the conditions under discussion
- Describe special communication skills that are especially important for clients who live with mental and mood disorders
- Describe risks and benefits of massage therapy for each of the conditions under description
Pain Science, the Opioid Crisis, and Opportunities for Massage Therapists
(3 or 4 hours)
Do you have clients who live with chronic pain? This class if for you. Recent findings about the value of manual therapies in pain management, alongside new interest in non-pharmacologic approaches for people who live in chronic pain, have created some unprecedented opportunities for massage therapy. This class will look at current pain science, along with data on the opioid crisis and policies designed to help patients find new ways to manage pain, including massage therapy.
Participants will be able to…
- Discuss the IASP definition of pain
- Compare pain to nociception
- Describe the biopsychosocial model of pain management
- Discuss research about massage therapy in the context of chronic pain
- Describe the impact of opioid use in health care
- Reflect on opportunities for massage therapy in this context
Stump the Pathology Teacher
(3 or 4 hours)
This is a participants’ choice class—your attendees can pick and choose from the available materials to customize a class just for them!
A free-form discussion of massage therapy in the context of pathologies will be led by the instructor, based on input from attendees. This is a rare opportunity to ask deep questions and to learn and share with colleagues.
Participants will be able to…
- Identify the definitions, pathophysiology, signs and symptoms, and conventional treatment options for the conditions under discussion
- Make appropriate accommodations in massage therapy for clients who live with the conditions under discussion
A Massage Therapist’s Guide to COVID-19
(1.5 hours)
COVID-19 presents unprecedented challenges to the massage therapy profession, including how to make safe, effective, evidence-informed decisions about working with clients who have recovered from this infection.
This engaging webinar will focus on what we currently understand about COVID-19, the disease caused by SARS-CoV-2. Along with pathophysiology, we will look at communicability and the many complications of this infection. We will conclude with a discussion of possible risks and benefits related to massage for these clients, along some screening suggestions for safety.
Participants will be able to…
- Describe the pathophysiology of COVID-19 with emphasis on communicability and tissue damage
- List several complications of COVID-19 that must influence choices about massage therapy
- Discuss possible risks and benefits related to massage therapy for clients who have had COVID-19
- Refer to a list of screening questions to help establish the safety of massage therapy for clients who have had COVID-19