Chiropractic Massage Course

Lesson 1 • Professional and Regulatory Standards

Outlines licensing requirements, documentation duties, and ethical obligations for practitioners. Prepares students for compliant professional practice.

Lesson 2 • Musculoskeletal Anatomy Review

Covers bones, joints, muscles, and connective tissue relevant to manual therapy. Builds the anatomical vocabulary used throughout the course.

Lesson 3 • History and Scope of Practice

Traces chiropractic massage from its origins to modern integration with manual therapy. Provides context for professional identity and scope boundaries.

Lesson 4 • Neurological Basis of Manual Therapy

Explains how the nervous system mediates pain, muscle tone, and therapeutic response. Links neurophysiology to expected clinical outcomes.

Lesson 1 • Range of Motion Testing

Covers active, passive, and resisted motion tests for the spine and extremities. Results quantify dysfunction and establish a measurable treatment baseline.

Lesson 2 • Postural and Gait Analysis

Teaches systematic visual assessment of standing posture and walking patterns. Findings are correlated with likely soft-tissue and joint dysfunctions.

Lesson 3 • Health History and Intake Forms

Guides students through designing and administering comprehensive health history forms. Accurate intake data directly informs treatment decisions.

Lesson 4 • Contraindications and Precautions

Defines absolute and relative contraindications for chiropractic massage. Students practise clinical decision-making to modify or defer treatment safely.

Lesson 1 • Practitioner Body Mechanics

Establishes ergonomic principles that protect the practitioner during prolonged sessions. Correct stance, leverage, and table height reduce injury risk.

Lesson 2 • Tapotement and Vibration

Introduces percussive and oscillatory strokes that stimulate neuromuscular response. Appropriate clinical contexts and contraindications are identified.

Lesson 3 • Effleurage and Superficial Gliding

Introduces long, gliding strokes used to warm tissue and establish client contact. Proper hand contouring and pressure gradients are emphasised.

Lesson 4 • Petrissage and Kneading Methods

Covers lifting, squeezing, and rolling techniques that mobilise deeper muscle layers. Students learn to adapt grip and rhythm to different tissue densities.

Lesson 1 • Prone and Supine Positioning Protocols

Teaches safe draping, bolstering, and repositioning for spinal region work. Proper positioning protects vulnerable structures and maximises access.

Lesson 2 • Thoracic Spine and Rib Cage Work

Addresses paraspinal muscles, rhomboids, and intercostal tissues of the mid-back. Techniques improve thoracic mobility and support respiratory function.

Lesson 3 • Spinal Mobilisation Support Techniques

Prepares soft tissue before and after chiropractic adjustments to enhance outcomes. Students learn sequencing massage with spinal manipulation safely.

Lesson 4 • Cervical Spine Massage Protocols

Covers soft-tissue work for the neck, suboccipital region, and upper trapezius. Techniques address common cervicogenic pain and tension headache patterns.

Lesson 1 • Shoulder Girdle and Upper Arm

Covers rotator cuff muscles, deltoid, and pectoral soft-tissue techniques. Addresses impingement, frozen shoulder, and postural shoulder dysfunction.

Lesson 2 • Joint Mobilisation and Stretching Integration

Combines soft-tissue work with passive joint mobilisation and assisted stretching. Students sequence techniques to maximise joint range of motion gains.

Lesson 3 • Hip and Gluteal Region Protocols

Addresses piriformis, hip flexors, and gluteal muscles contributing to low-back and leg pain. Techniques are adapted for side-lying and prone positions.

Lesson 4 • Knee, Lower Leg, and Foot Work

Covers quadriceps, hamstrings, gastrocnemius, and plantar fascia techniques. Protocols address knee pain, shin splints, and plantar fasciitis.

Lesson 1 • Trigger Point Identification and Treatment

Covers active versus latent trigger points, referral patterns, and ischaemic compression. Students map common trigger points across major muscle groups.

Lesson 2 • Dry Needling Awareness and Collaboration

Provides an overview of dry needling as a complementary trigger point intervention. Students learn when to refer and how to coordinate care with needling practitioners.

Lesson 3 • Integrating Myofascial Work into Sessions

Guides sequencing of myofascial and trigger point work within a full treatment session. Students balance time, client tolerance, and therapeutic goals.

Lesson 4 • Fascial Anatomy and Dysfunction

Explains fascial continuity, tensegrity, and how restrictions develop and propagate. Provides the theoretical basis for myofascial release interventions.

Lesson 1 • Acute and Chronic Low-Back Pain

Differentiates acute and chronic low-back presentations and adapts technique intensity accordingly. Protocols integrate lumbar, sacral, and hip soft-tissue work.

Lesson 2 • Cervicogenic Headache and Neck Pain

Presents a structured protocol for suboccipital, cervical, and upper thoracic soft-tissue work. Addresses the most frequent complaint in chiropractic practice.

Lesson 3 • Hip and Sciatic Pain Protocols

Addresses piriformis syndrome, hip flexor tightness, and referred sciatic pain patterns. Protocols differentiate true sciatica from piriformis-mediated referral.

Lesson 4 • Shoulder Impingement and Rotator Cuff

Targets soft-tissue contributors to shoulder impingement and rotator cuff dysfunction. Students sequence pectoral, rotator cuff, and scapular stabiliser work.

Lesson 1 • Interdisciplinary Collaboration and Referral

Defines the practitioner's role within a multidisciplinary healthcare team. Students practise referral communication and co-management documentation.

Lesson 2 • SOAP Notes and Clinical Documentation

Teaches the SOAP format for recording subjective, objective, assessment, and plan data. Accurate notes support continuity of care and professional accountability.

Lesson 3 • Outcome Measurement and Progress Tracking

Introduces validated outcome tools to quantify pain, function, and client satisfaction. Data-driven tracking justifies ongoing treatment and guides protocol adjustments.

Lesson 4 • Full-Session Sequencing and Flow

Structures a complete session from intake review through closing techniques. Students practise smooth transitions and time management across body regions.