Massage Therapy Licensing Exam (MBLEx) Physiological and Psychological Effects Summary

The parasympathetic system is the "rest and digest" side of the nervous system. Slow, calm massage often turns it on, so the heart slows and the body relaxes.

Wrong choices

• The sympathetic nervous system: This is the "fight or flight" side, which speeds the body up.
• The somatic motor system: This system controls voluntary muscle movement, not relaxation.
• The reflex arc of the knee: This is a single reflex pathway, not the relaxation response.

Veins and lymph vessels carry fluid back toward the heart. Gliding strokes in that same direction help this return flow.

Wrong choices

• Away from the heart: Strokes away from the heart work against the flow in the veins.
• Side to side across the limb: Side-to-side strokes do not push fluid toward the heart.
• In small circles around each joint: Small circles around joints do not move fluid back to the heart.

Gate control theory says touch and pressure signals can "close a gate" in the spinal cord. Fewer pain signals then reach the brain, so the pain feels weaker.

Wrong choices

• Sliding filament theory: This theory explains how muscle fibers shorten, not pain.
• Germ theory: This theory explains that germs cause disease.
• All-or-none principle: This principle says a muscle fiber either fires fully or not at all.

During the relaxation (parasympathetic) response, the body calms down. The heart rate slows and breathing becomes slower and deeper.

Wrong choices

• It speeds up: A faster heart rate is part of the stress (fight or flight) response.
• It becomes irregular: Relaxation does not make the heartbeat irregular.
• It rises and stays high: A high heart rate is a sign of stress, not relaxation.

The lymphatic system collects extra tissue fluid and returns it to the blood. Light, slow, rhythmic strokes help move this fluid toward the lymph nodes.

Wrong choices

• The skeletal system: The skeletal system is the bones, which do not carry tissue fluid.
• The endocrine system: The endocrine system makes hormones; it does not drain tissue fluid.
• The digestive system: The digestive system breaks down food.

Touch and pressure travel on fast nerve fibers to the spinal cord. These signals can block (close the gate to) pain signals, so less pain reaches the brain.

Wrong choices

• Pain signals traveling on slow nerve fibers: Slow pain fibers carry the pain itself; they open the gate.
• A rise in stress hormones: Stress hormones do not close the pain gate.
• Less blood flow to the area: Less blood flow does not block pain signals.

The parasympathetic response is "rest and digest." It slows the heart, lowers blood pressure, and helps digestion. Wide pupils and fast breathing belong to the sympathetic (fight or flight) response.

Wrong choices

• Heart rate slows: A slower heart rate is a parasympathetic effect.
• Digestion becomes more active: More active digestion is a parasympathetic effect.
• Blood pressure lowers: Lower blood pressure is a parasympathetic effect.

Friction and other brisk strokes widen small blood vessels near the surface. The extra blood flow (hyperemia) makes the skin look pink and feel warm.

Wrong choices

• A bruise from broken blood vessels: A bruise is bleeding under the skin, which is an injury, not hyperemia.
• A drop in skin temperature: Hyperemia warms the skin; it does not cool it.
• Swelling caused by an injury: Swelling from injury is inflammation, not the normal flush from friction.

A reflex effect happens through the nervous system, such as muscles relaxing when the body calms. A mechanical effect comes from the direct push, pull, or stretch of the hands on tissue.

Wrong choices

• Fluid pushed through veins by a stroke: Pushing fluid through veins is a direct physical (mechanical) effect.
• Tissue stretched by a kneading stroke: Stretching tissue by kneading is a direct physical (mechanical) effect.
• Adhesions loosened by friction: Loosening adhesions with friction is a direct physical (mechanical) effect.

During healing, the body lays down new collagen (scar fibers). Friction across the fibers helps them line up in a useful direction and keeps them from sticking to nearby tissue (adhesions).

Wrong choices

• It removes all scar tissue at once: Friction does not remove scar tissue all at once; scar tissue is needed for healing.
• It numbs the tendon permanently: Friction may reduce pain for a short time but does not numb a tendon permanently.
• It shortens the tendon to make it stronger: Friction does not shorten tendons.