30 Day MBLEx Refresh

Welcome to the start of your 30-Day Refresh! Today, we’ll set the foundation by focusing on your study mindset, grounding exercises, and how to prepare yourself for success on the MBLEx. Think of this as planting seeds for the confidence and clarity that will grow throughout the course.

Today you’ll review the major bones, joints, and muscle groups, and how they all work together to support balance and mobility—key knowledge for massage practice and the MBLEx.

Today, you’ll review the three planes of movement, the major types of contractions (isometric, concentric, eccentric), and how the body uses levers to create motion. These foundational concepts will not only help you ace test questions but also improve your clinical reasoning as a massage therapist.

Today, you’ll explore key red flags in pathology, understand when massage is contraindicated, and learn how to modify or defer treatment safely. This knowledge will protect both you and your clients while strengthening your clinical judgment.

Today, you’ll review universal precautions, proper sanitation standards, professional draping techniques, and how to gather and document client intake. These skills aren’t just test material—they’re real-world practices that define you as a safe and ethical therapist.

Today, you’ll explore how to recognize and maintain healthy boundaries, navigate dual relationships, and understand violations like sexual misconduct. We’ll also look at the dynamics of transference and countertransference, and walk through real-world scenarios so you can practice applying ethical principles with confidence.

Today, you’ll practice breaking down the SOAP chart (Subjective, Objective, Assessment, Plan), organizing your session flow, and documenting important details. You’ll also learn how reassessment and ongoing communication keep your work safe, professional, and client-centered.

Today, you’ll review the structures and functions of the nervous and endocrine systems, including the major glands, hormones, divisions of the nervous system, and key nerves and reflexes. You’ll also connect how these systems influence client health and how massage can support them.

Today, you’ll explore the anatomy and function of the heart, blood vessels, and blood itself, as well as the path of lymph through nodes, ducts, and back into circulation. You’ll also connect the role of these systems in healing, blood pressure regulation, and immune defense — all topics you’ll need for the MBLEx.

Today, you’ll follow food and air through the body, learning the roles of the stomach, intestines, pancreas, gallbladder, lungs, and alveoli. You’ll also explore peristalsis, bile function, and how internal and external respiration tie into circulation. This knowledge will support both your MBLEx prep and your ability to understand clients holistically.

Today, you’ll review the skin’s layers, appendages, and dermatomes; explore how the urinary system regulates blood pressure, fluid, and electrolytes; and understand reproductive anatomy, hormones, and life stage changes. You’ll also see how these systems interact with others — and why it’s important for massage professionals to be aware of their roles in client care.

Today, you’ll dive into scope of practice, confidentiality (including HIPAA), laws and regulations, and professional communication. You’ll explore how to recognize and avoid scope violations, uphold confidentiality, and represent yourself and the profession with integrity. This session builds on earlier discussions of boundaries and dual relationships, rounding out your understanding of ethics on both interpersonal and professional levels.

Today you’ll explore the basics of postural and gait assessment, including common patterns such as kyphosis, lordosis, and scoliosis. You’ll see how palpation connects to both client safety and treatment planning, and how to use your observations to guide session flow. We’ll also cover strategies for time management, documentation, and adapting your approach based on client needs.

Today you’ll explore the most common massage techniques—like effleurage, petrissage, friction, tapotement, vibration, and compression—and learn how and why they’re used. You’ll connect each technique to its physiological and therapeutic effects, giving you a clearer sense of when to use them in a session. This knowledge will not only deepen your hands-on practice but also prepare you for MBLEx-style questions about massage benefits and effects.

Today you’ll review the major joints of the body and their normal ranges of motion, along with the three types of testing: AROM (active), PROM (passive), and RROM (resisted). You’ll learn what each type of test reveals about the client’s muscles and joints, and how to recognize when something may be outside the normal range. By the end, you’ll have a clearer understanding of how to use these assessments to inform your sessions and communicate professionally.

