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Therapy Course Catalog

Anatomy and Physiology includes a study of tissue development from the cellular level to the organ systems level. This course covers the introduction to A&P, and then delves into the skeletal and muscular systems and the relationship between those systems. This course along with AP1302 are designed to fulfill the Texas requirements for Anatomy and Physiology for Massage Therapists.

This course continues the study of other systems within the body. The primary systems covered are skeletal, muscular, integumentary, nervous, cardiovascular, endocrine, respiratory, digestive, urinary, and reproductive systems. This course also includes a brief introduction of the Fascial System. Emphasis is also given to the inflammatory response and its healing cycle, which includes the acute, sub-acute and the maturation stages involved in the healing processes. This course along with AP1201 are designed to fulfill the Texas requirements for Anatomy and Physiology for Massage Therapists.

Business and Ethics focuses on instructing the students on how to handle therapeutic relationships appropriately and on how to build a business or create a successful career in Massage Therapy. In the Ethics part of this program, the student will learn about boundaries between the therapist and client and how to create them, transference, countertransference, dual relationships, how to handle sexual misconduct and how to resolve conflicts. In the business part of this course, the student will be taught the basics of managing a business including communication skills, marketing, the intake process, and the financial aspects of a Massage Therapy practice. This course is designed to fulfill the Texas requirements for Business and Ethics for Massage Therapists.

Health and Hygiene focuses on the standard precaution in healthcare settings, including sterilization and sanitation. Throughout the course, the student will be instructed on how to develop a personal prevention burnout plan and to promote optimal wellness for both themselves and their clients. First Aid and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation will be taught as well, by instructors who are certified by the American Red Cross. This course is designed to fulfill the Texas requirements for Health and Hygiene for Massage Therapists.

Hydrotherapy is the study of external use of water for therapeutic, palliative, recreational or hygienic purpose. This course will cover the theory of hydrotherapy including cryotherapy and thermotherapy techniques. Additionally, a high-level introduction will be made to the diverse types of baths, showers, and other hydrotherapy tools. This course is designed to fulfill the Texas requirements on Hydrotherapy for Massage Therapists.

Prerequisites: 250 academic clock hours, including 100 hours of Swedish or other massage techniques courses, the completion of all makeup work and approval from both the Massage Instructor and the Program office. NOTE: Clock Hours for this course are measured in actual hands-on time with a patient. Additional time will be spent on prep, patient interviews, sanitation, writing session notes, meeting with the instructors for evaluation, and general down time. During the internship, students perform as Massage Therapists, in the facility under the supervision and direction of a Licensed Massage Therapy Instructor (LMI), giving the student the opportunity to gain handson experience. The student will interview clients, perform massage therapy, review client evaluations with the course instructor and perform other tasks necessary for the successful operation of a massage therapy business. This course is designed to fulfill the Texas requirements for Swedish and other Massage techniques for Massage Therapists.

This course explores the discipline of kinesiology, the study of muscle, bone, and their combined effort to create movement in the human body. Movement, in this course, is taught using anatomical and mechanical principles. Students learn the major muscles of the body and the actions of each muscle. Class will be a combination of lecture, demonstration, group, and individual activities. During the group and individual activities, the course puts emphasis on developing palpation skills. This course is designed to fulfill the Texas requirements for Kinesiology for Massage Therapists.

Pathology is the scientific study of the nature of disease, its development, causes, processes and consequences. Students will learn common diseases in each body system and the implications of massage for the individuals with certain disorders. A brief introduction of cancer and massage modification techniques for individuals who have a specific pathology will be given to the students. This course is designed to fulfill the Texas requirements for Pathology for Massage Therapists.

In Swedish massage students will study passive and active joint movements, nonspecific stretches, passive and active exercise or any combination of these and the manipulation of soft tissue. The class includes demonstration of techniques and supervised practice of Swedish massage, along with supporting lecture. The emphasis is placed on proper body mechanics and becoming proficient with therapeutic touch. This course is broken into 125 hours of Swedish massage and will end with an introduction to a wide variety of other massage techniques commonly in demand in the marketplace, including Deep Tissue and Sports massage. This course is designed to fulfill the Texas requirements for Swedish and other Massage techniques for Massage Therapists.