Massage and Bodywork Licensing Examination MBLEx Test Benefits and Effects of Massage Questions and Answers 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which physiological effect does massage have on venous blood flow?
- It increases venous return toward the heart (Correct answer)
- It decreases venous return
- It reverses venous flow direction
- It has no measurable effect on venous circulation
Correct answer: It increases venous return toward the heart
Massage strokes directed toward the heart assist venous return by mechanically pushing blood through the veins.
Question 2: How does massage therapy primarily reduce muscle spasm?
- By increasing circulation and stimulating the Golgi tendon organs (Correct answer)
- By compressing nerves to block pain signals
- By cooling the tissue to reduce inflammation
- By stretching the fascia beyond its elastic limit
Correct answer: By increasing circulation and stimulating the Golgi tendon organs
Massage increases local blood flow and activates Golgi tendon organs, which signal the muscle to relax and release the spasm.
Question 3: What is a documented psychological benefit of regular massage therapy?
- Reduced cortisol levels and decreased anxiety (Correct answer)
- Increased adrenaline production
- Enhanced short-term memory recall
- Improved visual acuity
Correct answer: Reduced cortisol levels and decreased anxiety
Research consistently shows that massage lowers cortisol levels, which correlates with reduced anxiety and improved mood.
Question 4: Which effect does massage have on lymphatic circulation?
- It promotes lymph flow and reduces edema (Correct answer)
- It increases lymph production in the nodes
- It causes lymph to flow in reverse
- It thickens lymphatic fluid
Correct answer: It promotes lymph flow and reduces edema
The mechanical pressure of massage assists lymphatic drainage, helping to reduce swelling and remove metabolic waste.
Question 5: What is the gate control theory's relevance to massage therapy?
- Pressure stimuli from massage may block pain signals from reaching the brain (Correct answer)
- Massage opens neural gates that increase pain perception
- The theory explains how massage builds muscle strength
- It describes how massage affects bone density
Correct answer: Pressure stimuli from massage may block pain signals from reaching the brain
According to gate control theory, tactile pressure from massage stimulates large-diameter nerve fibers that can inhibit pain signal transmission.
Question 6: How does massage therapy affect blood pressure in most healthy clients?
- It temporarily decreases blood pressure through parasympathetic activation (Correct answer)
- It permanently raises systolic blood pressure
- It increases diastolic pressure while lowering systolic
- It has no effect on blood pressure
Correct answer: It temporarily decreases blood pressure through parasympathetic activation
Massage activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which promotes vasodilation and a temporary reduction in blood pressure.
Massage and Bodywork Licensing Examination MBLEx Test Benefits and Effects of Massage Questions and Answers 2
Which physiological effect does massage have on venous blood flow?