Learn MusclesAs a student, it is important to learn muscles so that you can give great massages.As massage therapists, we deal with muscles during each massage we give. It is helpful to know where each one begins and ends and what soft tissues are on top of other soft tissues in the body.Anatomy is very important in school. Knowing your way around the bony landmarks and soft tissues of the client's body is necessary to give the correct massage strokes to the many different soft tissues under the skin. Anatomy is even more important in real life when there is a client on your table or in your chair. Do yourself and your clients a favor and learn the muscles. Learn where they are, what bony landmarks they are near, what way the fibers go for each one, if there are any arteries close by, etc. We do a disservice to the client when we are not as familiar with the soft tissues of the body as we should be. This section is mainly for students who need help studying the insertions and origins and for massage therapists who need a quick refresher course to better serve their clients. Below is the muscle study aid for massage therapy students. I need to see if I can find some photos or diagrams that I can legally use on my website of all of the muscles.
The MusclesTwo Special MusclesThe muscles are divided into groups and body sections, except for two special ones-- Trapezius and Sternocleidomastoid. Click on the links below to learn about them.Muscle Body SectionsBody sections are: Head and Face Neck Shoulders Upper Arms Forearms, Wrists, and Hands Elbows Back Muscles Leg Muscles Foot Muscles Chest Muscles Muscle GroupsThe groups listed are: SITS Group Deep Hip Outward Rotators Iliopsoas Gluteals Hamstrings Adductors Triceps Surae Scalenes Suboccipitals Abdominals Quadriceps Femoris
Study The Muscles OftenRemember to review the muscles often after you finish massage therapy school so that you can keep them fresh in your mind. Because there are so many, you tend to forget which one performs what function on the body so reviewing them from time to time will assist you. You will need to know where they are, what they do, and in what directions their fibers go as you massage clients. You must learn muscles if you want to help your clients who are in pain.Happy Studying!
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Muscle Index
Abdominals Adductors Back Muscles Chest Muscles Deep Hip Outward Rotators Elbows Foot Muscles Forearms, Wrists, and Hands Gluteals Hamstrings Head and FaceIliopsoas Leg Muscles Neck Quadriceps Femoris Scalenes Shoulders SITS Group Sternocleidomastoid Suboccipitals Trapezius Triceps Surae Upper Arms