Class Syllabus: 40 hours
Course Title
Pathology
Course Number
Course code and number per program requirements.
Credit Hours
40 credit hours, presented in 20 2-hour segments
Prerequisites
Students of pathology must have successfully completed a course in anatomy/physiology
Textbook
Werner R. A Massage Therapist’s Guide to Pathology, 4e. Baltimore: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins, 2008.
Course Description
Discuss pathologies with the goal of being able to make informed decisions about the safety and applicability of massage modalities. Develop critical thinking skills to be able to find information independently and to identify the variables that contribute to informed decisions.
Objectives
See chapter objectives at the beginning of each chapter. Apply these as appropriate for the content you select.
Grading
Per program requirements
Suggested distribution of points:
5% / Classroom participation10% / Attendance
25% / Quizzes/homework (cumulatively)
25% / Research project
35% / Midterm/final examination (cumulatively)
Course Outline
Note: please see “Teaching Strategies” to get the best use from this syllabus. Lectures may run long or short; prioritize to cover what you think is most important thoroughly, and make the rest the students’ responsibility to read about on their own.
Class 1
Reading assignment
Preface, User’s Guide, Chapter 1
Lecture topics
Go through the entire syllabus, emphasizing grading structure and expectations and the timing of quizzes, examinations, research projects, and other classroom assignments.
Discuss Preface and User’s Guide, with emphasis on student-friendly features: flash cards, games, chapter objectives and chapter review questions, appendixes, animations, etc.
Invite students to share their feelings about being in a pathology course: resistance, fear, excitement, curiosity, etc.
Introduce pathology as the study of recovery as much as the study of illness; much of the course with focus in how people get better from illness or injury.
Emphasize respect and appreciation for the client who struggles with health (ultimately, this is all of us).
Emphasize the goal of weighing risks and benefits of bodywork.
Terminology
Briefly review principles of using word roots to build a pathology vocabulary
Review key concepts with emphasis on these:
Acute / Chronic / Complication / Contraindication / DiagnosisIndicated / Lesion / Prognosis / Sign / Subacute
Symptom / Trauma
Class 2
Reading assignment
Chapter 1: Fundamental Concepts in Pathology
Lecture Topics
Infectious Agents
Briefly review key infectious agents and give examples of pathogens likely to be encountered in a massage setting.
Hygienic Practices for Massage Therapists
Define key terms with emphasis on the following: antisepsis, disinfection, sterilization, and Universal/Standard Precautions
Discuss application of practices in terms of hand care and equipment care.
Inflammation
Discuss the purpose of inflammation
Review three components:
Vascular activity; cellular activity; chemical mediators
Review three stages:
Acute, subacute, postacute (maturation)
Review consequences of unresolved (chronic) inflammation
Discuss signs and symptoms of inflammation
Discuss the role of massage in the context of inflammatory conditions
Class 3
Reading assignment
Chapter 2: Contagious Skin Disorders
Lecture topics
Review the structure and function of the skin
Discuss the definition, incidence, etiology, signs and symptoms, common treatment options, and applicability of massage for the following conditions:
Boils
Fungal infections
Herpes simplex
Lice and mites
Warts
Class 4
Reading assignment
Chapter 2: Noncontagious Inflammatory Skin Disorders, Neoplastic Skin Disorders, Skin Injuries
Lecture topics
Discuss the definition, incidence, etiology, signs and symptoms, common treatment options, and applicability of massage for the following conditions:
Acne vulgaris
Dermatitis/eczema
Psoriasis
Skin cancer
Open wounds and sores
Use the lecture notes and Power Point slides that address these conditions as necessary.
Homework assignment
Take-home quiz on all conditions from Chapter 2 not covered in class
Class 5
Quiz on Chapter 2
Reading assignment
Chapter 3: Introduction, Muscular Disorders, Bone Disorders
Lecture topics
Briefly review the structure and function of the musculoskeletal system
Discuss the definition, incidence, etiology, signs and symptoms, common treatment options, and applicability of massage for the following conditions:
Fibromyalgia
Myofascial pain syndrome
Shin splints
Spasms, cramps
Strains
Osteoporosis
Use the lecture notes and Power Point slides that address these conditions as necessary.
Class 6
Reading assignment
Chapter 3: Joint Disorders, Genetic Musculoskeletal Diseases, Other Connective Tissue Disorders
Lecture topics
Discuss the definition, incidence, etiology, signs and symptoms, common treatment options, and applicability of massage for the following conditions:
Osteoarthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis
Sprains
Temporomandibular joint disorders
Bunions
Plantar fasciitis
Tendinopathies
Whiplash
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Disc disease
Thoracic outlet syndrome
Use the lecture notes and Power Point slides that address these conditions as necessary.
Homework assignment
Take-home quiz on all conditions from Chapter 3 not covered in class
Class 7
Quiz on Chapter 3
Reading assignment
Chapter 4: Chronic Degenerative Disorders, Movement Disorders, Infectious Disorders
Lecture topics
Briefly review the structure and function of the nervous system
Discuss the definition, incidence, etiology, signs and symptoms, common treatment options, and applicability of massage for the following conditions:
Alzheimer disease
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis
Parkinson disease
Herpes zoster
Use the lecture notes and Power Point slides that address these conditions as necessary.
Class 8
Reading assignment
Chapter 4: Psychiatric Disorders, Nervous System Injuries, Other
Lecture topics
Discuss the definition, incidence, etiology, signs and symptoms, common treatment options, and applicability of massage for the following conditions:
Chemical dependency
Depression
Bell palsy
Stroke
Trigeminal neuralgia
Headache
Sleep disorders
Use the lecture notes and Power Point slides that address these conditions as necessary.
