Licensure Performance Protocol HiMAS Version

2012

HIMAS SPA SCHOOL

LICENSURE PERFORMANCE PROTOCOL

Simplified HiMAS Version | Benjamin Eugenio Jr LMT

LICENSURE PERFORMANCE PROTOCOL SIMPLIFIED HIMAS VERSION 2012 By Benjamin B. Eugenio Jr LMT Note: For HiMAS classroom use only. Copyrights reserved. This material aims not only to ably prepare all the students on the intricacies of the DOH massage practical examinations but to help reinforce the ardent desire of HiMAS to equip its students and make them more competitive and successful in the field they have so chosen. It follows the 3 Phases of Massage as outlined in the DOH Manual 2012 Revised Edition. Said phases are the following: Pre-Massage, Massage Proper and Post-Massage. However, to make this protocol more comprehensive and useful, we have included some pointers that require preparation starting at home. Thus, we have classified this article into two areas: 1) Home Preparation and Exam Readiness. I.

HOME PREPARATION

The success of any examination endeavor depends on the amount of preparation invested by an examinee at home. For the DOH examinee, the following are crucial: Constant study and Practice No matter how sufficient the classroom inputs are if the student concerned fails to make a thorough study and practice at home, the outcome will be minimal. Thus, every student is encouraged to spend, at least, two hours of study at home: one hour for reading notes; one hour for hands-on or presentation practices. Reading Notes. On reading notes, it is figured out by study experts that to achieve maximum benefit, the students are advised to: seek out their best study time, maintain a consistent study area and begin studying lessons from the most difficult to the easier ones. Oral/Practical Skills. This type of training is mostly to be done at home, thus, students should seek creative means and methods to help ensure practice or preparations of this kind. In mastering the 3 phases of massage presentation, one may find it helpful to make use of an ordinary mirror. Talking in front of a mirror helps minimize the fear of public speaking. For visually-impaired students, constantly talking and practicing in front of member of the family will also help achieve the same result.

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Mental and Physical Preparation After weeks of regular study and practice, the time for taking a break is important. That kind of a respite should occur on the eve of the examination. It means on the evening prior to the examination day, the student should do-away with any massage notes, books and materials. Instead one has to take time to relax by way of, perhaps, watching a good movie or reading a pleasurable book and, of course, sleeping early. On The-Day Wake up early. Pray. Then perform the regular morning rituals. If the travel to the examination venue is relatively short, then one may opt to wear the exam scrub suit before leaving the house. If the distance is long, then it is prudent to put your scrub suit in the good case, to avoid being crumpled in the journey, and then wear it on the exam venue. Important Grooming Reminders General. Make sure that you take a good bath. Trim your nails. Wear well-pressed clothes and clean shoes. Refrain from wearing a necklace, dangling earrings and rings. For Men. Make sure that your hair is trimmed. Shave your face and use gel for your hair. Avoid wearing round-neck t-shirt, V-neck t-shirt is preferable. No wearing of printed inside shirt either. For Women. Use appropriate hair net. Wear light make up and lipstick, this is to help enhance your natural beauty and never to supplicate it. Also, no colored finger nails during the examination. Gastronomic Intake Food intake could either enhance or inhibit good mental or physical performance. Days before the exam, a daily consumption of broccoli, lettuce, asparagus and whole grain bread is good to help enhance memory. On the very day of the exam, the following may be eaten: protein-rich foods such as egg, beans and nuts. If possible, avoid eating rice as its triggers serotonin, a neurotransmitters that quiets the brain. A slice of wheat bread is better substitute. Avoid intake of coffee as it results to nervousness and interfere with the ability to focus. Things to bring. The Committee of Examiners for Massage Therapy (CEMT) may issue advisories on what to bring to the examination from time to time. However, the following are generally useful. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Page 3 of 6

Scrub suit (unless worn already) A pair of new, clean towels A piece of massage table linen A set of alcohol and oil A piece of clipboard A set of Vital signs-taking paraphernalia ( for sighted students) Hair-net (for the women)

8. Flower petals (optional) Travel. Ahead of time, calculate the distance between your home and the examination venue. Make sure that you have ample travel allowance, giving you enough time to rest at least 30-minutes before the exam time so that you do not rush and tend to panic.

II.

EXAM READINESS

Knowledge on what DOH expects during the practical and/or oral examination is helpful. But exceeding those expectations through excellent presentation skill is a lot better. Pre-Massage. Preliminaries. Everything starts with a gentle knock at the door. As a rule, never enter the door unless properly acknowledged by the person inside the quarter. Once acknowledged, get inside and walk in in a confident, relaxed manner- head up, chest-out, stomach-in. Maintain a respectable distance between the examinee and the examiner. Take a deep-breath and say, in effect: “Good morning, sir/madam. I am Examinee No. 1. I am here to take the oral and practical examination. By the way, sir/madam, here is my examination permit.” Extending your hand towards the massage table, say: “Sir/madam, may I be allowed to set the table for massage treatment?” Once, the massage table is ready, ask permission to allow the client to go inside the room. Welcome the client by saying: “Good morning, sir/madam, my name is ______ (state your name), welcome to our spa. Then usher your client towards the chair, for him/her to sit down. Application of S.O.A.P. Once seated, offer the Client Intake Form (CIF) to be filled up (Subjective). Upon checking that there is no obvious contraindication for massage, the therapist may proceed to check the vital signs of the client (Objective). Once done, the therapist may then proceed in performing a general observation (Assessment) and proceed into offering an appropriate massage procedure (Plan). Proper Hygiene. To simulate proper hygienic practice, the therapist may encourage the client to take a shower prior to the massage. This means, the client shall be oriented on where the change room and bath areas are. Breathing exercise. Breathing is indispensable in human existence. However, controlled, slow, deep breathing is necessary in making the client relax and be conditioned for a massage. Warm up. For demonstration purposes, the student-therapist shall perform basic warm up procedures to ensure that the client is fully prepared for the massage treatment. Page 4 of 6

Alcohol and oil application. Only 70% isopropyl alcohol shall be used. For the oil, is should be vegetablebased preferably VCO or virgin-coconut oil. When applying the oil, one hand shall be laid on top of the client’s body preferably on the back area, palm-up. Pour the oil on the palm and the other hand shall vigorously rub it to warm the oil before applying it on the client’s skin surface. Massage Proper. General comment. At this point, there are two possibilities that may happen: first, the examiner may just allow the therapist-examinee to proceed with his/her presentation uninterrupted. Or, second, the examiner may ask for a pause and discuss with the latter about a given case for the client (For example: “The client, who is a geriatric, is suffering from a low-back pain for a couple of days. As a massage therapists, how will you address the situation?” Whatever the case may be, the student-therapist is expected to perform adeptly the massage strokes and discusses its rationale such the meaning of specific massage stroke, a little on any of the following: indications or contraindications, effects or benefits of massage. Prolonged Time. There are instances when the therapist-examinee may not be dismissed early. The latter should be patient and take everything in stride because the examiner may just be trying to elicit more information or action that will justify a passing mark. Any sign of irritation or agitation on the side of the examinee might regrettably result to a poor rating. Topics for discussion. Since this is an oral/practical examination, the following topics may be raised by the examiner for discussion, such as:              

Post-Massage.

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Meaning of massage 3 Phases of Massage Vital signs Effects of massage (Physiological/Psychological) Indications/Contraindications for massage Body landmarks Wellness Massage vs. Therapeutic Massage Proper hand-washing Body movements Code of Ethics PD 856, Section XIII Administrative Order 2010-0034 General information Others

End of massage. Once the examiner says, “Time is up” or “Finish the massage” that means the therapist will now proceed with the Post-Massage phase. He/she then should make sure that the client is properly and completely draped. Next, he/she will lightly tap the shoulder of the client and tell the latter that the massage session is done and he/she has to take a moment of rest. After a few seconds, the therapist comes back and advises the client that the rest period is over. Side lying position. At this juncture, the therapist shall position himself/herself with his/her back facing the examiner so that the client shall have all the privacy he/she needs when getting up. Ask the client to assume a recovery or side-lying position and then assist the latter to get up from the massage table. Once seated, put on the client’s robe, then the therapist shall venture on the on the other side of the massage table and put the client’s slippers on. Then motion the client to sit on the chair. After care. Once the model is seated, the therapist shall proceed with the “after care” portion of the massage. The latter may discuss whatever he/she encountered during the session and cap it with wise, healthy advise on food, water intake and exercise, among others. Documentation. Take out the clipboard and put said observation and suggestions into writing on the CIF. Sending off the client. Ask the client for any more concern, if there is none, then offer to usher the client out of the massage room. Permission to remove the massage paraphernalia. At this point, seek permission from the examiner to clean up or remove massage paraphernalia taken inside the room. Thanking the examiner. Once done, with the massage equipment on the side, ask the examiner for any other additional concerns, if none, then politely ask to be excused. Before doing so, thank the examiner for the opportunity to be able to present your knowledge and skill on massage. Conclusion. The aforementioned discussion aims to showcase the three elements in passing the examinations: knowledge, skill and attitude. Finally, all HiMAS students are expected to go beyond the norm and deliver in their own natural manner a massage that is highly professional acceptable to both DOH and the wellness industry. All these can be achieved through rigorous study and persistent, unwavering practice. bbe

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