The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the Performance Criteria, Required Skills and Knowledge, the Range Statement and the Assessment Guidelines for this Training Package.

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate this competency unit:

The individual being assessed must provide evidence of specified essential knowledge as well as skills

Observation of performance in the workplace or a simulated workplace (defined as a supervised clinic)

Consistency of performance should be demonstrated over the required range of situations relevant to the workplace

Where, for reasons of safety, space, or access to equipment and resources, assessment takes place away from the workplace, the assessment environment should represent workplace conditions as closely as possible

Assessment may contain both theoretical and practical components and examples covering a range of clinical situations

Assessment of sole practitioners must include a range of clinical situations and different client groups covering at minimum, age, culture and gender

Assessment of sole practitioners must consider their unique workplace context, including:

interaction with others in the broader professional community as part of the sole practitioner's workplace

scope of practice as detailed in the qualification and component competency units

holistic/integrated assessment including:

working within the practice framework

performing a health assessment

assessing the client

planning treatment

providing treatment

Access and equity considerations:

All workers in the health industry should be aware of access and equity issues in relation to their own area of work

All workers should develop their ability to work in a culturally diverse environment

In recognition of particular health issues facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, workers should be aware of cultural, historical and current issues impacting on health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

Assessors and trainers must take into account relevant access and equity issues, in particular relating to factors impacting on health of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients and communities

Context of and specific resources for assessment:

Massage therapy facilities

Massage therapy equipment

Method of assessment

Observation in the work place (if possible)

Written assignments/projects or questioning should be used to assess knowledge

Case study and scenario as a basis for discussion of issues and strategies to contribute to best practice.

Clinical skills involving direct client care are to be assessed initially in a simulated clinical setting. If successful, a second assessment is to be conducted during workplace application under direct supervision

Related units:

This unit should be assessed after or in conjunction with the following related units:

HLTAP501B Analyse health information

HLTREM502C Provide remedial massage treatment

HLTREM503C Plan the remedial massage treatment strategy

HLTREM504C Apply remedial massage assessment framework

HLTREM505C Perform remedial massage health assessment

HLTREM510C Provide specialised massage treatment

This describes the essential skills and knowledge and their level required for this unit.

Essential knowledge:

The candidate must be able to demonstrate essential knowledge required to effectively do the task outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage the task and manage contingencies in the context of the identified work role

This includes knowledge of:

Common workplace musculoskeletal injuries

Health care regarding transport of portable tables, seated chairs etc

Impact of workplace practices on the musculoskeletal system

Massage therapy techniques and modalities to provide a comprehensive massage treatment package for corporate clients

OHS as it relates to a range of workplaces

Relevant human anatomy and physiology

Relevant nutrition for the general well-being of clients

Relevant pathology/symptomology

Risks associated with the provision of massage services in a corporate environment

Understanding of the corporate environment and where massage programs may fit into this environment

Essential skills:

It is critical that the candidate demonstrate the ability to effectively do the task outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage the task and manage contingencies in the context of the identified work role

This includes the ability to:

Apply knowledge and appropriate techniques to:

assess injuries

develop a treatment package incorporating packaging of advanced massage techniques and/or massage therapy techniques to treat common injuries

establish, explain, clarify and instigate self-management programs

identify common workplace practices that impact on the musculoskeletal system

implement a treatment package through the integration of various techniques and modalities

Accurately record information

Communicate effectively to gain required information Comprehensive ability to apply tactile techniques

Comprehensive ability to gather and interpret information through the tactile senses

Convey and interpret information

continued ...

Essential skills:

Communicate with a range of individual clients including:

corporate clients

individual clients

clients from different cultural and linguistic backgrounds

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

Demonstrate communicate skills including the ability to:

address issues/complaints

awareness of time management requirements during consultation

communicate effectively to gain required information

resolve conflicts

Design an advanced treatment plan and describe its progressions

Develop and implement treatment plans to achieve optimal health, rehabilitation, or to improve quality of life which involve:

compressive techniques including digital ischemic pressure

deep tissue massage techniques

demonstration of the application of all of the techniques listed under the range of variables:

effleurage including cross over stroke, longitudinal stroking, gliding techniques

friction techniques

manual lymphatic drainage

mobilising techniques

myofascial release

passive joint movement techniques

passive soft tissue movement

percussion techniques

petrissage/kneading

proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation

stretching techniques

temperature therapy

treatment of a range of conditions/disease states

trigger point release techniques

vibration

Palpate and identify all bones/structures and muscle groups available to palpation

Use adequate numeracy and literacy skills

The Range Statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Add any essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts.