You’ll review the sliding filament model of muscle contraction and the role of motor units, then explore how muscles produce energy through direct phosphorylation, anaerobic metabolism, and aerobic metabolism via the Krebs cycle. These processes explain endurance, fatigue, and the effects of massage on muscle recovery.

You’ll explore common classes of medications—such as pain relievers, NSAIDs, blood pressure medications, and antidepressants—and how they relate to the conditions clients may present with. We’ll connect these medications to their corresponding pathologies, review potential side effects, and highlight what massage therapists need to watch for in practice.

Today you’ll explore concepts like Qi, chakras, and yin-yang balance, as well as the major meridians and how energy might influence the body on subtle levels. You’ll also review key bodywork modalities you may encounter on the MBLEx and in practice. Finally, you’ll learn about hot and cold therapies, including hot stone massage, with attention to safety, vasodilation, and vasoconstriction.

Today you’ll discover how to recognize the needs of special populations and make adjustments in pressure, positioning, and technique. You’ll explore prenatal and postnatal adaptations, geriatric and pediatric massage, working with chronic conditions, clients with implants or recent surgeries, as well as those with neurological or psychological considerations. This knowledge empowers you to practice inclusively and confidently, while protecting client safety.

Today you’ll explore the body’s inflammatory response step by step, from tissue damage to immune cell activity. You’ll review the phases of healing — acute, subacute, and chronic — and learn how to adapt your techniques safely in each stage. This knowledge will give you confidence in supporting recovery while avoiding contraindications.

Today you’ll practice the language of massage and healthcare: key medical terms, anatomical directions, documentation phrases like edema, adhesions, and ROM, and the distinctions between anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, pathology, and histology. You’ll also learn how to organize professional SOAP notes and communicate clearly with other healthcare providers.

Today you’ll explore strategies for preventing strain and illness, setting personal and emotional boundaries, and understanding realistic workloads for massage therapists. You’ll also practice proper body mechanics—like stacking joints, protecting your hands, and using effective stances—and learn how to adjust table height for comfort and safety.

Today you’ll cover the differences between being an employee and an independent contractor, record-keeping for taxes, and how to maintain proper client documentation. You’ll also explore business entities like sole proprietorships, LLCs, and corporations, along with liability insurance, licensing, and marketing essentials to support a thriving practice.

Today you’ll review sprains and strains and their severity levels, different types of pain and how they present, and the difference between endogenous and exogenous factors. You’ll also learn about sites of caution and endangerment to avoid during massage, building your confidence in working safely with a variety of client needs.

You’ll explore how massage influences the cardiovascular, lymphatic, nervous, digestive, and endocrine systems, as well as how hormones shift during the parasympathetic response. You’ll also learn how to recognize tissue tone and adhesions through palpation, and how specific techniques produce healing effects in the body.

You’ll discover how massage influences mood, stress levels, and the nervous system’s pathways that create psychological responses. We’ll cover how to support clients through emotional releases, explore the effects of chronic stress on the body, and examine pain control theories—like the pain gate theory—that explain massage’s role in easing both physical and emotional discomfort.

Today is about tying everything together. You’ll get a guided recap of the key areas—anatomy, physiology, pathology, ethics, assessment, and professional practice—so you can see the bigger picture. This flash-style review highlights what’s most testable, helping you spot gaps, strengthen memory, and feel prepared moving into practice testing.

Today you’ll practice stepping into “test mode.” You’ll learn how to simulate real exam conditions, manage your time wisely, and apply strategies for staying calm and focused. This session is about sharpening your test-taking skills so you can walk into the exam ready, steady, and empowered.

Today you’ll focus on self-reflection and anchoring confidence practices. You’ll revisit your progress, celebrate your wins, and practice grounding techniques that you can carry with you into the testing room. This day is all about trusting yourself and the hard work you’ve already put in.

Today you’ll establish a simple test-day ritual for grounding and empowerment. You’ll be guided through breathing, centering, and affirmations to help you walk into the exam confident and steady. This closing day ties everything together and reminds you that you already hold the knowledge, discipline, and passion to succeed.