Massage Therapist Massage Therapist 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which massage technique involves lifting and squeezing muscle tissue away from the underlying bone?
- Effleurage
- Petrissage (Correct answer)
- Tapotement
- Friction
Correct answer: Petrissage
Petrissage includes kneading, wringing, and lifting movements that compress and release muscle tissue.
Question 2: A client reports tingling and numbness in the fourth and fifth fingers. Which nerve is most likely compressed?
- Median nerve
- Radial nerve
- Ulnar nerve (Correct answer)
- Axillary nerve
Correct answer: Ulnar nerve
The ulnar nerve innervates the fourth and fifth fingers; compression at the elbow or wrist causes these symptoms.
Question 3: What is the primary purpose of a draping protocol during a massage session?
- To keep the client warm
- To protect client modesty and maintain professional boundaries (Correct answer)
- To prevent oil from staining the table
- To reduce the therapist's liability
Correct answer: To protect client modesty and maintain professional boundaries
Draping protects client privacy, ensures modesty, and upholds professional and ethical standards.
Question 4: In which direction should effleurage strokes primarily flow to promote venous return?
- Distal to proximal (Correct answer)
- Proximal to distal
- Lateral to medial
- Circular, any direction
Correct answer: Distal to proximal
Effleurage strokes directed toward the heart (distal to proximal) assist venous and lymphatic return.
Question 5: Which condition is an ABSOLUTE contraindication for massage on the affected area?
- Mild muscle soreness
- Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) (Correct answer)
- Chronic tension headache
- Post-exercise fatigue
Correct answer: Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
DVT is an absolute local contraindication because massage can dislodge a thrombus and cause a pulmonary embolism.
Question 6: The SOAP note format used by massage therapists stands for:
- Subject, Objective, Assessment, Plan (Correct answer)
- Symptoms, Observations, Actions, Progress
- Source, Output, Analysis, Procedure
- Subjective, Objective, Appraisal, Progress
Correct answer: Subject, Objective, Assessment, Plan
SOAP notes organize clinical documentation into Subjective (client report), Objective (therapist findings), Assessment, and Plan.
Question 7: Which of the following best describes the 'gate control theory' as it applies to massage?
- Massage stimulates endorphin release that blocks pain signals at the brain
- Touch signals travel faster than pain signals and can close the pain gate in the spinal cord (Correct answer)
- Increased circulation dilutes pain-causing chemicals
- Relaxation of muscles removes the source of pain entirely
Correct answer: Touch signals travel faster than pain signals and can close the pain gate in the spinal cord
Gate control theory proposes that non-painful input (touch) closes neural 'gates' to painful stimuli in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord.
Massage Therapist Massage Therapist 2
Which massage technique involves lifting and squeezing muscle tissue away from the underlying bone?