Massage Therapy Assessment and Related Terminology

A comprehensive set of flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts related to massage therapy assessment and methodologies.

Assessment

An essential tool utilized by a Massage Therapist based on an educated evaluation of the client's condition.

Subjective data

Information reported by the client about their symptoms and experiences.

Objective data

Information gathered through observation and clinical evaluation.

Clinical Impression

A clinical assessment to determine what conditions may be affecting a patient.

Diagnosis

The specific process of determining the nature of an illness based on symptoms.

Range of Motion (ROM)

The full movement potential of a joint, usually expressed in degrees.

Sway Back

Postural dysfunction characterized by increased posterior pelvic tilt and kyphosis.

Lordosis

An exaggerated inward curve of the lumbar spine.

Kyphosis

Excessive forward curvature of the thoracic spine.

Blood Pressure

The pressure of circulating blood on the walls of blood vessels.

Systolic Pressure

The pressure in the arteries during the contraction of the heart muscle.

Diastolic Pressure

The pressure in the arteries when the heart is resting between beats.

Korotkoff Sounds

Sounds heard through a stethoscope used to measure blood pressure.

Agonist

A muscle that causes or facilitates movement.

Antagonist

A muscle that opposes the action of another muscle.

Atrophy

The wasting away or decrease in size of muscle tissue.

Pallor

An unhealthy pale appearance of the skin.

Functional

Relating to the performance of specific tasks or actions.

Structural

Relating to the physical characteristics of an object or organism.

Hemiplegic Gait

A type of gait seen in individuals with hemiplegia where one side of the body is affected.

Antalgic Gait

A gait adopted by a person to avoid pain while walking.

Ataxic Gait

An unsteady gait characterized by a lack of coordination.

Parkinsonian Gait

A shuffling gait seen in individuals with Parkinson's disease.

Cadence

The rhythmic flow of a sequence of sounds or words, often used in reference to walking.

Gait Cycle

The sequence of movements during walking, consisting of stance and swing phases.

Stance Phase

The phase of the gait cycle when the foot is in contact with the ground.

Swing Phase

The phase of the gait cycle when the foot is off the ground.

Pelvic Shift

Movement of the pelvis side to side during walking.

End Feel

The quality of resistance felt at the end of a joint's range of motion.

Active Range of Motion (AROM)

The range of motion through which a client can actively move their joint.

Passive Range of Motion (PROM)

The range of motion through which a joint can be moved by an external force.

Active Assisted Range of Motion (AAROM)

A type of motion that involves both active movement by the client and assistance by the therapist.

Overpressure

An additional force applied at the end range of motion to assess end feel.

Muscle Strength Assessment

Process of testing the strength of a muscle against resistance.

Length Assessment

Evaluation of the muscle's length during stretching assessments.

Contraindication

A condition that makes a particular treatment or procedure inadvisable.

Indication

A reason to use a particular treatment or intervention.

Mild Lordosis

A normal, slight inward curvature of the lumbar spine.

Exaggerated Lordosis

An excessive inward curve of the lumbar spine that can indicate postural problems.

Posture

The position of the body when standing or sitting.

Gait Parameters

Measurements that are used to assess the characteristics of walking.

Valgus

A condition where a body part is angled inward.

Varus

A condition where a body part is angled outward.

Stride Length

The distance covered measured from one foot contact to the next on the same foot.

Step Width

The distance between the point of foot contact of one foot and the corresponding point of contact of the other foot.