Jul 23, 2025  
Course/Program Inventory 
    
Course/Program Inventory

MST 1101 - Swedish Massage



Clock Hours: 80

Delivery Mode
on-ground

Course Description:
Understand and explain the scope of practice for massage therapy. Demonstrate the ability and proper care with regards to hygiene and sanitation dealing with standard precautions and the therapeutic environment for our profession. Demonstrate and describe the different portions of Swedish massage, effleurage, petrissage, friction, vibration, tapotement, and stretching and the primary massage methods based on mechanical force application with appropriate variations in depth of pressure, drag, direction, speed and duration.  Demonstrate the ability to use good body mechanics to deliver the massage without harming your body during a massage. Understand and demonstrate the use of massage equipment and environmental considerations regarding products we use. 

Student Learning Outcomes:
  • Understand and explain the scope of practice for massage therapy. (CSLO 8) 

    • Describe the scope of practice applicable to the practice jurisdiction.   
    • Compare and contrast the scope of practice for massage therapists in other jurisdictions. 
    • Demonstrate a working knowledge of the local, state, or other laws as they relate to the practice of massage. 
  • Demonstrate the ability and proper care with regards to hygiene and sanitation dealing with standard precautions and the therapeutic environment for our profession. (CSLO 9) 

  • Standard Precautions  

    • Define and explain the concept of standard precautions. 
    • Recognize current recommendations from the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 
    • Describe appropriate personal hygiene for a practicing massage therapist in the professional office setting or anywhere applying a massage procedure. 
    • Identify potential sources for the transmission of pathogenic organisms. 
    • Identify and explain the means of preventing the transmission of pathogens in a therapeutic environment. 
  • Demonstrate and describe the different portions of Swedish massage, effleurage, petrissage, friction, vibration, tapotement, and stretching and the primary massage methods based on mechanical force application with appropriate variations in depth of pressure, drag, direction, speed and duration.  (CSLO 10) 

  • Demonstrate the ability to appropriately drape all areas of the client’s body, while never uncovering the breast of a female, or the genitals of either male or female. 

  • Touch  
    • Light 
    • Firm 
    • Holds 
  • Gliding/stroking - Effleurage 
    • Digital 
    • Palmar 
    • Heart stroke 
    • Raking 
    • Rocking Horse 
    • Alternate Hands 
    • One-handed 
    • Circular 
    • Nerve 
  • Knuckling 
  • Forearm 
    • Ironing 
  • Kneading - Petrissage 
    • Superficial 
    • Superficial kneading 
    • Skin rolling 
    • Ocean waves 
  • Deep  
    • Two-handed 
    • Fulling 
    • Wringing 
    • Chucking 
  • Friction 
    • Superficial warming 
    • Cross-fiber 
    • Rolling 
    • Wringing 
    • Ulnar 
    • Chucking 
  • Vibration 
    • Fine vibration 
    • Course vibration - jostling 
    • Rocking 
  • Tapotement 
    • Tapping 
    • Hacking 
    • Cupping 
    • Pincement 
    • Clapping 
    • Quacking 
    • Pounding 
    • Diffused 
  • Stretching - of muscle and connective tissue to achieve normal resting length 
    • Passive 
    • Active 
    • Resisted 
    • Pin and Stretch 
    • Contract Relax 
  • Demonstrate the ability to use good body mechanics to deliver the massage without harming your body during a massage. (CSLO 14) 

    • Demonstrate the use of the warrior pose - for ease of mechanics with certain strokes in Swedish massage. 
    • Demonstrate the use of the horse pose - for ease of mechanics with certain strokes in Swedish massage. 
    • Demonstrate appropriate posture for side lying massage body mechanics with Swedish massage. 
    • Demonstrate appropriate posture for seated work in a massage. 
  • Understand and demonstrate the use of massage equipment and environmental considerations regarding products we use. (CSLO 22) 

  • Massage Equipment 

    • The Massage Table 
    • The Massage Chair 
    • Linens 
    • Assessment and Clinical Equipment 
    • Client Warming Equipment 
    • Massage Tools and Other Supplies 
  • Lubricants 

    • Lotions 
    • Oils 
    • Other Lubricants 
    • Product Information 
    • Client Choice 
  • Creating a Comfortable Massage Environment 

    • What the Client Sees 
    • What the Client Hears 
    • What the Client Smells 
    • What the Client Tastes 
    • What the Client Feels 
    • Accessibility and Functionality