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

Context of and specific resources for assessment:

Access to athlete/client

Massage therapy facilities in a massage therapy setting, or competition/activity setting

Massage therapy equipment

Method of assessment

Observation in the workplace

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

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

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

HLTREM510B 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:

Awareness of range of motion requirements for common sports

Common musculoskeletal injuries in sport

Comprehensive knowledge of anatomy and physiology and the ability to integrate knowledge of massage therapy techniques and modalities to provide a comprehensive massage treatment package for athlete/client, in particular athlete/client with sports injuries

Range of professionals for referral of client

Relevant human anatomy and physiology

Relevant nutrition for the general well-being of clients

Relevant pathology/symptomology

Relevant pharmacology

Relevant principles of human movement and sport biomechanics

Stages of rehabilitation of sporting injuries

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 sports injuries

Convey and interpret information

Demonstrate comprehensive ability to apply tactile techniques

Demonstrate comprehensive ability to gather and interpret information through the tactile senses

Design an advanced treatment plan and describe it's progressions

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

Establish, explain, clarify and instigate self-management programs with athlete/client's

Identify common sports injuries

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

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

Recommend thermotherapy, cryotherapy, corrective exercise for rehabilitation of sporting injuries

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.

Clientsmay include:

Athletes who:

are usually committed and self-motivated to return to optimal function and/or improve performance can be so motivated that unnecessary pain is tolerated in mistaken belief that 'no pain, no gain'

can be talented with various levels of motivation and commitment

may be beginner through to high performance level competitors

can be

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:

Sporting injuries that may be divided into acute injuries and overuse injuries which include:

bones

acute

fracture

periosteal contusion

overuse

stress fracture

'bone strain', 'stress reaction'

osteitis/periostitis

apophysitis

articular cartilage

acute

osteochondral/chondral fractures

minor osteochondral injury

chondropathy, eg, softening, fibrillation, fissuring, chondromalacia

acute

dislocation

subluxation

overuse

synovitis

osteoarthritis

continued ...

Common musculoskeletal injuries (contd):

Ligament injuries:

acute

sprain/tear (grades I - III)

overuse

Muscle injuries:(and associated extrinsic and intrinsic fascia)

strain/tear (grades I - III)

contusion

cramp

acute compartment syndrome

overuse

chronic compartment syndrome

delayed onset muscle soreness

focal tissue thickening/fibrosis

Tendon injuries:

acute

tear (complete or partial)

overuse

tendinitis

paratendinitis/tenosynovitis

tendinosis

tendinopathy

Bursa injury:

acute

traumatic bursitis

overuse

bursitis

Nerve injury:

acute

neuropraxia

minor nerve injury/irritation

overuse

entrapment

increased neural tension

altered adverse neurodynamics

Skin injury:

acute

laceration

abrasion

puncture wound

overuse

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

medial epicondyle

lateral epicondyle

area of the sternal notch and anterior throat

umbilicus area

twelfth rib dorsal body

sciatic notch

inguinal triangle

popliteal fossa

Cryotherapy includes:

Application of fundamental forms of cryotherapy refers to

conduction, eg, cold packs, ice massage and immersion baths

convection, eg, cooling devices

Possible adverse reactions to topical applications of cryotherapy refers to

skin irritations

neural irritations

muscle cramps

Indications for cryotherapy refers to

acute injury

inflammation

Contraindications and precautions for cryotherapy refers to

any contraindication for massage

in particular

skin disorders

open wounds

Correct duration for cryotherapy refers to

adequate time to achieve cryotherapy goals without adverse reactions, eg, Huntington's response

usually 10 minutes

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

Integration of various techniques may include:

The integration of

trigger point techniques

Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation stretching

deep transverse friction techniques

myofascial tension techniques

corrective exercise

stretching including static/dynamic and contract-relax protocols

Massage therapy setting refers to:

Any genuine work environment where massage therapy is provided

clinics

change rooms

open or enclosed areas at sporting events

accommodation venues

in transit, ie, on buses, planes

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

Pre-event massage may include:

Integration of treatment techniques to assist the athlete/client with

Physiological warm-up

Psychological preparation including

where appropriate, stress release, ie, relaxation

where appropriate, to raise pre-event arousal levels

Post-event massage may include:

Integration of treatment techniques to assist the athlete/client with

physiological cool-down, ie, return to homeostasis

physiological recovery, ie, removal of lactic acid

where appropriate, psychological recovery, ie, emotional stress release

identify potential injuries and commence appropriate treatment

the restoration of range of motion/flexibility

Maintenance massage may include:

A package of massage therapy techniques designed to assist injury prevention, physiological recovery, tissue extensibility, muscle tone, ie, reduction of micro-tears in myofibrils

Self-management program may include

Assisting the client in areas such as

activities or tasks to avoid

warm-ups and cool downs

simple temperature therapy techniques

self-massage techniques

Self massage techniques may include:

Using athlete/client's own hands/forearms/knuckles to perform massage techniques

Using massage equipment and other appropriate self treatment aids to perform techniques such as

ice for ice massage

tennis ball for digital ischaemic pressure and trigger point work

Technique may include:

A singular massage therapy application, eg, gliding or digital ischemic pressure

Thermotherapy (or heat therapy) may include:

Application of fundamental forms thermotherapy refers to:

conduction, eg, heat packs and immersion baths

radiation, eg, ray lamps

friction

topical applications

Indications for thermotherapy refers to:

myofascial hypertonicity, ie, stiffness

fascial adherence

Contraindications and precautions for thermotherapy refers to:

any contraindication for massage

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

Continued

Thermotherapy (or heat therapy) (contd):

In particular:

skin disorders

open wound

acute injury

acute inflammation

vascular disorders

Correct angle and distance for indirect application of thermotherapy refers to:

safe and effective placement of the heat lamp

usually 10-20 minutes

in accord with manufacturer's instructions and directions

heat source perpendicular to area to be treated

minimum distance of 30cm from area to be heated

appropriate duration for thermotherapy is described

adequate time to achieve heat therapy goals without adverse reactions

Possible adverse reactions to topical applications of thermotherapy refers to:

burning

skin irritations

re-initiate internal bleeding

Treatment package/s may include:

The combination of the assessment process, techniques, modalities and attitudes to achieve prescribed outcomes

Incorporates the application of the

principles of relaxation massage, and/or

principles of remedial massage therapy

Can incorporate other modalities depending the current competencies of the therapist

Treatment plan/s may include:

Agreed duration, dependent on the performance parameters and within the scope of the therapists current competencies

Individualisation to the athlete/client's requirements

Referral of the athlete/client to an appropriate health practitioner in relation to areas/aspects in which the therapist is not currently competent

Sequence of events incorporating the application of advanced treatment packages negotiated between the therapist and the athlete/client leading to a desired outcome

Steps designed to return the athlete/client to optimal function