Massage Therapy and Anatomy – Arthrology Definition
May 22, 2009 by whymassagetherapy
Filed under Anatomy
Arthrology is the study of joints.
Joints occur where the surfaces of 2 or more bones meet. An articulation is another term which refers to a “joint”
Why is arthrology important to massage therapy?
Massage therapists work with the musculoskeletal system. Clients may present with symptoms which may be confusing – it is necessary for a therapist to assess a client’s presentation and form a clinical impression – meaning, his or her opinion on the cause of the symptoms. (remember, massage therapists are not permitted to provide a diagnosis).
Muscles cross joints to produce movement, and any joint dysfunction may lead to muscular imbalance and pain. Muscle tone which doesn’t support a joint (hypotonic – meaning not enough tone), or restricts movement too much (hypertonic – meaning excessive tone), may cause pain in the joint itself.
For a therapist to successfully treat the underlying cause of any symptom, he or she must understand the relationship between muscles and the joints which they cross, as well as the anatomy of the joint itself.
