MANUAL LYMPHATIC DRAINAGE + TRIGGER POINT THERAPY

MANUAL LYMPHATIC DRAINAGE + TRIGGER POINT THERAPY

Two-Course Weekend Training Package | 24 Total CE Hours

8 CE Online Home Study + 16 CE Two-Day Live Hands-On Seminar

Two Complete 12 CE Hybrid Courses — One Weekend

Instructor: Dr. Jeffrey Cullers
Course Format: Hybrid — Online Home Study + 2-Day Live Hands-On Seminar
Level: All Levels — No prerequisites required

NCBTMB Course Numbers

Manual Lymphatic Drainage
4 CE Online Home Study — CE4020830
8 CE Live Hands-On Seminar — 70318216*

Trigger Point Therapy
4 CE Online Home Study — 70197054*
8 CE Live Hands-On Seminar — 70048705

*Temporary course numbers currently being used while new course approvals/numbers are pending.

TWO COURSES. TWO HANDS-ON SKILL SETS. ONE WEEKEND.

Spend one weekend developing two very different hands-on skills that can be incorporated into your massage practice.

This 24 CE Weekend Training Package combines Spartan Continuing Education Seminars' Manual Lymphatic Drainage and Trigger Point Therapy programs into one convenient training experience.

Participants complete:

Before the Seminar

4 CE — Manual Lymphatic Drainage Online Home Study

4 CE — Trigger Point Therapy Online Home Study

During the Weekend

Day 1 — 8 CE Manual Lymphatic Drainage Live Hands-On Training

Day 2 — 8 CE Trigger Point Therapy Live Hands-On Training

Upon successful completion of both online courses and both days of live training, participants will have completed 24 total CE hours consisting of two separate 12 CE hybrid courses.

This format allows Massage Therapists to complete both programs with one registration, one weekend of travel, and 16 hours of concentrated hands-on training.

COURSE 1 — MANUAL LYMPHATIC DRAINAGE

12 CE Hybrid Course

4 CE Online Home Study + 8 CE Live Hands-On Training

Manual Lymphatic Drainage is very different from traditional massage.

The 4 CE online home study introduces participants to lymphatic anatomy and physiology, foundational MLD principles, important safety considerations and professional scope, and the principles of pressure, rhythm, and hand movement needed before beginning hands-on training.

During the 8 CE live seminar, Massage Therapists learn and practice four hands-on Manual Lymphatic Drainage techniques following the original Vodder Method of MLD.

The emphasis is on developing the:

• Gentle pressure
• Precise rhythm
• Proper hand placement
• Controlled hand movements
• Movement quality that distinguishes MLD from traditional massage techniques

Therapists work in pairs so each participant has the opportunity to perform and receive the techniques.

The instructor demonstrates each technique, guides participants through practice, observes technique application, and provides individual feedback and correction.

The goal is to develop a practical foundation and greater confidence applying introductory Manual Lymphatic Drainage techniques appropriately within the massage and spa setting.

COURSE 2 — TRIGGER POINT THERAPY

12 CE Hybrid Course

4 CE Online Home Study + 8 CE Live Hands-On Training

Trigger Point Therapy is often associated with deep pressure, painful treatment, and a “no pain, no gain” approach.

That is not the approach taught in this course.

The Spartan CE Trigger Point Therapy program teaches a science-based, systematic approach designed to make the application of Trigger Point Therapy virtually painless for the client and virtually effortless for the Massage Therapist.

The 4 CE online home study introduces the foundational concepts participants need to understand trigger points, referred pain patterns, assessment and palpation principles, safety, communication, and professional scope.

During the 8 CE live seminar, participants move from understanding the concepts to repeatedly practicing the hands-on techniques.

Participants learn:

• How to identify and locate common trigger points
• Common referred pain patterns
• Systematic trigger point palpation and evaluation
• The Compass Technique
• Recognition and interpretation of the Jump Sign
• Appropriate pressure and hand placement
• Client positioning
• Efficient therapist body mechanics
• Client communication and pressure feedback
• A Trigger Point Therapy technique designed to be virtually painless and effortless
• How to integrate trigger point work into a massage session

A major emphasis of this course is repetition.

Participants repeatedly locate trigger points, palpate the tissue, apply the technique, receive the technique themselves, and refine their application through instructor observation, feedback, and correction.

The goal is to give Massage Therapists a practical, repeatable system for identifying, locating, evaluating, and working with common trigger points without unnecessarily hurting the client or exhausting themselves.

YOUR TWO-DAY HANDS-ON WEEKEND

DAY 1 — MANUAL LYMPHATIC DRAINAGE

8 CE Live Hands-On Training

Day 1 is devoted to the hands-on application of Manual Lymphatic Drainage following the original Vodder Method.

Participants practice four foundational MLD techniques while developing the gentle pressure, rhythm, hand placement, and movement quality necessary for proper application.

The day combines:

• Instructor demonstration
• Guided hands-on practice
• Partner practice
• Individual observation
• Technique correction
• Repetition and refinement

By the end of Day 1, participants should have a stronger understanding of what properly applied introductory MLD looks like, feels like, and requires from the therapist's hands.

DAY 2 — TRIGGER POINT THERAPY

8 CE Live Hands-On Training

Day 2 shifts the focus from the gentle rhythmic movements of MLD to the precise identification and treatment of trigger points.

