Continuing Education

Oncology - June 14th, 2024, Jefferson Library, 317 S Main St, Jefferson WI. Class Hours 9am-5pm.

Approaching Oncology Clients - Assessment and Treatment (7.5 CEU's)

Course Description

Are you prepared for the day a client comes in and says they have just been diagnosed or are being treated for Cancer?

This course is for the practicing massage therapist to obtain the knowledge necessary to work safely and effectively with clients that are in oncology situations. The course will cover how to prepare yourself to modify your massage session to safely address concerns before, during, and after treatment, including late-term effects of cancer treatments. Background information on oncological terms, screening tools, treatment options, and the role of the lymphatic system will be provided.

This course is a combination of instruction led lecture and class participation. Precautions, contraindications, and best practices decision making will be discussed during the hands-on experience during the afternoon.

Objectives

Participants will be able to define the terms Oncology and Cancer.

Participants will be familiar with specific historical milestones that have changed the focus and scope of cancer therapies.

Participants will learn how specific types of cancer cells originate and their growth patterns.

Participants will learn the specific methods on how cancer is detected and confirmed.

Participants will know what the current cancer trends are in the United States and what resources can be used to keep up to date.

Participants will be familiar with the most common forms of cancer treatments and therapies.

Participants will learn how to describe the role of the Lymphatic System as it's related to their clients and treatments.

Participants will be able to determine best practice therapy options for which of the three stages of cancer their client are currently in.

Participants will be able to discuss precautions and the potential benefits and risks from appropriate massage therapy with their clients.

Participants will learn strategies to prepare themselves physically, mentally, and emotionally for specific situations they may face in oncology situations.

Participants will be confident in their decision-making abilities and proficient in their techniques that are incorporated in their oncology sessions.

Participants will be proficient in performing scar therapy for oncology surgery recovery.

Participants will learn what extra information is required to be documented in their SOAP notes.

Learning Goal

At the end of this course, participants will be able to safely and confidently engage with clients in oncology situations and be able to determine and performed appropriate beneficial therapeutic options.

Syllabus

Part I

Welcome, Introductions and Objectives 
Let's talk Oncology
a) What is oncology and cancer
b) Historical milestones of cancer treatments and medicine
c) How does cancer grow?
d) Tools used to screen for cancer
e) Cancer Classifications and Metastatic Patterns
f) Cancer in the United States

Fighting Cancer 
a) Cancer Treatments
b) Side affects
c) Drugs
d) The Lymphatic System

Part II
How to approach massage therapy for people living with cancer
a) Phases of Cancer Treatments
b) Massage Therapy and Cancer
c) Benefits of Massage Therapy with Oncology Clients
d) Decision Making Strategics for each cancer phase

Performing Therapy
a) Prepare yourself
b) Modalities of Choice
c) Therapy Precautions
d) No No's
e) When to Swedish?
f) Demonstrations, practice and proficiency tasks.

Remainder Items
SOAP Notes Additions
Scar Therapy Anyone?
Final Thoughts

Prenatal

Prenatal Assessment and the Art of Side-Lying Massage (6.5 CEU's)

Course Description

Are you prepared for the time one of your clients says they are expecting a child? Will you be comfortable with the challenges and complications that potentially could develop as the pregnancy develops? This class is primarily geared for massage therapists and other healthcare professionals who have already acquired the skills of Swedish massage and are looking to advance their knowledge and skills to work with prenatal clients and be able to address these possible situations as they develop. 

The course will cover how to prepare the treatment room, position the client based on which trimester the pregnancy is in, and how to modify your techniques. Background information on pregnancies, terms, and contraindications will also be provided.

Class Notes:

Information for this class has been derived from many sources including actual prenatal client experiences. The class is divided into two parts. Part I presents the anatomy and physiology of pregnancy. Methods of assessing benefits and risks are also presented. In Part II, assessment and treatment of prenatal clients is presented.

All participants should be aware that we will be undressing for our "hands on" portion of this workshop. I expect all attendees to adhere to the utmost in professional standards and ethics here as well as in your own practices to keep the environment safe for everyone.

Objectives

Participants will describe the basic physiology and anatomical changes that occur during pregnancy.

Participants will be able to list the primary pregnancy hormones and their function/impact during pregnancy.

Participants will be able to list the common symptoms/complaints that clients experience during pregnancy.

Participants will be able to identify and assess impacts to postural changes that occur during pregnancy progression.

Participants will be able to explain the benefits of prenatal massage.

Participants will be able to identify, address and discuss potential pregnancy risk factors and contraindications with their clients.

Participants will demonstrate proficiency in treating many structural distortions of the spine, pelvis, and shoulder girdle that commonly occur with clients during their pregnancy.

Participants will be able to correctly bolster, position, and drape prenatal clients according to best practices based on current conditions and risk factors.

Participants will be able to demonstrate proficiency in adapting their current techniques with treating prenatal clients based on current conditions and risk factors.

Participants will be able describe oral and written communication practices when conversing with the client's medical provider.

Participants will be able to communicate parameters for continuing their client sessions postpartum.

Learning Goal

At the end of this course, participants will be able to safely and confidently engage with prenatal clients and be able to determine and performed appropriate beneficial therapeutic options for them.

