Pathology

pathology for massage therapists

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.

(alphabetical by disease, syndrome or problem)
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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

1.arthritis

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

E. Tenosynovitis

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

B. Carpal Tunnel

C.Herpes Zoster/Shingles

D.Neuralgia

E.Neuritis

F.Neruopathy

G.  Sciatica

H.Trigeminal Neuralgia ( Tic Douloureux)

I.  Thoracic Outlet Syndrome

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


Arthritis

Anxiety and Depression

Fibromyalgia

Headaches

Back and Neck Pain

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Plantar Fasciaitis

Herniated Discs

PTSD

Plantar Fasciitis

Sciatica

Scoliosis

Pathology Books

(alphabetical by disease, syndrome or problem)
A
 B
 C
D
 E
   F
  G
 
   
 J 
K
L
M
N
 O
  P
  R
S
  T

 U-,Z