MBLEx Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination — Practice
Benefits and Effects of Soft Tissue Manipulation: practice questions
Our MBLEx bank has 45 questions on this topic. Here are 5 of them with answers; the full mock exam draws from every topic, like the real one.
Question 1
What is the goal of pre-event sports massage?
- Long, deep work to break up adhesions
- Brief, stimulating work to prepare muscles
- Deep friction on every tendon
- Ice baths for an hour before the event
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B. Brief, stimulating work to prepare muscles — Pre-event massage is short and invigorating; deep work right before competition can impair performance.
Question 2
According to NCCIH, research on massage therapy suggests it may help with
- Curing cancer
- Replacing all medicine for heart disease
- Permanently lowering cholesterol
- Some types of pain and anxiety
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D. Some types of pain and anxiety — NCCIH notes evidence that massage may help some pain conditions and anxiety, but it isn't a cure.
Question 3
Which is a contraindication to heat applications?
- Chronic muscle tension
- Acute inflammation
- Cold hands
- Stiff joints in the morning
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B. Acute inflammation — Heat increases blood flow and can worsen fresh inflammation and swelling.
Question 4
Which stroke lifts, squeezes and kneads the tissue?
- Tapotement
- Petrissage
- Vibration
- Effleurage
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B. Petrissage — Petrissage includes kneading, wringing and skin rolling.
Question 5
Rhythmic pumping pressure into the muscle, often used over clothing in sports massage, is
- Compression
- Nerve stroke
- Cross-fiber friction
- Skin rolling
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A. Compression — Compression presses tissue against underlying bone; it needs no lubricant.