AHL 299 - Principles of Swedish for Massage Therapy

6 Continuing Education Units (CEU). This course is not for Credit(s).

This course is designed to enable the students to explore the hands-on therapeutic application of Swedish Massage techniques and manipulations. Students learn to create an ergonomically therapeutic atmosphere where massage therapy sessions may be conducted. Students will apply biomechanical principles in order to develop effective body mechanics for the sustained application of massage therapy, as well as for career longevity. Students identify, palpate and massage the bones and bony landmarks of the skeletal system, as well as the muscles of the human body. Topics to be covered include Swedish strokes and manual manipulations, surface anatomy, musculoskeletal anatomy, endangerment sites, indications, and contraindications for the application of massage therapy.

Course Objectives

Upon completion of this course the student will be able to:

1. create an ergonomically effective & therapeutic massage therapy environment;
2. utilize sound biomechanical principles & body mechanical movements when applying manual and mechanical force to the soft tissues of the human body;
3. recognize when providing non-optimal massage application through effective body awareness techniques;
4. apply anatomic directional terms when palpating and massaging the muscles, bones and bony landmarks of the human body;
5. identify and apply therapeutic massage techniques to endangerment zones of the human body; and
6. demonstrate and apply knowledge of the surface anatomy of the human body through the application of Swedish Massage techniques.