Why do you need to go on an anatomy and physiology course and gain a certificate?

Over the last thirty years I have trained thousands of people in anatomy and physiology including all those who studied massage with me. in fact our anatomy and physiology e-course was created in 2008 for my massage students. Jane Johnson the tutor was originally one of my massage students who went on to qualify as a fitness instructor, a sports massage therapist and then a chartered physiotherapist. She is also a qualified teacher using accelerated learning principles, which makes her classroom a really fun place to join.

Many of our students lap up the fascinating knowledge about the human body but others struggle with what is a complex and often challenging subject.

So, why do you need to go on an anatomy and physiology course and gain a certificate?

During my time as a massage therapist, I would work with the general public who would turn up to my therapy room with all sorts of pathologies (diseases and disorders).

For example:

The woman with scoliosis, a curvature of the spine  I needed to work out how this affected the erector spine muscles attached to the spine, which were overly stretched and which had atrophied. 

The man with Lipoma  a benign (harmless) lump of fatty tissue under the skin that can look serious but is safe to massage.

The man with ankylosing spondylitis a condition of the spine where vertebrae can fuse, how should he lie on my couch and be comfortable. would lying prone cause pain? 

The woman with rheumatoid arthritis an inflammatory condition of the joints which could be made worse if massage was too vigorous and is often contra-indicated, but with gentle massage, pain and stiffness can be eased.

Imagine these clients coming to your clinic and you have no knowledge of the body. Would you feel confident to treat them? Would as you do a consultation be thrown by the pathologies they are telling you about? Do you treat? Is it safe?

Then as sports massage therapists, yoga and Pilates teachers we must know the origin and insertion of muscles (the points of attachment to bone) to understand the biomechanics of the body, how to teach exercise safely and how to treat sports injuries.

This is also true of kinesiologists who do muscle testing and to some extent acupuncturists who use bony landmarks to work out the position of the meridians of the body. 

A sound and quality course in anatomy and physiology that offers a recognised qualification such as our VTCT-ITEC Level 3 Anatomy Physiology and Pathology Certificate For The Complementary Therapist is crucial to be a safe and effective therapist.

Sign up for our E-book "10 Top Study Tips to Help You Pass Your Anatomy and Physiology Exam" here

Happy studies! 

View all messages