Therapeutic Techniques of Deep Tissue Massage: Part II

28 Hour CE Course

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Description

Based on the popular 7-DVD set by Art Riggs, Certified Advanced Rolfer, CMT, this advanced practice home study (kinesthetic) course clearly demonstrates the principles necessary for deep tissue massage that’s safe, sensitive and efficient.

Learn from one of the most highly respected teachers in the USA. Art Riggs provides instructions and protocols for postural analysis; deep tissue treatment; how to teach strengthening and stretching exercises to clients; how to troubleshoot problems when they arise, and how to protect your body while working.

Many massage training products just show "strokes" without delving into the complex issues of soft tissue restrictions, osseous articulations and strategies for working with the multitude of different issues we face as therapists. This extensive training series not only shows countless strokes and techniques, but more importantly will demonstrate the qualitative art of working with deep tissues to effect profound change.

This course has a user-friendly design and is relevant to any type of massage practice in any environment.

You may examine the test NOW by registering for an account on our website; returning to this Enrollment page, and downloading the FREE Study Guide with the link that will be present.

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Enrollment Options

Enroll Risk-Free! Examine our courses for up to 90 days and if you're not 100% satisfied by the quality or our service, your full tuition cost will be cheerfully refunded. Learn more about our guarantee.

Choose an enrollment type:
DVD Materials Shipped and Test Online Contents: 7 Videos (DVD) shipped to you. Online multiple-choice test. $335
OR
DVD Materials and Test Shipped to You Contents: 7 Videos (DVD) and workbook with multiple-choice test shipped to you. $335

Already own the 7-DVD set Deep Tissue Massage and Myofascial Release: A Video Guide to Techniques? Call us at 1-800-364-5722, 9am to 5pm, to discuss your enrollment options.

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Content Outline

Part 1: The Fundamentals (DVDs 1 and 2)

  • Refining Touch, Working Through Superficial Muscles to Deep Layers
  • Biomechanics of Working Tissue Deeply
  • Caveats: Areas of Caution for Deep Work
  • Tools of Deep Tissue Massage: Saving your Thumbs and Fingers
  • Proper Use of Fingers, Knuckles, Fist, Forearm, and Elbow
  • Massage Strokes and Techniques
  • Lengthening Tissue, Freeing Adhesions, and Releasing Holding Patterns
  • Positioning of Clients to Increase Effectiveness of Your Work
  • The Side-Lying Position to Dramatically Improve Your Effectiveness
  • Open-Book Test for Part 1
 5 hours

Part 2: Deep Tissue Strategies (DVDs 3, 4 and 5) Hundreds of strategies to integrate into your practice, including:

The Legs and Pelvis
  • Balancing the Ankle and Foot and Increasing Mobility
  • The Anterior and Posterior Lower Leg
  • Working with the Knee for Mobility and to Free Restrictions
  • The Upper Leg: Quadriceps, Hamstrings, Adductors, Abductors
  • The Pelvis: Rotators, Hips, Sacrum, and Coccyx
The Abdomen and Back
  • Quadratus Lumborum, Psoas, Iliacus, External Abdomen, Diaphragm and the Breath
  • Spinal Mechanics and Mobilization of Vertebrae and Ribs
  • Major Back Muscles: Erector Spinae, Latissimus Dorsi, Rhomboids, and Others
  • Side-lying Work on the Back
The Upper Body
  • Working with the Shoulder Girdle, Chest, Arms, and Neck
  • Shoulder Girdle: Freeing the Scapula, Rotator Cuff, Chest, and First Rib
  • The Arms: Hand/Wrist, Forearm, Elbow, and Upper Arm
  • The Neck and Head: in Prone and Supine Position
  • Anterior and Posterior Neck and Vertebral Mobilization
  • Superficial Muscles of the Skull and Jaw
  • Open-Book Test for Part 2
 14 hours

Part 3: Advanced Techniques for Troubleshooting and Treatment of Injuries, including Stretching and Strengthening Suggestions (DVDs 6 and 7)