Clients may include:

Corporate organisations and companies

Individual clients who may be:

are usually committed and self-motivated to return

female or male

with or without a disability or special needs

with or without social disadvantage

and/or from minority ethnic and cultural groups

Common musculoskeletal injuries may include but are not limited to:

Bones

Fracture

Periosteal contusion

Overuse

Stress fracture

'Bone strain', 'stress reaction'

Osteitis/periostitis

Apophysitis

Articular cartilage

Overuse

Chondropathy, eg, softening, fibrillation, fissuring, chondromalacia

Dislocation

Subluxation

Overuse

Synovitis

Osteoarthritis

Ligament

Muscle

Tendon

Bursa

Nerve

Skin

Normal muscle imbalances

Tendinopathies

Strain sprain

Headaches

Contraindications for massage may include:

Massage therapists are not expected to diagnose any conditions but must be able to recognise the indications and contraindications of conditions

Massage is contraindicated in all infectious diseases suggested by fever, nausea and lethargy until a diagnosis is received and recommended by a medical practitioner

Always refer for diagnosis when symptoms do not have a logical explanation

Indications for referral include

pain,local, sharp, dull, achy, deep, surface

fatigue

inflammation

lumps and tissue changes

rashes and changes in the skin

edema

mood alterations, eg, depression, anxiety

infection

changes in habits such as appetite elimination or sleep

bleeding and bruising

nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea

temperature,hot or cold

Endangerment sites are areas where nerves and blood vessels lie close to the skin and are not well protected

anterior triangle of the neck

posterior triangle of the neck

axillary area

area of the sternal notch and anterior throat

twelfth rib dorsal body

sciatic notch

inguinal triangle

popliteal fossa

Massage techniques may include:

To be performed in a variety of positions, ie, standing, seated, prone, supine and side recumbent lying, and through clothing as well as conventional table massage. These include but are not limited to:

Passive joint movement techniques

joints are moved through their range of movement, ie to the point of mild tissue resistance

Passive soft tissue movement

technique is applied with palmer surfaces of the hand, heel of hand and/or fingers

jostling:

shaking of the muscle from origin to insertion

Gliding techniques

effleurage:

broad superficial strokes using the entire palm surface of the hands to cover large surface areas of the body

Longitudinal stroking:

deep gliding movement is applied in the direction of the muscle fibres through focal pressure using any of the following; fingers, palm, heel of hands, forearm and/or knuckles

transverse gliding

cross over stroke:

pulling and pushing of the tissue using the hands in a criss-cross manner

Kneading/petrissage

technique is applied with palm surface of the hand, heel of hand and/or fingers

soft tissue is mobilised with rhythmical circular rolling, squeezing or pulling movements

Friction techniques

superficial tissue is moved over an underlying structure in circular, longitudinal or transverse directions

deep repetitive movements of short amplitude are applied usually with thumbs, fingers and knuckles

friction techniques are believed to be beneficial in releasing adherent/scar tissue

continued ...

Massage techniques (contd):

Compressive techniques

digital pressure

compression: successive and rapid pressure, ie a series of short duration compressions, is applied to soft tissue between two structures, ie underlying bone structures and therapist's hand, or hand to hand

Percussion: cupping, tapping, hacking, pummelling and flicking are applied rhythmically using the hands

Temperature therapy

conduction, eg heat packs and immersion baths

friction

Topical applications

Deep tissue massage techniques

Myofacial release: techniques conducted on superficial and/or deep tissues to:

lengthen tissue

reduce adhesions

increase range of movement

decrease compartment pressure

restore elasticity

Manual lymphatic drainage

Trigger point release techniques: apply digital ischemic pressure and/or apply stretching after treatment. It incorporates:

ischemic pressure

stretching

Stretching techniques:

static stretching

dynamic stretching

Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation stretching: contract-relax and hold-relax

Programs may include the following:

Aim/purpose/outcomes of program

Frequency of visits

Number of individual clients

Time allocated to individual clients

Cost and payment

Referral mechanisms

Confidentiality processes

Promotion to individual clients

Reporting and evaluation mechanisms

Industry standard massage therapy principles may include:

Relevant national, state/territory or local massage therapy organisations' and/or associations' Code of Ethics or Code of Conduct documents/policies, regulations and guidelines

Relevant national, state/territory or local government regulations and guidelines

Accepted preventative practices adopted by self or peers to minimise safety hazards and risks in the same or similar situations

Current and past good practice demonstrated by self or peers in the same or similar situation

Other health professionals may include:

Practitioners who can competently make assessments regarding conditions that may potentially be complicated by the application of massage techniques

Medical practitioners

Physiotherapists

Chiropractors

Osteopaths

Other massage therapists with current competencies in modalities outside the scope of the practitioner, eg, specialising in oriental modalities

Naturopaths/homeopath therapists

Podiatrists

Yoga/relaxation/tai chi instructors

Dentists

Exercise therapists

Acupuncturists

Self-management program may include

Assisting the client in areas such as:

activities or tasks to avoid

self stretches or simple exercises

simple temperature therapy techniques

self-massage techniques

workplace activities

Promotional activities may include:

Media announcements

Employee functions

Client functions

Product launches

Advertisements

Web pages