Massage Therapist Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield Massage Therapist facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. Under HIPAA guidelines, when may a massage therapist share a client's health information with a third party without explicit consent? → Only when required by law, such as a court order or mandatory reporting obligation
2. Which plane of motion divides the body into front and back halves and includes movements such as abduction and adduction? → Frontal (coronal) plane
3. Which structure carries deoxygenated blood from the lower body back to the heart? → Inferior vena cava
4. Which muscle is the primary hip flexor and is commonly addressed in massage therapy for clients with lower back pain? → Iliopsoas
5. Which of the following is an absolute, systemic contraindication for massage therapy? → Fever
6. Which business practice is considered an ethical violation for a licensed massage therapist? → Guaranteeing specific therapeutic outcomes in advertising materials
7. What is the primary purpose of performing a patch test before using an essential oil blend on a new client? → To check for allergic or sensitivity reactions
8. Which body system is directly responsible for maintaining fluid balance through filtration of blood? → Urinary system
9. What is the role of the synergist muscle during a movement? → It assists the prime mover in performing the action
10. A therapist applies sustained pressure to a myofascial trigger point until the tissue releases. This technique is known as: → Ischemic compression
11. What is the primary purpose of a SOAP note in massage therapy practice? → To document the client's session for professional and legal records
12. What does 'leading with the body' mean when applying compressions during massage? → Using torso movement and weight shift to drive the hand into the tissue
13. A client offers a massage therapist a large cash tip and suggests meeting socially outside the practice. What should the therapist do? → Accept the tip but decline the social invitation
14. Which biomechanical force creates compression on the intervertebral discs when a client is standing upright? → Axial loading from gravity and body weight
15. In Swedish massage, what is the recommended direction of effleurage strokes on the extremities? → Distal to proximal toward the heart
16. Which type of muscle contraction occurs when a muscle generates force while lengthening, such as slowly lowering a weight? → Eccentric contraction
17. Which type of end feel would a massage therapist expect when assessing normal knee flexion? → Soft tissue approximation
18. A client is most stable and balanced when their center of gravity is positioned in what relation to their base of support? → Low and within the base of support
19. Which of the following is the most common repetitive stress injury among massage therapists? → Carpal tunnel syndrome
20. Which essential oil is most commonly recommended for reducing muscle inflammation during a post-event sports massage? → Wintergreen
21. Following an acute ankle sprain that occurred within the last 24 hours, what is the primary physiological reason for applying cold therapy (cryotherapy)? → To decrease nerve conduction velocity and cause local vasoconstriction
22. What is the primary purpose of proper body mechanics for massage therapists? → To prevent musculoskeletal injury and extend career longevity
23. A client requests that the massage therapist lock the treatment room door during the session for privacy. What should the therapist do? → Explain that the door must remain unlocked for safety and professional standards
24. Which of the following is considered a primary reflexive effect of massage therapy, as opposed to a mechanical effect? → Increased parasympathetic nervous system activity
25. A client presents with pain at the medial epicondyle of the elbow aggravated by wrist flexion. Which condition should the massage therapist suspect? → Medial epicondylitis
26. The ethical principle of "non-maleficence" as it applies to massage therapy is best described as the obligation to: → avoid causing harm to the client.
27. Which plane of motion divides the body into front and back halves and includes movements such as lateral flexion? → Frontal (coronal) plane
28. What neurotransmitter is most associated with the relaxation response triggered by massage therapy? → Serotonin
29. During a massage session, the therapist notices localized ischemia followed by reactive hyperemia. What technique most likely caused this response? → Sustained digital compression on a trigger point
30. What is the term for the point where a muscle attaches to the more stationary bone during movement? → Origin