Anatomy and Physiology are Essential for Massage Therapist Students
Posted on: December 28, 2012
Techniques of MassagingA massage therapist provides treatments to clients at a spa or beauty salon. They use their hands to increase circulation, and relax muscle tissue. This professional also works on joints, ligaments and tendons. While providing various types of therapies a therapist may press against internal body organs, blood vessels and lymph glands. Massaging techniques can be used on the entire body surface. Alternatively, specific areas of the body such as feet, neck, back, or shoulders can be massaged. A client can receive treatments while lying on the floor or a table. There are also specially designed chairs for massaging clients.
Massage Therapist Training
It is imperative that a massage therapist student receives training in anatomy and physiology. This profession requires specific training for licensing purposes in many geographic locations. Anatomy and physiology teaches a student about human body structure. An anatomy and physiology class will include learning the names and locations of organs, connective tissue, cells, bones and other body systems. A massage therapist student will study medical terminology, diagrams and other materials to understand how the human body works. Students may also observe, or perform dissections to view organs, bones, blood vessels and other body structures.
Certification and Licensing
Many geographic regions require a massage therapist to be licensed or certified. A student must attend an accredited massage therapist educational program. The educational program will have specific course requirements. A massage therapist student must learn about medical law, ethics, kinesiology, anatomy, business management, physiology and other subjects. While in school, a student is quizzed and tested for adequate knowledge of subjects. To receive a license a massage therapist student must pass a regional or national exam. The lectures, laboratory classes and practical training in an accredited massage therapist school will ensure that clients receive safe treatments.