Participants learn how to move beyond the painful “find the knot and press harder” approach and develop a more systematic method of Trigger Point Therapy.

Hands-on training includes:

• Locating commonly encountered trigger points
• Identifying trigger points within specific muscles
• Recognizing associated referred pain patterns
• Practicing the Compass Technique
• Recognizing the Jump Sign
• Palpating and evaluating trigger points
• Applying appropriate pressure
• Practicing the virtually painless Trigger Point Therapy technique
• Improving positioning and therapist body mechanics
• Repeated practice with instructor feedback and correction

The emphasis is on developing a technique that is effective, precise, comfortable for the client, and physically efficient for the Massage Therapist.

FOR SCIENCE OF MASSAGE INSTITUTE STUDENTS

Massage Therapists who have attended Science of Massage Institute Medical Massage seminars or who are pursuing certification through the Science of Massage Institute can also use the Trigger Point Therapy portion of this weekend to take their existing training deeper.

Trigger Point Therapy is introduced and incorporated into SOMI Medical Massage protocols. However, during a Medical Massage seminar, Trigger Point Therapy is only one component of a larger condition-specific protocol.

This dedicated training provides considerably more time to focus specifically on:

• Identifying trigger points
• Understanding common trigger point locations
• Recognizing referred pain patterns
• Practicing the Compass Technique
• Recognizing the Jump Sign
• Perfecting pressure and hand placement
• Repeatedly practicing the virtually painless Trigger Point Therapy technique
• Receiving individual instructor feedback and correction

Educational PowerPoint presentations based on Trail Guide to the Body will be used to provide visual references for muscular anatomy and help participants identify where commonly encountered trigger points are located within specific muscles.

Participants then take that information from the screen to the massage table:

See the muscle → Locate it on the body → Identify the trigger point → Palpate it → Apply the technique → Refine the application

For SOMI students, this concentrated practice provides an opportunity to return to Medical Massage protocols with greater confidence identifying trigger points and applying the Trigger Point Therapy technique.

TWO VERY DIFFERENT TECHNIQUES — ONE PRACTICAL WEEKEND

One of the unique benefits of this weekend is the opportunity to develop two distinctly different hands-on skill sets.

Manual Lymphatic Drainage

Gentle. Rhythmic. Precise.

Learn introductory hands-on techniques following the original Vodder Method of MLD.

Trigger Point Therapy

Focused. Systematic. Virtually painless.

Learn how to identify and work with common trigger points without relying on excessive force or unnecessary discomfort.

Together, the two courses provide Massage Therapists with 24 hours of continuing education and two practical approaches they can incorporate into their professional massage practice.

ONLINE HOME STUDY REQUIREMENT

Both online courses must be successfully completed before attending the live seminar weekend.

Participants must complete:

4 CE Manual Lymphatic Drainage Online Home Study

and

4 CE Trigger Point Therapy Online Home Study

The online portions provide the foundational education so the two live seminar days can concentrate primarily on hands-on learning, practice, repetition, and instructor feedback.

WHAT TO BRING

For the live seminar, please bring:

• Massage table — one table for every two attendees
• Linens
• Notepad and writing materials
• Snacks
• Non-alcoholic beverages

Additional course-specific instructions will be provided before the seminar.

WHAT TO WEAR

Wear loose, comfortable clothing suitable for hands-on training.

Shorts and a tank top are strongly recommended to allow appropriate access during hands-on practice.

Participants should be prepared to both perform and receive hands-on techniques throughout the weekend.

LOCATION & TRAVEL

The live seminar will be held in the city listed on the course registration page and event calendar.

The specific venue will be provided with the final seminar confirmation.

If traveling to attend the seminar, please wait until you receive official seminar confirmation before purchasing non-refundable airfare, hotel accommodations, or other travel arrangements. Flexible or refundable travel arrangements are recommended whenever possible.

MINIMUM ENROLLMENT REQUIREMENT

A minimum of 20 paid Massage Therapists is required for the live seminar weekend to be held.

Enrollment will be reviewed 14 days prior to the scheduled seminar date.

If the minimum enrollment has been met, the seminar will proceed and registered participants will receive final seminar and venue information.

If fewer than 20 paid attendees are registered, the seminar will be canceled and participants may choose either:

• A full refund, or
• Transfer to another available seminar

Spartan Continuing Education Seminars is not responsible for airfare, hotel accommodations, transportation, or other travel expenses incurred prior to official seminar confirmation.

REFUND & CANCELLATION POLICY

Participant Cancellations

• 14 or more days before the seminar: Full refund or registration credit
• Less than 14 days before the seminar: Non-refundable
• No-shows: Registration fee is forfeited

If Spartan Continuing Education Seminars cancels the seminar, participants will receive a full refund or transfer option.

NCBTMB APPROVAL

Participants are completing two separate NCBTMB-approved hybrid continuing education courses during this training package.

Premier Continuing Education LLC d/b/a SPARTAN Continuing Education Seminars is approved by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (NCBTMB) as a continuing education Approved Provider and is also sponsored by NCBTMB to teach New York LMTs continuing education that is accepted by the state of New York for license renewal.

Participants are responsible for verifying the continuing education requirements applicable to their individual state license, certification, employer, or professional credential.

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