Fascial Therapy: Benefits and Contraindications for Massage Clients
Fascial Therapy

Fascial Therapy: Benefits and Contraindications for Massage Clients

Author(s): Martha Menard and Steve Jurch

3CE credits 13 Lessons Text

Learn about the numerous benefits of fascial therapy for your massage clients, as well as important contraindications. Get detailed information on how to incorporate assessments into your fascial therapy practice.

AMTA’s Fascial Therapy Continuing Education Program is designed to give massage therapists a comprehensive look at fascial therapy and how they can integrate it into their massage practice. The program includes three online CE courses that explain the fundamentals of this approach and a hands-on workshop to learn and practice new techniques.

Scope of Practice

Check with your massage therapy regulatory body to ensure you are in compliance with the defined scope of practice before considering study or practice of any new method or modality. Find your state massage therapy regulatory board.

When you complete this course, you will be able to:

  • Describe the effects of dehydration, direct trauma and poor posture on fascia.
  • Identify the indications for, and benefits of fascial therapy.
  • Define the systemic and local contraindications for fascial therapy.
  • Assess the role of hands-on assessments, and local and non-local vasomotor responses, in determining the source of myofascial restrictions.

The AMTA Fascial Therapy Continuing Education Program is an introductory program to help massage therapists explore the complex nature of fascial therapy. As with any specialty, continue to broaden your knowledge on the subject of fascial therapy by taking additional continuing education and staying current with research.


  1. Causes of Fascial Damage
  2. Musculoskeletal Indications for Fascial Therapy
  3. Common General Indications for Fascial Therapy
  4. Other Indications for Fascial Therapy
  5. General Contraindications for Fascial Therapy
  6. Systemic Contraindications for Fascial Therapy
  7. Local Contraindications for Fascial Therapy
  8. Initial Information
  9. Initial Assessments
  10. Assessment Tools
  11. Additional Assessments
  12. Using SOAP Notes
  13. Resources

Martha Brown Menard PhD, CMT is a health care research scientist, author, and educator. She is the author of Making Sense of Research, a guide to research literacy. She has served as adjunct faculty at the University of Virginia and Georgetown University. In 2008, she started a consulting firm, Sigma Applied Research, specializing in program evaluation, research design, and data analysis. 

Steve Jurch, ATC, LMT has over 20 years’ experience as a massage therapist and athletic trainer. He serves as director of health and human services at Community College of Baltimore County, in Maryland. He has a master's degree in sports medicine and authored a clinical massage textbook.