  • Foot and Ankle Injuries: Plantar Fasciitis, Achilles Tendinitis, Ankle Sprains
  • Knee Pain and Dysfunction
  • Sciatica
  • Minor Back Pain
  • Rotator Cuff
  • Tennis Elbow, Wrist Complaints, and Repetitive Strain Injuries
  • Thoracic Outlet Problems

Many additional strategies are also covered, such as:

  • Working off-table in seated and standing postures
  • Suggestions for rehabilitative home programs of strengthening and stretching exercises for your clients.
  • Open-Book test for Part 3
 9 hours
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Testimonials

I found Mr. Art Riggs very informative and knowlegable in this wonderful course. It certainly will improve me as a professional massage therapist and will definitly enhance my massage practice.

Claire M. Balint, LMT

Better understanding of the body tissues and how to work deeply without hurting the client, is what I enjoyed the most.

C. Bracamonte, LMT, NCTMB

Same excellence as Part I of this course! Great reference material.

E. Nazario, LMT, NCTMB

This was a very well presented course on deep tissue techniques.

C. Vojtasek, LMT, NCTMB

Art Riggs is a fantastic educator and rolfer. I would recommend this to anyone who does massage as essential!

L. Star, CMT

Excellent DVDs! So much great material! I watched some of them 3 or 4 times. Printing out the test and answering the questions as I watched helped to hold my attention.

S. Bouton, LMT, NCTMB

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Learning Objectives

  1. Define Deep Tissue Massage, identify its main principles and benefits, and recognize at least 5 areas of caution
  2. Differentiate between compressing tissue and stretching it; identify principles of correct biomechanics, and recognize the key element of “melting” muscle tissue
  3. Identify each of these stroke strategies, with examples of when their use is appropriate: lengthening, anchor and stretch, cross-fiber, separating muscle compartments, freeing entrapments and allowing muscles to shorten
  4. Identify why it’s important to place muscles in a stretched position and how to use side-lying positions
  5. Identify at least 3 specific therapeutic strategies for each of these areas: foot & lower leg, upper leg, pelvis, pelvis & low back, abdomen
  6. Identify at least 3 specific therapeutic strategies for each of these areas: breath, upper & mid-back, shoulder girdle & chest, arms, hands & neck, skull & jaw
  7. Identify at least 3 ways to instruct your clients about how to prevent back pain, neck pain and headaches, and at least 1 way to recognize malignant melanoma
  8. Identify at least 1 therapeutic strategy for common complaints in each of the following body parts, and how to correctly apply it to practice situations: the ankle, plantar fasciaitis, the knee, tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow
  9. Identify at least 1 therapeutic strategy for common complaints in each of the following body parts, and how to correctly apply it to practice situations: carpal tunnel syndrome, the low back, sciatica and the shoulder
  10. Identify the key elements in assessing clients and choosing appropriate deep tissue approaches for them
  11. Identify how to establish and maintain a thriving practice that includes Deep Tissue Massage and expresses who you are
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Sample Text

"Strengthening Strategies

Pain in a joint will usually have the effect of sending inhibitory nerve responses to the muscles, which results in atrophy and weakness.  This weakness is one reason why a minor acute injury will sometimes turn into a chronic inflammation.  Simple exercises that take only five or ten minutes a day can have profound effects on alleviating knee pain.

Pain in the knee may come from lack of stability and imbalances in strength between different muscles associated with stabilizing the knee joint and patella.  Ninety percent of the clients I see for knee pain have had dramatic improvement doing strengthening and flexibility exercises, while soft tissue work by itself, although very helpful, has not been as effective.

In the early stages of strengthening, an inflamed joint may not tolerate movement until the inflammation has decreased.  The safest strategy is to progress from isometric strengthening exercises that keep the knee joint immobile, to more complex exercises involving flexion and extension of the joint."  (Deep Tissue Massage: A Visual Guide to Techniques by Art Riggs, 2007)

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Sample Test Question

Ninety percent of the author’s clients who have knee pain get dramatic improvement from

  1. stretching exercises
  2. strengthening and flexibility exercises
  3. deep tissue massage
  4. effleurage and ice
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