Cost includes all materials. Shipping, if applicable, is a flat rate.
Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a common condition that can cause pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness in the hand and wrist. Massage therapists may encounter clients experiencing these symptoms, making it important to understand carpal tunnel syndrome and how it may affect massage therapy treatment.
This 5 CE hour course provides massage therapists with a practical overview of carpal tunnel syndrome, including its signs and symptoms, risk factors, affected structures, treatment approaches, and prevention. You’ll also learn important considerations for working with clients who have carpal tunnel syndrome, including appropriate massage techniques, precautions, and situations where treatment may need to be modified or avoided.
The course also addresses carpal tunnel syndrome from the massage therapist’s perspective, providing information about prevention and ways to protect your own hands and wrists while practicing massage therapy.
In this course, you will learn:
What carpal tunnel syndrome is and how it affects the body
The anatomy of the carpal tunnel and the median nerve
Common signs and symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome
Common causes and risk factors associated with CTS
Who may be more likely to develop carpal tunnel syndrome
How carpal tunnel syndrome is evaluated and treated
Massage therapy considerations for clients with CTS
Massage techniques and approaches that may be appropriate
Important precautions and contraindications when working with CTS clients
Why early evaluation and appropriate care are important
Ways massage therapists can help prevent work-related hand and wrist problems
Strategies for protecting your hands and wrists during your massage career
When a client may need to be referred to an appropriate healthcare professional
Why take this course?
Massage therapists frequently use their hands and wrists throughout the workday, making an understanding of carpal tunnel syndrome valuable for both client care and your own professional well-being.
Whether you regularly work with clients who have carpal tunnel syndrome or want to learn more about protecting your own hands and wrists, this course provides practical knowledge you can apply to your massage therapy practice.
Define carpal tunnel syndrome and describe the structures involved.
Identify the anatomy and function of the carpal tunnel and median nerve.
Recognize common signs, symptoms, causes, and risk factors associated with carpal tunnel syndrome.
Describe how carpal tunnel syndrome is evaluated and treated.
Identify massage therapy techniques and approaches that may be appropriate for clients with carpal tunnel syndrome.
Recognize precautions, contraindications, and situations in which massage treatment should be modified or avoided.
Explain the importance of early evaluation and appropriate referral for clients experiencing carpal tunnel symptoms.
Identify strategies for preventing work-related hand and wrist problems.
Describe ways massage therapists can protect their own hands and wrists throughout their careers.
Text: Massage and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, by Melissa M. Dawahare, ND, 29 pages
Guide with instructions
Multiple choice exam of 48 questions
Course evaluation
Certificate of achievement upon completion
Unlimited phone and email support for any of your questions
The Center for Massage Therapy Continuing Education, LLC is an Approved Provider through the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB); Approved Provider number 409296-00.
Our online massage continuing education courses are also accepted by the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA), Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals (ABMP), and most state boards.
For more information on individual state requirements and approvals, please visit our Approvals page and click on your state.
There was much more info than I thought possible, especially compared to my NMT training in massage school. - L. Trentham
Very easy to follow and understand the material. - Pamela Riley, LMT
I like the ability to download the text, to allow completion of reading without requiring internet. - B. Pulk, LMT
I liked that everything was provided online and at your pace and time. - P. Pilson, LMT
I liked the fact that I can use this knowledge to enhance my treatments. I now better understand CTS. - David Parris, LMT
Which nerve is compressed in carpal tunnel syndrome?
A. Median
B. Brachial
C. Ulnar
D. Radial
In massage for CTS clients, what is contraindicated?
A. Indirect manipulation of the ulnar nerve
B. Direct manipulation of the damaged median nerve
C. Direct manipulation of the hand muscles
D. Indirect manipulation of the hand muscles
Why is early treatment critical in CTS?
A. To prevent damage to the ulnar nerve
B. To prevent damage to the radial nerve
C. To prevent damage to the median nerve
D. To prevent damage to the brachial nerve
Course Author
About the Instructor
Dr. Melissa Dawahare, NMD, RN
Melissa Dawahare, NMD, RN, is a naturopathic medical doctor and a registered nurse with 30 years of experience in the medical field. She is a graduate of the University of Iowa College of Nursing and Sonoran University of Health Sciences, formerly the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in Tempe, Arizona. Dr. Dawahare is the author of several of our continuing education courses including Acupressure Basics, Essential Oils Overview, Massage and Migraines, and Massage and Fibromyalgia Syndrome.
