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Follow the links below to find material targeted to the unit's elements, performance criteria, required skills and knowledge

Elements and Performance Criteria

1. Elements define the essential outcomes
2. Determine scope of client needs
   • Clarify client expectations
   • Provide clear information about scope and limits of services to be provided
   • Collect accurate, relevant and organised health record and document in a form which can be interpreted readily by other professionals
   • Recognise needs that are beyond scope of own practice, and make referrals to other health care professionals as required
   • Identify and respond to any barriers to information gathering and assessment
   • Seek client information respectfully and sensitively, using purposeful, systematic and diplomatic questions
   • Manage information in a confidential and secure way
3. Make a physical assessment
   • Advise client about the physical assessment process and obtain client consent to proceed
   • Follow clinical and practitioner hygiene protocols
   • Respect client dignity and anticipate potential sensitivities
   • Seek client feedback on comfort levels throughout assessment process
   • Assess client through palpation, observation and range of motion (ROM) testing
   • Identify and respond to contra-indications to massage treatment
   • Accurately document assessment findings
4. Determine and communicate treatment approach
   • Determine treatment needs by integrating findings from physical assessment, observation and communication
   • Discuss assessment and rationale for treatment with the client
   • Respond to client enquiries using language the client understands
   • Discuss referral and collaborative options with the client as required

Performance Evidence

The candidate must show evidence of the ability to complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage tasks and manage contingencies in the context of the job role. There must be evidence that the candidate has:

performed the activities outlined in the performance criteria of this unit during a period of at least 80 hours of massage client consultation work

prepared for and managed at least 40 massage assessments - clients must include males and females from different stages of life with varied presentations

completed physical assessments using palpation, observation and active, passive and resisted ROM testing

interacted effectively with clients:

clearly articulated information about services, treatment options and rationale

engaged clients in decision making

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Knowledge Evidence

The candidate must be able to demonstrate essential knowledge required to effectively complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage tasks and manage contingencies in the context of the work role. This includes knowledge of:

legal and ethical considerations (national and state/territory) for client assessment:

codes of conduct

duty of care

informed consent

mandatory reporting

practitioner/client boundaries

privacy, confidentiality and disclosure

records management

working role boundaries

working within scope of practice

presenting symptoms that require referral to a medical practitioner

work health and safety

referral options for massage practitioners, including:

professional health services including complementary health modalities

community resources and support services

factors and barriers that may impact on massage assessment:

physical

psychological

cultural

factors that affect individual health status:

age

gender

constitution

lifestyle

diet

personal and medical history

values and attitudes

balance of rest and activity

physical environment

social environment

client information required prior to physical assessment, including:

case history

client expectations

considerations for performing physical massage assessments:

environment

equipment

client privacy

client instructions

physical assessment techniques, how and when they are used, including:

postural assessment

range of motion (active, passive and resisted)

palpation

contraindications to treatment and possible indications for referral, including:

protracted pain or pain which is non re-producible or neural in origin

fatigue

circulatory disorders

inflammation

lumps and tissue changes

rashes and changes in the skin

oedema

mood alterations

infection

changes in habits such as appetite elimination or sleep

bleeding and bruising

nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea

temperature-hot or cold

major muscle anatomy, including:

surface anatomy

origin and insertion

palpable bony landmarks

reciprocal inhibition, antagonist/agonist, synergists

actions including individual actions, planes and synergistic groups of the following muscles:

temporalis

masseter

frontalis

sternocleidomastoid

trapezius

levator scapulae

latissimus dorsi

supraspinatus

infraspinatus

teres major

teres minor

subscapularis

rhomboids

pectoralis major

pectoralis minor

rectus abdominis

quadratus lumborum

psoas

erector spinae

gluteus maximus

gluteus medius

piriformis

quadriceps

tibialis anterior

peroneals

hamstrings

adductor magnus

adductor longus

gastrocnemius

soleus

deltoid

biceps brachii

triceps brachii

flexor carpi radialus

flexor carpi ulnaris

palmaris longus

pronator teres

brachioradialis

extensor carpi radialis

supinator

skeleton:

bones of the body

major bony landmarks

surface anatomy and palpable bony landmarks

bone growth and remodelling

joints:

joint classifications – fibrous, cartilaginous, synovial (glide, plane, ball/socket, saddle, hinge, condyloid, pivot)

joint actions

physiology:

soft tissue:

muscle contraction

muscle physiology (reflexes, chemistry, proprioceptors)

tendons and ligaments

fascia

hard tissue:

bone growth and development

abnormal bone growth

recognition of in terms of contra-indications:

inflammation (cardinal signs, physiology at cellular level)

injury and wound healing (acute/chronic, stages, grades)

pain types

tendinopathy

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