Massage and Bodywork Licensing Examination Massage Techniques and Application 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Myofascial release technique focuses primarily on:
- Stimulating acupressure points along energy meridians
- Releasing restrictions in the fascial connective tissue system (Correct answer)
- Applying deep friction to individual muscle bellies
- Compressing lymph nodes to stimulate lymphatic drainage
Correct answer: Releasing restrictions in the fascial connective tissue system
Myofascial release targets the fascial network, applying sustained, low-load stretching to release fascial restrictions that contribute to pain and dysfunction.
Question 2: Which massage stroke is typically used at both the beginning and the end of a massage session?
- Tapotement
- Deep friction
- Effleurage (Correct answer)
- Compression
Correct answer: Effleurage
Effleurage is used at the start of a session to warm up the tissues and assess the client, and at the end to soothe the area and facilitate the transition out of massage.
Question 3: In a traditional Swedish massage, what is the generally accepted sequence of strokes applied to a body region?
- Tapotement, effleurage, petrissage, friction
- Friction, petrissage, effleurage, tapotement
- Effleurage, petrissage, friction, tapotement (Correct answer)
- Petrissage, friction, effleurage, tapotement
Correct answer: Effleurage, petrissage, friction, tapotement
Swedish massage traditionally progresses from superficial to deep: effleurage warms the tissue, petrissage works the muscle, friction addresses deeper layers, and tapotement stimulates before finishing with effleurage.
Question 4: Neuromuscular therapy (NMT) is primarily focused on:
- Lymphatic drainage and reduction of edema
- Identifying and treating trigger points, nerve entrapments, and postural imbalances (Correct answer)
- Releasing superficial fascia using skin rolling techniques
- Applying cross-fiber friction exclusively to tendons
Correct answer: Identifying and treating trigger points, nerve entrapments, and postural imbalances
Neuromuscular therapy is a systematic approach to identifying and treating soft tissue dysfunction, including trigger points, nerve compression, postural imbalances, and ischemia.
Question 5: Which massage technique is specifically indicated as a primary treatment approach for edema reduction?
- Deep tissue massage
- Manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) (Correct answer)
- Sports massage
- Trigger point therapy
Correct answer: Manual lymphatic drainage (MLD)
Manual lymphatic drainage uses very light, rhythmic strokes in specific sequences to stimulate the lymphatic vessels and redirect excess interstitial fluid, making it the primary approach for reducing edema.
Question 6: Compression massage involves:
- Long gliding strokes applied along muscle length
- Rhythmically pressing and releasing pressure directly into muscle tissue (Correct answer)
- Light tapping applied with just the fingertips
- Rolling the skin between the fingers and thumb
Correct answer: Rhythmically pressing and releasing pressure directly into muscle tissue
Compression involves applying rhythmic, downward pressure directly into the muscle belly, which increases circulation, softens tissue, and prepares muscles for deeper work.
Question 7: The primary physiological effect of friction techniques in massage is to:
- Stimulate superficial lymph flow toward lymph nodes
- Sedate the central nervous system through slow application
- Produce therapeutic heat and soften adhesions in deeper tissue layers (Correct answer)
- Improve venous return by pushing blood toward the heart
Correct answer: Produce therapeutic heat and soften adhesions in deeper tissue layers
Friction generates heat in the tissue through mechanical action, which softens adhesions and scar tissue, making it particularly effective for rehabilitating chronic soft tissue injuries.
Massage and Bodywork Licensing Examination Massage Techniques and Application 2
Myofascial release technique focuses primarily on: