Massage and Bodywork Licensing Examination Benefits and Effects of Massage 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which physiological effect of massage directly contributes to reduced muscle soreness after intense exercise?
- Increased cortisol secretion
- Enhanced removal of metabolic waste products (Correct answer)
- Decreased blood glucose levels
- Stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system
Correct answer: Enhanced removal of metabolic waste products
Massage promotes circulation and lymphatic flow, facilitating the removal of metabolic byproducts like lactic acid that contribute to post-exercise soreness.
Question 2: A client reports feeling deeply relaxed and slightly drowsy after a Swedish massage session. This is primarily due to:
- Decreased oxygen delivery to the brain
- Activation of the parasympathetic nervous system (Correct answer)
- Elevated epinephrine levels in the bloodstream
- Increased muscle fiber recruitment
Correct answer: Activation of the parasympathetic nervous system
Swedish massage activates the parasympathetic nervous system, promoting the rest-and-digest response that produces relaxation and can cause drowsiness.
Question 3: How does massage therapy benefit clients with chronic tension headaches?
- By increasing intracranial pressure to rebalance fluids
- By reducing muscle tension in the neck and suboccipital region (Correct answer)
- By stimulating pain receptors to override headache signals
- By decreasing blood flow to the scalp
Correct answer: By reducing muscle tension in the neck and suboccipital region
Massage reduces hypertonicity in neck and suboccipital muscles that often refer pain into the head, decreasing headache frequency and intensity.
Question 4: Which of the following best describes the mechanical effect of effleurage strokes on venous circulation?
- They push blood away from the heart in arteries
- They propel venous blood toward the heart by compressing superficial veins (Correct answer)
- They constrict capillaries to redirect blood to deep tissues
- They reduce venous pressure by dilating arterial walls
Correct answer: They propel venous blood toward the heart by compressing superficial veins
Effleurage performed toward the heart mechanically compresses superficial veins, pushing venous blood centrally and assisting venous return.
Question 5: A client with fibromyalgia is most likely to benefit from massage because it can:
- Cure the underlying autoimmune cause of fibromyalgia
- Reduce pain perception and improve sleep quality (Correct answer)
- Eliminate trigger points permanently with one session
- Increase nerve conduction velocity in affected areas
Correct answer: Reduce pain perception and improve sleep quality
Research supports that massage can decrease pain sensitivity, reduce substance P levels, and improve sleep quality in fibromyalgia clients.
Question 6: The release of oxytocin during massage therapy is associated with which benefit?
- Increased alertness and mental clarity
- Feelings of bonding, trust, and emotional well-being (Correct answer)
- Elevated blood pressure and heart rate
- Faster muscle fiber repair
Correct answer: Feelings of bonding, trust, and emotional well-being
Touch stimulates oxytocin release, often called the 'bonding hormone,' which promotes feelings of trust, safety, and emotional well-being.
Question 7: Which massage effect is most relevant for a client recovering from a mild ankle sprain in the subacute phase?
- Decreasing localized inflammation to zero as quickly as possible
- Promoting controlled circulation to support tissue repair and reduce edema (Correct answer)
- Applying deep friction directly over the torn ligament on day one
- Immobilizing the ankle completely by wrapping after massage
Correct answer: Promoting controlled circulation to support tissue repair and reduce edema
In the subacute phase, gentle massage promotes circulation that delivers nutrients for healing and assists lymphatic drainage to reduce residual edema.
