Understand musculoskeletal anatomy and the body structures most relevant to safe massage assessment and treatment.

Muscles, bones, joints, major anatomical landmarks, soft tissues, body regions, and relationships between anatomical structures during massage application.

Understand how massage may affect body systems and recognize situations where massage should be modified, avoided, or referred for medical assessment.

Physiological responses to massage, treatment precautions, local and general contraindications, patient safety, risk factors, and appropriate clinical decision-making.

Understand the principles and appropriate application of common massage techniques for different treatment goals and body regions.

Basic massage strokes and techniques, pressure and direction, patient positioning, therapist body mechanics, treatment sequencing, and safe technique application.

Develop a structured approach to evaluating a patient before massage and identifying findings that influence treatment planning.

History taking, observation, posture, range of motion, palpation, muscle assessment, pain evaluation, functional findings, and recognition of signs requiring referral.

Understand how massage may be incorporated into the management of selected clinical conditions while respecting safety limits and contraindications.

Condition-specific treatment considerations, symptom management, treatment modification, precautions, contraindications, patient monitoring, and recognition of conditions requiring medical care.

Understand massage considerations for common sports-related conditions, recovery needs, and musculoskeletal complaints.

Sports-related muscle and soft-tissue problems, recovery massage, treatment timing, precautions, injury-related considerations, and recognition of cases requiring further assessment.