Massage Therapist Massage Therapist 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: The Golgi tendon organ (GTO) responds to muscle tension by:
- Initiating a stretch reflex to shorten the muscle
- Triggering muscle relaxation to protect against excessive force (Correct answer)
- Increasing muscle spindle sensitivity
- Stimulating the antagonist muscle to contract
Correct answer: Triggering muscle relaxation to protect against excessive force
When tension exceeds a threshold, the GTO inhibits the agonist muscle via autogenic inhibition, causing it to relax.
Question 2: Which modality uses thumb and finger pressure on reflex zones of the feet to affect corresponding body organs?
- Shiatsu
- Reflexology (Correct answer)
- Thai massage
- Myofascial release
Correct answer: Reflexology
Reflexology is based on the premise that specific foot zones correspond to organs and systems throughout the body.
Question 3: A client arrives 15 minutes late for a 60-minute session. What is the MOST professional response?
- Perform the full 60-minute session to maintain client satisfaction
- End the session at the scheduled time and charge the full fee (Correct answer)
- Refuse to see the client and reschedule
- Extend the session by 15 minutes and charge extra
Correct answer: End the session at the scheduled time and charge the full fee
Most professional standards recommend ending at the scheduled time to respect subsequent clients and enforcing the session policy fairly.
Question 4: Which bone marking is the attachment site for the iliotibial (IT) band at the lateral knee?
- Fibular head
- Gerdy's tubercle on the tibia (Correct answer)
- Lateral femoral epicondyle
- Lateral malleolus
Correct answer: Gerdy's tubercle on the tibia
The IT band inserts at Gerdy's tubercle on the anterolateral tibia, a common site of pain in IT band syndrome.
Question 5: Which massage stroke is classified as tapotement?
- Stripping
- Hacking (Correct answer)
- Wringing
- Rocking
Correct answer: Hacking
Hacking is a tapotement technique using the ulnar edges of alternating hands in rapid, rhythmic strikes.
Question 6: The lymphatic system drains from the lower extremities and left side of the body into the:
- Right lymphatic duct
- Thoracic duct (Correct answer)
- Subclavian artery
- Cisterna chyli directly
Correct answer: Thoracic duct
The thoracic duct collects lymph from most of the body (below the diaphragm and left upper body) and empties into the left subclavian vein.
Question 7: When performing massage on a client with osteoporosis, the therapist should:
- Avoid all massage as it is contraindicated
- Use light to moderate pressure and avoid joint mobilizations (Correct answer)
- Focus on deep tissue work to stimulate bone density
- Apply deep percussion to stimulate osteoblast activity
Correct answer: Use light to moderate pressure and avoid joint mobilizations
Osteoporosis increases fracture risk; light to moderate pressure avoids stressing fragile bones while still providing therapeutic benefit.
Massage Therapist Massage Therapist 5
The Golgi tendon organ (GTO) responds to muscle tension by: