Massage Pathology Chronicles

Massage therapy intake forms play a critical role where both the client and the therapist are concerned. Massage treatment intake forms convey a wealth of useful information that provides the starting point for treatment, they are intended to supply the therapist with the necessary information that will enable him to treat client for his or her problem in a sound and careful manner. Moreover, massage treatment intake forms also list the elementary requirements like contact data as well as confidentiality disclosure.

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Review of Mosby’s Pathology for Massage Therapists, by Salvo and Anderson.

There was a lot of information in this chapter on client intake and health assessment. The first portion talks about documentation, informed consent forms charting, and assessing the patient’s treatment. I found this portion very interesting because when I’ve done some shadowing in the field I want to enter (occupational therapy), the therapists all used the documentation detailed here. It was nice to see some of the questions that a massage therapists would ask a client prior to the massage (pages 30-35). I learned the importance of subjective and objective data when assessing a client. A large part of this chapter was actually looking at objective data a massage therapist might collect from looking at a patient. For example, looking at skin color, skin condition, and skin pigmentation would be part of an objective exam. Nail condition, breathing, posture and body structure are also important things to look at before a therapist determines how to proceed with their course of treatment. The chapter goes on to talk about many additional things to consider from skin turgor to gait. The last part of the chapter describes how to set up a treatment plan. This includes maybe setting up short-term massage goals along with long term ones for example. The therapist will be sure to assess the client’s needs while coming up with a treatment plan. I learned a lot from this chapter. I feel that treatment plans are a big part of occupational therapy as well as massage therapy! I didn’t know the two were similar in this regard.

Tags: Massage Therapy Pathology, Massage Pathology Chronicles, Massage Therapy Assessment, Occupational Therapy Assessment, Mosby’s Pathology for Massage Therapists

Review of Mosby’s Pathology for Massage Therapists, by Salvo and Anderson.

A portion of Chapter 2 was devoted to questions to ask a client during the premassage assessment. While the questions provide critical information to the therapist, I also feel that asking these questions in the appropriate progression and in the appropriate manner can be a major contributing factor of how comfortable the client feels. In my personal experience, I feel most comfortable when I know that my doctor, care provider or therapist knows as much information about me as possible. Being able to elaborate on various conditions and describe pains and symptoms to the therapist can provide a sense of both relief and comfort. I believe this all ties into the “Personal Professionalism” described by Salvo on page 24. “The therapist is professional in appearance and mannerism, and is knowledgeable, skilled, self-aware, focused, calm, confident, and prepared.”

Tags: Massage Therapy Pathology, Massage Pathology Chronicles, Massage Therapy Assessment, Massage Therapy Personal Professionalism, Mosby’s Pathology for Massage Therapists

Review of Mosby’s Pathology for Massage Therapists, by Salvo and Anderson.

Chapter 1, in giving an overview of pathology, brings to the forefront the idea of awareness of various pathologies. An individual in the field of massage (or similar environment involving direct, physical patient contact) needs to be aware of pathologies that exist and could be transferred from the client to the therapist or vice versa. Having not only awareness but a knowledge base of pathology will allow the therapist to make appropriate choices in terms of treatment.

A particular portion of Chapter 1 that sparked some interest was that of predisposing factors/risk factors that make an individual more likely to contract a disease or accelerate the onset of a condition. A question was asked as a part of the discussion “What choices can you make to counteract them (the predisposing factors)?” While age and gender are not able to be controlled, adults and adolescents can often make decisions in terms of lifestyle, environment and stress that could contribute or counteract the risk factors for certain diseases. However, there is a certain age when these things become “controllable”. Young children who are not able to control their environment can be susceptible to diseases due to higher risk factors. Rickets is an example of this. Children who lack Vitamin D are at a higher risk for developing rickets.

Tags: Massage Therapy Pathology, Massage Pathology Chronicles, Massage Therapy Assessment, Mosby’s Pathology for Massage Therapists

Review of Mosby’s Pathology for Massage Therapists, by Salvo and Anderson.

Chapter 2 covers the practice of practitioner client communication including practicing professionalism with your client (yourself, knowledge, environment), knowing the difference between subjective vs. objective data, how to explain documentation to your client, how to hold a premassage interview, assessment, and explaining / demonstrating / formulating a treatment plan. This chapter emphasizes the importance of providing a safe, professional environment for your clients, as well as knowing how to interact with the client in a professionally skillful manner to include the premassage assessment.

Tags: Massage Therapy Pathology, Massage Pathology Chronicles, Massage Therapy Assessment, Mosby’s Pathology for Massage Therapists

As a student I have not made my own client intake form, I do have a couple of example forms, but it is very important that I look over those example client intake forms and create one of my own. Client intake forms are one of the most important things to have filled out before you put your hands on a client. I even think it is very important to have your clients update their intake forms every once in a while so you can update any changes in their health and medications in writing. Clients will tell you and update you but it is very important to have it on file so you can review their health to better serve them with their massage needs.

Tags: Massage Therapy Pathology, Massage Pathology Chronicles, Massage Therapy Assessment

Review of Mosby’s Pathology for Massage Therapists, by Salvo and Anderson.

On this chapter, what it make me realized about if you work for a massage place, you really need to assess the client. Ask all medical history and answer all the intake forms, and do the premassage assessment. Also I have learned that I have to be aware and record all the assessment and make them feel comfortable about the massage and with me working on them.

Tags: Massage Therapy Pathology, Massage Pathology Chronicles, Massage Therapy Health Assessment, Mosby’s Pathology for Massage Therapists

Review of Mosby’s Pathology for Massage Therapists, by Salvo and Anderson.

What I got out of this Chapter 2, is how important it is to have a "complete" intake form so you can find out all possible contraindications. Your environment should be clean and your manner professional. Keeping ongoing records on clients is a good idea so the next time they come you can see what issues they have had and if they are improving.

Tags: Massage Therapy Pathology, Massage Pathology Chronicles, Massage Therapy Assessment, Mosby’s Pathology for Massage Therapists

Review of Mosby’s Pathology for Massage Therapists, by Salvo and Anderson.

In this Chapter 2, it specifies the things you must go over with your client before giving them a massage. It shows you the kind of paperwork you should have for your clients to fill out. It talks about what to look for on your client and how to assess the nails, skin, body, and movements. And lastly it talks with you on how to make a treatment plan with your client.

Tags: Massage Therapy Pathology, Massage Pathology Chronicles, Massage Therapy Assessment, Mosby’s Pathology for Massage Therapists

Review of Mosby’s Pathology for Massage Therapists, by Salvo and Anderson.

The information presented in the chapter is invaluable in not only for assessing the client, communicating and recording pre-treatment finding, treatment plan, post-treatment client comment but also presents the entire ‘professional umbrella’ to set the therapist apart from individual who know the strokes but have no foundation on which to base them.

Massage Therapy Pathology, Massage Pathology Chronicles, Massage Therapy Assessment, Mosby’s Pathology for Massage Therapists