MBLEx Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination Questions and Answers

There are three joints that are part of the shoulder girdle - the sternoclavicular joint, the acromioclavicular joint and the glenohumeral joint.

The Wright’s hyperabduction test raises the client’s arms above their heads through abduction which stretch tightens the pectoralis minor. A change in the radial pulse indicates a positive test for impingement by the pectoralis minor.

The action of petrissage is best suited for moving stagnant blood and lymph away from an injury site and replacing it with nutrient rich blood and fresh lymph.

The mitochondria within a cell handles the task of breaking down glucose molecules to release energy.

A subjective pain scale is a useful assessment protocol to determine the relative discomfort that a client is currently experiencing. Often a scale between 1-5 or 1-10 is used with 1 being the lowest amount of discomfort and either 5 or 10 being an unbearable and extreme pain. Most often, a therapist wants to remain under 4 or 8 respectively for an effective yet comfortable treatment.

A client with a grade 3 disability is considered highly disabled but with moderate limitation of functionality. A good example is an injured construction worker with a crushed vertebrae who is disabled from returning to work, but has moderate limitations in daily functions like walking, sitting and eating.

The ossicles are the three smallest bones in the human body and help transmit sound to the cochlea. The term ossicles literally means “tiny bones” and are named the incus, the malleus and the stapes. An absence of these bones causes a severe hearing loss.

The clavicle connects to the scapula at the acromion process and this juncture is called the acromioclavicular joint.

Protons located within the nucleus are counted to determine the atomic number of an atom. This is different than the atomic mass which is a count of the total count of neutrons and protons within a nucleus.

Sepsis is a serious immunity response and inflammation of the entire body. It is often caused by a pathogenic infection but sometimes the condition can arise from or is complicated by an organ malfunction. Some symptoms are high fever, irregular heart and breathing rate, altered mental state and edema pathology.

Acetylcholine is distinguished from other neurotransmitters due to its ability to transmit signals at the neuromuscular junction between the nervous system and the muscular system.

Mitosis is part process of cellular division in which a cell replicates its chromosomes and nucleus and divides them evenly into an identical cell.

Scapulohumeral rhythm exposes the function of the glenohumeral joint by testing at which degree the scapula activates during an initial abduction of the arm. At 45 degrees, the scapula should engage until the end range motion of abduction.

ABCDE

All the muscles listed in the question are examples of postural muscles. Postural muscles are slow twitch and highly susceptible to hypertonicity in over-use and under-use scenarios.

The plasma membrane is made of two layers of fat molecules that contain phosphorus and is also known as the phospholipid bilayer.

Cubital refers to the elbow and will indicate that region when used with anatomical terms as cubital fossa, cubital tunnel and median cubital vein.

A person who has been in an auto accident could have any number of injuries including shock. For the safety of the client and your protection as a therapist, the best recommendation is to refer the client for a medical evaluation before any treatment is considered.

Serum is the blood plasma that is separated from white and red blood cells as well as the fibrinogens. Serum contains the antibodies, antigens, electrolytes, hormones and any exogenous substances (drugs, pathogens, etc)

A massage practitioner should never work outside of his or her scope of practice. There are many therapists with varying degrees of training and expertise. The best option is to refer the client to another therapist or medical practitioner with the proper training to better assist the client’s needs.

The purpose of the excretory system is to regulate the chemical composition of the body by removing metabolic waste and to monitor the proper amount of water, salts and nutrients. The integumentary, digestive and respiratory system all play a minor role in the excretory system. However, the urinary system is responsible for the excretion of fluid to maintain homeostasis.

Elements are pure substances that are composed of a single type of atom. The fourth element missing from this statement is nitrogen, which is a key component of the amino acid chains that comprise proteins. Nitrogen is also found in the DNA and RNA of our gene codes.

ABCDE refers to irregularities in skin. A - asymmetrical shape of skin B - border unevenness C - color variations D - diameter E - evolution Any changes in the ABCDE category is cause for a referral to a dermatologist.

Neutrophils, basophils and eosinophils are the three types of granular leukocytes (white blood cells) of the immune system which consume infectious diseases and foreign materials.

The ulnar nerve runs along the ulna and into the pinky finger and medial half of the ring finger.

Long bones possess a cartilaginous zone between the diaphysis (midsection) and the epiphysis (end) called the epiphyseal plate. During childhood this allows the bone to continue growing in length. At some point the cartilage ossifies (becomes bone tissue), leaving a line of demarcation, the epiphyseal line. This indicates the bone has reached its adult length and no further growth in length will occur. However, the bone can continue to grow in diameter.

Systole and diastole refer to the contraction (systole) and relaxation (diastole) phase of a heart beat.

A

The massage code of ethics is a standard of conduct that defines ethical behavior for a massage therapist. The question lists principles of the massage code of ethics.

A sulcus is a general term to describe a narrow groove. There are many places on the body where a sulcus can be found. A few examples are the gluteal sulcus, radial sulcus or the gingival sulcus between the gums and teeth.

The A is for assessment, which is a summary of our findings.

The adrenal glands, known for releasing “fight or flight” hormones in response to stressors, are located superiorly to the kidneys.

A latent trigger point only produces pain during palpation.

An individual person, working as a sole proprietor or as an independent contractor, must file the Schedule C for all related business income and expenses to calculate the net profit or loss of the business. Net profit or loss is then carried to IRS Form 1040.

Licensure is handled by state massage boards that determine the minimum educational requirements and certifications needed for qualification. A massage therapist who is interested in licensure in a state that regulates massage should first contact the state massage board for regulation requirements.

A Golgi tendon organ or GTO provides the sensory component to the Golgi tendon reflex, a phenomenon that protects a muscle/tendon from an excessive load or stretch.