Homework assignment
Take-home quiz on all conditions from Chapter 4 not covered in class
Class 9
Reading assignment
Chapter 5: Introduction, Blood Disorders, Vascular Disorders, Heart Conditions
Lecture topics
Note: The information in this chapter often works best if it is offered in the following sequence, which is not the sequence in the text.
Briefly review the structure and function of the circulatory system.
Discuss the definition, incidence, etiology, signs and symptoms, common treatment options, and applicability of massage for the following conditions:
Leukemia
Embolism, thrombus
Thrombophlebitis, deep vein thrombosis
Varicose veins
Hypertension
Atherosclerosis
Heart attack
Heart failure
Use the lecture notes and Power Point slides that address these conditions as necessary.
Homework assignment:
Take-home quiz on all conditions from Chapter 5 not covered in class
Class 10
Midterm examination: Chapters 1 to 5
Class 11
Reading assignment
Chapter 6: Lymph and Immune System Conditions
Lecture topics
Briefly review the structure and function of the lymph and immune systems.
Discuss the definition, incidence, etiology, signs and symptoms, common treatment options, and applicability of massage for the following conditions:
Edema
Lymphangitis
Lymphoma
Chronic fatigue syndrome
HIV/AIDS
Lupus
Use the lecture notes and Power Point slides that address these conditions as necessary.
Homework assignment
Take-home quiz on all conditions from Chapter 6 not covered in class
Class 12
Quiz on Chapter 6
Reading assignment
Chapter 7: Respiratory System Conditions
Lecture topics
Briefly review the structure and function of the respiratory system.
Discuss the definition, incidence, etiology, signs and symptoms, common treatment options, and applicability of massage for the following conditions:
Common cold
Influenza
Pneumonia
Tuberculosis
Asthma
Emphysema
Lung cancer
Use the lecture notes and Power Point slides that address these conditions as necessary.
Homework assignment
Take-home quiz on all conditions from Chapter 7 not covered in class
Class 13
Quiz on Chapter 7
Reading assignment
Chapter 8: Introduction, Disorders of the Upper Gastrointestinal Tract, Disorders of the Large Intestine
Lecture topics
Briefly review the structure and function of the digestive system.
Discuss the definition, incidence, etiology, signs and symptoms, common treatment options, and applicability of massage for the following conditions:
Crohn disease/ulcerative colitis
Esophageal cancer
Gastroenteritis
Gastroesophageal reflux disease
Peptic ulcers
Colorectal cancer
Diverticular disease
Irritable bowel syndrome
Use the lecture notes and Power Point slides that address these conditions as necessary.
Class 14
Reading assignment
Chapter 8: Disorders of the Large Intestine, Disorders of the Accessory Organs, Other Digestive System Conditions
Lecture topics
Discuss the definition, incidence, etiology, signs and symptoms, common treatment options, and applicability of massage for the following conditions:
Cirrhosis
Gallstones
Hepatitis
Liver cancer
Use the lecture notes and Power Point slides that address these conditions as necessary.
Homework assignment
Take-home quiz on all conditions from Chapter 8 not covered in class
Class 15
Quiz on Chapter 8
Reading assignment
Chapter 9: Endocrine System Conditions
Lecture topics
Briefly review the structure and function of the endocrine system.
Discuss the definition, incidence, etiology, signs and symptoms, common treatment options, and applicability of massage for the following conditions:
Diabetes mellitus
Hyperthyroidism
Hypothyroidism
Metabolic syndrome
Use the lecture notes and Power Point slides that address these conditions as necessary.
Homework assignment
Take-home quiz on all conditions from Chapter 9 not covered in class
Class 16
Quiz on Chapter 9
Reading assignment
Chapter 10: Urinary System Conditions
Lecture topics
Briefly review the structure and function of the urinary system.
Discuss the definition, incidence, etiology, signs and symptoms, common treatment options, and applicability of massage for the following conditions:
Kidney stones
Pyelonephritis
Kidney failure
Bladder cancer
Interstitial cystitis
Urinary tract infection
Use the lecture notes and Power Point slides that address these conditions as necessary.
Homework assignment:
Take-home quiz on all conditions from Chapter 10 not covered in class
Class 17
Quiz on Chapter 10
Reading assignment
Chapter 11: Introduction, Disorders of the Uterus, Disorders of other Female Reproductive Structures
Lecture topics
Briefly review the structure and function of the reproductive system.
Discuss the definition, incidence, etiology, signs and symptoms, common treatment options, and applicability of massage for the following conditions:
Cervical cancer
Dysmenorrhea
Endometriosis
Fibroid tumors
Breast cancer
Homework assignment
Take-home quiz on all conditions from Chapter 10 not covered in class
Class 18
Reading assignment
Chapter 11: Disorders of the Male Reproductive System, Other Reproductive System Conditions
Lecture topics
Discuss the definition, incidence, etiology, signs and symptoms, common treatment options, and applicability of massage for the following conditions:
Benign prostatic hyperplasia
Prostate cancer
Menopause
Pregnancy
Sexually transmitted diseases
Use the lecture notes and Power Point slides that address these conditions as necessary.
Homework assignment
Take-home quiz on all conditions from Chapter 11 not covered in class
Class 19
Quiz on Chapter 11
Reading assignment
Chapter 12: Principles of Cancer
Lecture topics
Discuss the statistics, steps in metastasis, identified causes, sign and symptoms, diagnosis, staging protocols, treatment options, prevention mechanisms, and implications of bodywork for cancer in general.
Class 20
Final examination: cumulative
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