Therapeutic Techniques of Deep Tissue Massage: Part I
12 Hour CE Course 
Description
Based on Art Riggs' outstanding book Deep Tissue Massage, a Visual Guide to Techniques, this course clearly illustrates the core principles necessary to prepare the learner to seek hands-on training in deep tissue massage. It presents the author’s safe, sensitive and efficient approaches to postural analysis, treatment and exercise with numerous photos and illustrations. The textbook is relevant to any type of massage practice in any environment. It provides an excellent quick reference guide after the course is done. This course does not teach hands-on skills. Please seek additional experience, with a mentor, to add hands-on skills.
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| Choose an enrollment type: | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Text Materials Shipped and Test Online | Contents: Text shipped to you. Online multiple-choice test. | $145 | |
| OR | |||
| Materials and Test Shipped to You | Contents: Text and workbook with multiple-choice test shipped to you. | $145 | |
Already own the text Deep Tissue Massage: A Visual Guide to Techniques (ISBN: 978-1-55643-650-5)? Call us at 1-800-364-5722, 9am to 5pm, to discuss enrollment options.
Content Outline
| What is Deep Tissue Massage and Why Study It? | 0.5 hour |
| Caveats and Areas for Caution | 0.5 hour |
| Principles of Deep Tissue Massage | 1 hour |
| Reading the Body and Refining Your Touch | 1 hour |
| Stroke Direction and Strategy Concepts |
1 hour |
| Correct Use of Your Fingers, Thumbs, Knuckles, Fists, Forearms and Elbows | 1 hour |
| Principles for Placing Muscles in a Stretched Position and Using Side-Lying Positions | 1 hour |
| Specific Stroke Strategy Concepts |
1 hour |
| Looking Out for Your Clients’ Health | 1 hour |
| Therapeutic Strategies for Common Complaints and Injuries | 1 hour |
| Establishing Session Strategies | 1 hour |
| Bodyreading; Active and Passive Movements | 0.5 hour |
| Fulfillment through a Thriving Practice | 0.5 hour |
| Sources for Hands-on Education | |
| Open-book Test and Course Evaluation | 1 hour |
Testimonials
A very practical and useful course for therapists who already have some experience.E. Larin, LMT, NCTMB, San Diego, CA
The text has opened my eyes to many new techniques.Jennalee Cook, LMT - Belleville, IL
THIS COURSE WAS VERY BENIFICIAL TO ME.JOYCE MICHELLE GERBING LMT
I enjoy doing Deep Tissue work and look forward to putting this course to work. This course has defintely expanded my knowledge of Deep Tissue Massage and I look forward to using this information to help my clients.Karen J. Strand Raleigh, NC
Great course, excellent subject matter, extremely interesting; you had the best and most convenient, clear online options for massage ceu credits--thank you!Paula Clark, LMT, South Berwick, ME
Very interesting to read, lots of great techniques for use in study sessions with other massage therapists, and gives great confidence when appling to clients. Solid knowledge for moving ones practive in an expansive manner.Trisha Smith, LMT, CMT, Bishopville, MD
You CAN teach old dogs new tricks and this course provided a great introduction and demonstration of new (to me) deep tissue techniques.Valerie S. Cousins, NCTM, NVMT, Las Vegas, NV
I enjoyed this course immensely. Art Riggs has much information to communicate in technique as well as business aspects. The questions were geared to help me extract the information & help me to absorb it.Vema Coontz, LMT, NCTMB, ABMP, ERMI; business owner
Learning Objectives
- Define Deep Tissue Massage, identify its main principles and benefits, and recognize at least 5 areas of caution
- Differentiate between compressing tissue and stretching it; identify principles of correct biomechanics, and recognize the key element of “melting” muscle tissue
- 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
- Identify why it’s important to place muscles in a stretched position and how to use side-lying positions
- Identify at least 3 specific therapeutic strategies for each of these areas: foot & lower leg, upper leg, pelvis, pelvis & low back, abdomen
- Identify at least 3 specific therapeutic strategies for each of these areas: breath, upper & mid-back, shoulder girdle & chest, arms, hands & neck, skull & jaw
- 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
- 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
- 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
- Identify the key elements in assessing clients and choosing appropriate deep tissue approaches for them
- Identify how to establish and maintain a thriving practice that includes Deep Tissue Massage and expresses who you are
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, revised ed. by Art Riggs, 2007, p. 186)
Back to top Enroll NowSample Test Question
Ninety percent of the author’s clients who have knee pain get dramatic improvement from
- stretching exercises
- strengthening and flexibility exercises
- deep tissue massage
- effleurage and ice
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Customer Reviews
This is an excellent way of learning without STRESS.A. Kubinek, LMT, NCTMB
It was so easy to order from the website. The materials arrived quickly. This home study course was convenient, economical, and a great way to fulfill the NCBTMB ethics requirement!Sandra Mainardi, CMT, Lincoln Park, NJ