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Learn therapeutic stretching techniques and how to incorporate stretching into massage therapy in this 9-hour continuing education course. The course introduces active and passive stretching, stretching programs, indications and contraindications, and techniques for common musculoskeletal conditions.
The course also explores more advanced stretching approaches, including muscle energy techniques and soft tissue release. A 90-minute online video demonstrates a full-body stretching routine and provides additional visual instruction for the techniques presented.
In this course, you will learn:
The principles of therapeutic stretching
The differences between active and passive stretching
How to plan an appropriate stretching program
Indications and contraindications for stretching
Stretching techniques for common musculoskeletal conditions
Advanced stretching approaches, including muscle energy techniques
Soft tissue release as a stretching approach
How to incorporate stretching into a massage therapy routine
When referral to another healthcare professional may be appropriate
A full-body stretching routine through 90 minutes of online video instruction
Why take this course?
Stretching can be a useful addition to a massage therapist's skill set and can provide additional options when working with clients experiencing musculoskeletal concerns. Understanding different stretching methods, safety considerations, and appropriate applications can help therapists adapt sessions to individual client needs.
This 9-hour course combines therapeutic stretching instruction with practical protocols and a 90-minute online full-body stretching video. It is a good choice for massage therapists who want to expand their knowledge of active and passive stretching and incorporate additional techniques into their massage practice.
Define therapeutic stretching and differentiate between active and passive stretching.
Describe how to plan an appropriate stretching program.
Identify indications and contraindications for therapeutic stretching.
Describe stretching techniques for common musculoskeletal conditions.
Explain the basic principles of muscle energy techniques as a form of advanced stretching.
Describe how soft tissue release may be incorporated into stretching approaches.
Identify appropriate stretching techniques for different client needs.
Explain how stretching can be incorporated into a massage therapy routine.
Recognize situations in which referral to another healthcare professional may be appropriate.
Demonstrate an understanding of the full-body stretching routine presented in the online video.
Online text: Therapeutic Stretching by Jane Johnson, 187 pages
Video: The Passive Stretch Video by Kay Rynerson, approximately 1 hour 30 minutes
Therapeutic Stretching Protocols PDF
Course guide with instructions
64-question multiple-choice examination
Course evaluation
Certificate of achievement upon completion
Unlimited phone and email support for any 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 massage online 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.
Great info and loved the photographs very useful in being able to visualize techniques. - Anne Davis
Loved the sample protocols! - Olivia Weston, LMT
This course was just what I was looking for. Fit my needs and helped my understand stretching. - J. Morgan, LMT
Package arrived very quickly, and everything was well explained. - S. Ray, LMT
Which of the following is a general stretching recommendation for sprains and strains in the acute phase?
A. All forms of stretching are indicated during the early stages of healing
B. Passive stretching is indicated
C. All forms of stretching are contraindicated during the early stages of healing
D. Active stretching is contraindicated
Soft tissue release (STR) involves:
A. First shortening the muscle to be stretched, then ‘locking’ a passively shortened muscle close to or on its origin before stretching the muscle
B. Rhythmic kicking or swinging movements where the aim is to increase the degree of stretch with each ballistic movement
C. The active contraction of a muscle by the client against a resistive force provided by a second party
D. Stretching that a person performs for herself, without the assistance of a therapist or trainer
In the passive posterior pelvic tilt stretch, using a towel to help your client experience passive posterior tilt helps stretch the:
A. Flexors of the lumbar spine
B. Extensors of the lumbar spine
C. Internal hip rotators
D. External hip rotators
Course Authors
About the Instructors
Jane Johnson, PhD, MSc, BSc(Hons), BA(Hons), CSP, HCPC
Jane Johnson, PhD, MSc, BSc(Hons), BA(Hons), CSP, HCPC, is a chartered physiotherapist specializing in occupational health and massage. In this role she assesses the posture of clients; performs manual assessments, including that of the soft tissues; and determines whether work, sport, or recreational postures may be contributing to a person’s symptoms. She devises postural correction plans that include both hands-on and hands-off techniques. A key element of her work involves educating each client in how to self-manage their condition.
Kay Rynerson, LMT, RTT
Kay Rynerson, Licensed Massage Practitioner and Registered Thai Therapist and author of The Thai Massage Workbook has been collecting, adapting, and road testing stretches for the client on the massage table since 1988. A graduate of Seattle Massage School, she also earned a teaching certificate from the Institute of Thai Massage in Chiang Mai, Thailand. She maintains a private practice in Seattle, Washington, and teaches nationwide. Member, AMTA and the Thai Healing Alliance International.
