a community of practitioners

Is A&P Important For Students To Know?

An argument right now, going on with the BOK discussion is that, " Students don't need to take these classes to do massage."

What do you think? Is it important for students to learn this information?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Eric Wilson on October 14, 2009 at 8:23pm

HMMMMM I can drive a car without a map but it is tough to take a trip without having map
knowledge of A&P is our road map
So yes I feel it is a MUST for ALL massage students to learn
Exspecially if we want to maintain profession as professional.

Permalink Reply by Bianca Berrios on October 21, 2009 at 8:59pm

I am completley surprised that some MT's are even questioning this. How could anyone in this profession after attending school not understand the importance of what we learn and why we learn it. Honestly I was a student that struggled with the muscles of the skeletal system , but completley understood the importance of what was required. I am very thankful for the vigorous program I was put through, it showed me how badly I really wanted this. Two years after graduation and I am still referring to my books, as well I find myself going back to my muscle cards, wanting to continue to learn, and relearn what I have forgotten. This is for our bennefit to be the best we can be and to be able to not only, 'walk the walk' but as one of my favorite teachers used to say 'talk the talk'. By increasing our knowledge will only increase our clientelle; and of course make us the better therapist...

Rosemary Chunco said:

I can't believe that this topic is being questioned as not being an essential part of studying massage.
EVERY DAY AND WITH EVERY CLIENT as an MT I am presented with situations that require knowledge of it and I'm sure every MT has the same situation.
Also, if the direction of the profession is to make us more accepted by the medical field, then how can anyone not see this as important?
I'm sure many MTs have the same situation as me where physical therapists refer people to them. I doubt if any of them would refer anyone to me if I didn't know what they were talking about or if I didn't have the capability of asking more questions. As for Joe Public, I doubt if he'd come to me if I didn't know any A&P. It's like an accountant not knowing how to add, for Pete's sake!
Enough ranting.....I'm off to work and as part of that work I'll write SOAP notes - and I'll be writing about muscles in those notes - yep, muscles, and they have names!

Permalink Reply by Mike Hinkle on October 21, 2009 at 9:07pm

Read this and more at http://www.massageprofessionals.com/group/bodyofknowledge/forum/top...

You will be surprised! Now they say licensing is only because of prostitution!

Permalink Reply by Gloria Coppola on October 21, 2009 at 9:29pm

Absolutely, if for no other reason than to learn how we as individuals function in this amazing and incredible human machine. After teaching A&P for several semesters I became even more amazed about our body on so many different levels.
Yes, we need to learn it, as a matter of fact we should probably learn more of it.

Now, I'm not saying one can't perform massage just because they don't know it. And I do know many are extremely intuitive, which I also encourage in students...however, why wouldn't you want to know about this miracle?

It's ridiculous to ask this question? If we are considered the fastest growing health field - would we ask if doctors and nurses really need a&p? For real, are they really arguing about this! OMG!

Most clients are more educated about their bodies than many therapists out there. We better know how to respond and answer their questions.

Permalink Reply by Mike Hinkle on November 1, 2009 at 10:20am

Hello Henry,

This is really is the underlying and persistent problem. Standards must be set.

Henry Hardnock said:

this is a very important subject, so excuse me for adding in again. I was at an advanced class on using muscle energy techniques to adjust a single rotated vertebra or a group of side bent or "C " curved vertebra and the instructor was talking about certain muscles that he balances in his protocal when a student said "please slow down I do not know all of these muscle you are talking about."

She said the shcool she went to taught very little on muscles. I had another student who had gone through 600 hours in another state and was in school to get accepted into Texas requirements. She elected to attend the entire shcool session. (at that time it was 300 hrs) when she took her bones test she didnt do well.

I talked with her and she said "we didnt study bones very much, we did more hands on work than anything." I wonder sometimes how students pass the state board tests based on some of the things i have heard about other schools. I also think it is up to the student to take responsibility to study on their own in cases such as the above mentioned.