AR Massage Law flashcards
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32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.
- Arkansas massage licensing agency
- Massage therapy in Arkansas is licensed and regulated by the Arkansas Department of Health, which handles applications, renewals, complaints, and disciplinary actions against licensees.
- License renewal cycle
- Arkansas massage licenses are renewed on a biennial cycle established by Department of Health rule; practicing after expiration without renewal is a licensure violation.
- Continuing education requirement
- Arkansas requires continuing education hours each renewal cycle, with hour totals and accepted subject areas set by Department rule; verify current numbers in the rule text.
- Unlicensed practice prohibition
- Performing massage for compensation without a valid Arkansas license, or allowing an unlicensed person to do so, is prohibited and grounds for discipline.
- Scope of practice limit
- An Arkansas massage license covers massage and bodywork only; diagnosing medical conditions or prescribing treatment exceeds the licensed scope of practice.
- License display requirement
- Arkansas rules require the license to be available for inspection at the practice location, so regulators and clients can confirm current licensure status.
- Grounds for discipline
- Common grounds include fraud in licensure, practicing while impaired, unlicensed practice, and certain criminal convictions; sanctions range from reprimand through revocation.
- Informed consent
- Before treatment begins, the therapist explains techniques and areas to be worked and obtains the client's voluntary agreement, which the client may withdraw at any time.
- Draping standard
- Only the body area being treated is exposed; draping must protect client privacy and modesty, and the client's comfort with draping is confirmed before the session.
- Client confidentiality
- A therapist may not disclose client information except with the client's authorization or where disclosure is required by law, such as a valid court order.
- Dual relationship
- A dual relationship adds a second role, such as business partner or romantic partner, to the therapeutic one; sexual relationships with current clients are prohibited.
- Referral decision rule
- When a client reports symptoms suggesting a medical condition, the therapist refers to an appropriate provider rather than diagnosing or attempting treatment outside scope.
- Professional boundaries
- Boundaries define the limits of the therapeutic relationship; declining gifts or favors that create obligation keeps the relationship focused on the client's care.
- Treatment documentation
- Records should capture intake findings, consent, techniques and areas treated, and any adverse responses, supporting continuity of care and legal defensibility.
- Anatomical position
- The reference posture: standing upright, face forward, arms at the sides with palms facing anteriorly, and feet flat; directional terms are defined relative to it.
- Directional term pairs
- Anterior/posterior, medial/lateral, proximal/distal, and superficial/deep describe location; proximal means nearer the trunk attachment and distal means farther away.
- Body planes
- The sagittal plane divides left and right, the frontal (coronal) plane divides anterior and posterior, and the transverse plane divides superior and inferior.
- Agonist and antagonist
- The agonist is the prime mover producing a movement; the antagonist opposes that movement and typically lengthens while the agonist contracts.
- Origin and insertion
- The origin is the more proximal, stable attachment; the insertion is the more distal, mobile attachment that is pulled toward the origin during contraction.
- Concentric vs eccentric
- Concentric contraction shortens the muscle while producing force; eccentric contraction lengthens it under tension, as when lowering a load against gravity.
- Isometric contraction
- An isometric contraction generates tension without changing muscle length, such as holding a position steady against resistance.
- Muscle structure hierarchy
- Skeletal muscle is organized as muscle, fascicle, muscle fiber, myofibril, and sarcomere; actin and myosin filaments within sarcomeres generate contraction.
- Fascia and tendon
- Fascia is continuous connective tissue that binds and transmits force; tendon is dense connective tissue attaching muscle to bone.
- Effleurage
- Effleurage is a gliding stroke applied with light to moderate pressure, generally directed toward the heart, used to begin and end sessions and link other strokes.
- Petrissage
- Petrissage covers kneading, rolling, and wringing strokes that lift and compress soft tissue, reaching deeper muscle layers than gliding techniques.
- Tapotement
- Tapotement is rhythmic percussion such as hacking, cupping, and tapping; it is avoided over bony prominences, the kidneys, and acutely inflamed tissue.
- Friction technique
- Friction applies focused pressure with minimal glide, using circular or cross-fiber strokes, to address adhesions and work near tendon attachments.
- Absolute contraindication
- An absolute contraindication, such as fever, acute infection, DVT, or a recent fracture, means massage is withheld entirely until the condition resolves.
- Local contraindication
- A local contraindication, such as a bruise, open wound, or rash, means avoiding the affected area while treatment may continue on unaffected regions.
- Pressure direction rule
- On extremities, strokes are directed toward the heart to support venous and lymphatic return; deep sustained pressure over the anterior neck and axilla is avoided.
- Pregnancy precautions
- In pregnancy, positioning is modified for comfort and safety, pressure is generally lighter, and treatment is coordinated with the client's prenatal care provider.
- Stop-treatment rule
- The therapist stops or modifies treatment when a client reports sharp pain, numbness, dizziness, or other adverse response, and documents the event.