Syllabus

Welcome, Introductions and Objectives 

 Let's talk Pregnancy & Massage Therapy 

                a) The Journey

                b) Hormones of Pregnancy

                c) Common Issues of Pregnancy

                d) Observing Posture

                e) Benefits of Prenatal Massage

Assessing Client Risk and Therapist Comfort Levels 

Getting ready for Treatment

                a) The Tools of a Prenatal Session

                b) Bolstering, Draping, and Positioning for Prenatal Massage

                c) Cautions to look out for

                d) Hands on Practice

Treatment Demonstrations and Practice 

                a) Back/spine and Upper Extremity Side-Lying

                b) Pelvis and Lower Extremity Side-Lying

                c) Semi-Recline Supine Neck and Shoulders

                d) "Baby" Abdominal Massage

Remainder Items

SOAP Notes Additions

Post Postpartum

Final Thoughts

NEW - Lomi Lomi, August 22-23, 2024, Sun Prairie Community Center, 2598 Main St, SunPrairie, WI. Class Hours 9am-5pm each day.

Traditions of Hawaiian Healing Through Lomilomi Massage 15 CEU's (Pending Final Approval) over two days

Course Description

Aloha!  The word conveys images of hello, goodbye, affection, love and peace. But to the native Hawaiians, the word Aloha embodies a deeper meaning, a way of life on how to interact rightfully with the natural world. This way of life, often called the Aloha Spirit has been pass down from generation to generation.

In the Spirit of Aloha, everything is a part of the universe and also part of the person. It’s being respectful and protective of nature, live in the present, be honest, humble, patient, and kind to all living things and to all people. In the divine spiritual sense, Aloha may be interpreted as being in unity and harmony with your real self and God. From old Hawaiian ancestral texts, Aloha meant “God in us”.

To help maintain this harmony way of life, Hawaiian's developed the dance-like movements and techniques of the ancient bodywork modality of lomilomi. A Lomi Lomi massage session is unique in that is combines prayer, clear intention, and specific physical movements that are performed in a soothing gentle rhythmic flowing dance, just like rolling ocean waves, to improve circulation, relieve muscle spasms, increase nutrients brought to the muscles, and stimulate the lymphatic system to release waste products on the clients that receive it. This bodywork and the philosophy behind it convey the "Aloha Spirit" and beauty with which the Hawaiian culture honors and celebrates.

We invite you to come learn and experience a clearly unique form of bodywork where a mystical meeting occurs that produces an incredible sense of well-being of body, mind and spirit.

Class Participant Information

This is a mixed gender hands on class. All participants of this class will experience lomilomi from the perspective of the giver and receiver. This experience can be intense and very physically challenging for some. We will proceed slowly and steadily at first. As we learn and practice together, you are encouraged to make your own variations to make your lomilomi sessions unique to you.

The class will follow the traditional way of Hawaiian learning:

Pa'a ka waha, nana ka maka; hana ka lima hana hou
Shut the mouth; observe with the eyes; work with the hands, repeat (One learns by listening, observing and doing.)

We will be undressing for our "hands on" portion of this workshop. Lomilomi sessions are designed to be a complete full body massage including the chest, abdomen, and hips, areas not normally associated in a typical modern day massage session. These areas will have limited draping during parts of the class. All participants are expected to adhere to the utmost in professional standards and ethics during our time together as well in your own practices to keep the environment safe for everyone.

The environment is designed to be laid back and playful, but within the limits of good manners and respect for others. I expect punctuality to class with eager minds and hearts to learn and participate, including myself.

Objectives

Participants will be able to clearly define lomilomi.

Participants will be able to describe the philosophical foundation of indigenous Hawaiian society, the importance of the family unit, and it's relationship with the lomilomi practitioner.

Participants will be able to list and describe the evolution of various health care professions that comprise lomilomi.

Participants will be able to describe the different components of a lomilomi massage session.

Participants will be able to explain what body systems directly benefit from lomilomi movements.

Participants will able to explain the similarities and differences between lomilomi movements and Swedish massage movements.

Participants will be proficient in setting up the environment and treatment room for a lomilomi massage session.

Participants will be proficient in identifying and describing benefits and contraindications for clients receiving lomilomi.

Participants will be confident in preparing clients for the special nuances that may occur in a lomilomi massage session.

Participants will be proficient through observation and assessment in performing lomilomi movements.

Participants will be confidant and proficient through observation and assessment working in the abdominal and thorax spaces.

Participants will be able to correctly document lomilomi sessions into their SOAP notes.

Participants will be confident and proficient in adding lomilomi movements into their existing therapy plans for their clients.

Participants will be confident in making an informed decision regarding pursuing formal intensive lomilomi training and certification.

Learning Goal

At the end of this course, participants will be able to safely and confidently perform Lomi Lomi sessions.

Syllabus

Welcome Message

Objectives

Entry Quiz

What is Lomilomi?

The Beginning

Lomilomi Massage and Other Therapies

Lomilomi Massage Theory?

Preparing the Client for the Session

Performing Lomilomi Massage

       Posterior

        Anterior

Ending the Session

The Sheet Toss

Final Thoughts

Review Questions

Appendix