MBLEx Exam Review

If you’re in the initial stages of preparing to take the MBLEx exam, you might be asking yourself: what topics will be covered? What should I study? What’s important, and what’s not? We’ve put together this MBLEx exam review guide to help you prepare for the test. Here’s an overview of all of the content that will be covered on the test. The test itself is divided into 8 main sections, with a number of subtopics covered under each section. The main topic and subtopics are detailed below. 

Contraindications of massage; pathology; special patient populations; areas of caution

• Pathology: topical overview
• Contraindications
• Areas of caution in massage
• Special patient populations
• Medication: types and classes

Soft tissue massage techniques

• Physiological impact of soft tissue massage techniques
• Touch: mentational benefits
• The benefits of soft tissue manipulation in specific patient populations
• Techniques for soft tissue massage
• How to apply both heat and cold therapy in a therapeutic massage setting

Anatomy and physiology 

• Somatic systems: structure and function
• Injury of tissues
• Tissue repair
• Energetic anatomy concepts

Kinesiology

• Human musculature component and characteristics
• Muscle contractions
• Proprioceptors
• Muscles in the body: their locations, origins, insertions, attachments, direction, and actions
• Structure and function of the body’s joints
• Range of motion in patients

Bodywork and massage methods: history and culture

• A history of massage and bodywork techniques
• Overview of contemporary massage and bodywork skills and techniques
• A survey of current massage techniques and modalities

Assessing clients, reassessing clients, and formulating treatment plans

• Approaches to organizing a massage therapy or bodywork session for a particular patient
• How to evaluate and consult with clients
• Collecting data from clients in written format
• Visual assessment of clients, including their posture, general condition, etc.
• Palpation for client assessment
• Range of motions in clients and how to evaluate it
• Using clinical reasoning skills

Guidelines for professional practice

• How to use, sanitize, and maintain massage supplies and equipment
• Hygienic conditions for massage
• Sanitizing and cleaning
• General safety
• Massage therapists and self-care
• Draping techniques
• Business practices for massage therapists
• Healthcare- and business-related terminology

Ethics, laws, and boundaries in massage therapy

• The foundations of ethical behavior
• Professional massage and therapeutic boundaries
• VIolations of code of ethics
• How to define and understand the therapeutic relationship
• Dual relationships
• Sexual misconduct
• Laws and regulations of massage therapy and bodywork
• Scope of practice for massage therapists and bodyworkers
• Professional communication
• Confidentiality for patients
• The principles of ethics in massage therapy

Practice Tests for MBLEx Exam Review

The scope of material covered by the MBLEx test is incredibly broad. While it’s possible to review all of the material on its own, the best way to approach MBLEx exam review is with the aid of practice tests. Rather than simply reviewing the material that will be tested, practice tests allow you to actually experience the “real thing.” You’ll not only brush up on your massage knowledge: you’ll also improve at the actual task of the taking the MBLEx itself. Bamboo™ offers a variety of practice test options: click here to learn more.