Clinical / Medical Massage Therapy School Curriculum – 500 Hour

Our Professional Clinical / Medical Massage Therapy Curriculum follows the teachings of Kyle C. Wright as published in his 380 page textbook Structural Balancing: A Clinical Approach as well as several other well known authors who are elite in their field of expertise. Currently we offer full-time day and evening classes.

Our student profile ranges from currently employed professionals to the recently graduated high school student. We welcome college graduates, retired professionals and stay at home parents needing a change.

Standard Class Structure

Each class will cover the required material for one of the 4 program divisions. The class will be five hours and will consist of several different teaching styles including lecture, demonstration, digital props, creative expression, student/instructor interaction and hands on technique trades between students.

Student Clinic

The student clinic is essential in providing on-the-job training. During the second half of the program, confident student therapists will take part in supervised clinic sessions designed to teach invaluable lessons on how to run a business. Open to the public, the clinic will serve as a means to introduce the up and coming therapists and provide real life applications to the techniques learned by the student.

The Student Clinic gives you the “In-the-Trenches” Experience necessary to apply FLSAB’s Clinical / Medical Massage Therapy Curriculum to your future career.

Our Efficiently & Effectively Structured, Professional, Clinical / Medical Massage Therapy School Curriculum

The following information gives a brief description of the curriculum within the Clinical Massage and Advanced Bodywork program.  Each day is dedicated to one of the four program divisions and will often address a number of subjects in an effort to satisfy specific state requirements while ensuring that the integrity of the information stays superior.

Anatomy and Physiology

The objective of Anatomy and Physiology is to enable the student to most effectively design massage therapy techniques through an understanding of the human body.  This course includes Anatomy and Physiology I and II, presented on separate days.

1. Anatomy and Physiology I Body Systems and Pathology

Participation in this class will introduce the student to the body’s major systems.  A great deal of attention will be placed on the structure (anatomy) and functionality (physiology) of the human body.  Attention is also given to common pathology of each system and its impact on appropriate massage protocol, as well as contraindications to massage. Discussions on how each system functions individually, with special emphasis on its relevance to the practice of massage therapy will be integrated into the lecture.  

2. Anatomy and Physiology II Functional Anatomy

The objective of this course is to provide the student with an academic and tactile knowledge of the body planes, bony landmarks, and the muscular and skeletal systems. Through PowerPoint presentation, engaging lectures, supervised palpatory trades and demonstrations, class participants will become enthralled with an extensive study of movement.

3. Swedish Massage and Allied Modalities

The objective of this course is to familiarize the student with the basis from which most forms of massage derive from.  The student will learn how massage is important and effective through engaging discussions of the history and theory of massage and by experiencing the beneficial value through hands-on table work.  Each student will learn the classical 1 hour massage routine commonly used in spas and resorts and how to effectively employ all of the fundamental strokes.  Further instruction will lead the student into a more creative and intuitive massage that represents their individuality.  This class will cover Western modalities, introducing students to several massage techniques beyond Swedish massage.  Additional topics covered are Hydrotherapy, Special Populations, Ethics, NC State laws and rules and Business Practices of the Professional Massage and Bodywork Therapist. 

4. Clinical Massage and Structural Bodywork

The objective of this course is to introduce the clinical aspect of massage therapy and bodywork as it pertains to this program.  The subject matter of Clinical Massage and Structural Bodywork focuses on postural imbalances and faulty body mechanics that introduce or perpetuate conditions within the body as well as pain management and reconditioning for sustained injuries.  This course will provide each student with the ability to identify and treat postural distortions and muscular imbalances that often result in faulty and restricted movement patterns that can eventually lead to debilitating pain cycles.  The eager student will flourish with knowledge gained under the guidance of carefully chosen instructors that were selected for their excellence in presenting the subject matter in a dynamic and informative manner.  The skills learned within this class are invaluable as the demand for pain intervention becomes a more prevalent necessity in today’s society.