The “molecular unit of currency” is often used to describe the importance of ATP (adenosine triphosphate) to cellular functions within the body.

The tonsils are masses of lymphatic tissue located just behind the tongue at the back of the throat. Tonsils are the first line of defense against inhaled or ingested pathogens and are part of the immune system.

Hard end feel is the natural sensation at the end range of motion where bone meets bone such as elbow or knee extension. Since a hard end feel would indicate that the client’s joints are functioning normally, there would typically be no pain experienced.

Federal and state law form the legal boundaries of the massage profession.

Albumins, globulins and fibrinogens are proteins found in the blood plasma. They serve many different functions, including transport of lipids, hormones, vitamins and metals in the circulatory system. They also regulate acellular (single cell) activity and the functioning of the immune system.

The collection of specialized heart muscle cells which regulate the heart beat was discovered by the Swiss cardiologist Wilhelm His in 1893 and this given the name, Bundle of His.

There are laws, rules and regulations against developing a sexual relationship with a client. If a sexual relationship existed prior to the client/therapist relationship, then continued sexual interaction is allowable. A typically safe amount of time to wait is 6 months after the client/therapist relationship has been dissolved (documented and signed by both parties) before pursuing a romantic interaction. However, the best path to preserving your career and avoiding a possible investigation is to never engage a client or previous client in any relations outside of a therapeutic environment.

Using your hands to assess the condition of a client is a palpation assessment.

The nucleus comprised of the nucleolus, chromatin and chromosomes is the command center of a cell. Lysosomes act as the cells digestive system.

The pineal gland is a small endocrine gland that produces seratonin, the hormone that regulates sleep patterns.

Capillaries are the smallest blood vessels in the body. Arterioles are the connecting vessels between arteries and capillaries. Venules are the connecting vessels between capillaries and veins.

Thyroxine, produced by the thyroid gland, is a hormone that affects nearly every cell in the body by regulating metabolic processes.

Speaking about a client to another client, a client’s friend, or even the client’s family member is a violation of confidentiality. However, we do not need to be rude to maintain our professionalism. Simply suggesting that your client speak to his wife is a perfectly acceptable response.

HOPS stands for History, Observation, Palpation and Special tests. HOPS is used to assess the client’s experience, provide a postural assessment, give a physical examination, and test the function and structure of the client’s body.

Phasic muscles are fast twitch muscles which are prone to inhibition or fatigue. Muscles that are designed to move our bodies are typically phasic while muscles that are designed to hold our bodies upright are typically postural.

The question describes the fundamentals of framework. A framework is all encompassing within the massage field and includes the values and visions, conception, design and desires of a massage therapist as they apply to a business model. Developing a solid framework is essential to creating a healthy and successful practice.

The masseter is a dense muscle with a superficial head and a deep head both of which originate from the zygomatic arch of the temporal bone.

The Arndt-Schultz Law states that a weak stimulus will have no effect on a physiological process, that an intermediate stimulus will promote a physiological process whereas a strong stimulus will inhibit a physiological process.

The bluish tint in a client’s skin is an indication of a cardiovascular issue and is due to a lack of oxygen within the blood also known as hypoxia.

Client autonomy is when the practitioner keeps the client up to date about any possible changes or adjustments that can affect the client. This gives the client a chance to choose their course of action with the practitioner.

The mesencephalon is also known as the midbrain, and is associated with arousal, hearing, motor control, vision, sleeping patterns and more.

It is important to know what the names of muscles refer to when remembering their locations. In this case, deltoid means triangular and, thus, the deltoid muscle is a triangular muscle.

Nerves that send messages to the central nervous system (CNS) are called afferent nerves. Sensory receptors are examples of afferent nerves. The nerves that send messages from the CNS to the body are called efferent nerves. Somatic nerves are an example of efferent nerves.

In almost all situations, the massage therapist needs to retain a strict confidentiality of the client’s information. However, there are certain exceptions, such as when the massage therapist feels in personal danger, when there are suspicions of a client abusing a child and whenever required by law.

The concern with fraternizing with clients outside of the therapeutic environment is to avoid the possibility of creating a dual relationship.

Torticollis is an atypical torsion contraction of the neck which distorts the balance and positioning of the head and neck to either one side or the other.

When the body is exposed to prolonged heat, more blood is shunted to superficial veins in order to lower body temperature. This results in decreased venous return to the heart. The resulting lowered cardiac output causes less oxygenated blood to reach the brain, causing dizziness and fainting.

When a client asks about the private matters of a common client/friend, they are trying to fill a gap that a massage therapist, as a professional, should not fill. The massage therapist may think the client making the request for information will respect the therapist for divulging privileged information but they will ultimately grow to distrust the therapist’s adherence to client confidentiality. The best answer is one that puts the focus back on them.

The purpose of a functional assessment is to evaluate movement patterns and whether they are restricted, painful, exaggerated or normal in function.

All aspects of the integumentary system are affected by aging. These changes result in thinning of the skin layers, fewer active hair follicles, leading to thin, sparse hair and sebaceous activity, and reduced blood supply. There is also dryness due to reduced sweat.

The diaphragm muscle which extends across the bottom of the rib cage is the muscle responsible for initiating inhalation.

The tibial nerve is a distal branch of the sciatic nerve which passes through the popliteal fossa where it divides into the medial and lateral plantar nerves.

The cell is the basic building block of all living things. Cells are organized into tissues having specialized properties and functions. Tissues are further organized into organs (and organ systems).

According to the American Orthopeadic Society for Sports Medicine, dry weather has an effect on non-contact ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) injuries of football players. Extrinsic factors for injury are forces that act from outside the human body. In this case, the uncommonly dry weather is an extrinsic factor of injury.

A z-line is the dark band that separate sarcomeres and forms the borders where actin molecules within a muscle combine.