MBLEx Massage & Bodywork practice questions with answers

Answer: C) Pairs 11 and 12

Ribs 1–7 are true ribs and ribs 8–10 are false ribs. The 11th and 12th pairs have no sternal attachment, which makes them the floating ribs.

• AIncorrect. Ribs 1–7 are the true ribs. Their own costal cartilages attach them directly to the sternum.
• BIncorrect. Ribs 8–10 are false ribs. They reach the sternum indirectly because their costal cartilages join the 7th costal cartilage.
• CCorrect. Ribs 11 and 12 have no connection to the sternum, so they are called floating ribs. That makes two pairs.
• DIncorrect. Ribs 1 and 2 are true ribs that attach directly to the sternum.

Answer: C) Ruffini endings

Ruffini endings are slowly adapting mechanoreceptors that sense skin stretch. Because they adapt slowly, they keep responding to sustained stretch, unlike rapidly adapting Meissner's and Pacinian corpuscles.

• AIncorrect. Nociceptors are free nerve endings that signal potentially damaging (painful) stimuli, not sustained mechanical stretch.
• BIncorrect. Meissner's corpuscles adapt rapidly (RA1). They respond to skin movement and changing light touch, so they stop firing during a sustained stimulus.
• CCorrect. Ruffini endings are slowly adapting (SA2) receptors in the dermis, joints and fascia. They detect skin stretch through their link with collagen fibers and keep firing while the stretch lasts.
• DIncorrect. Pacinian corpuscles adapt rapidly (RA2). They detect vibration and changes in pressure but quickly stop responding to a sustained stimulus.

Answer: B) Supination

• AIncorrect. That turns the palm down.
• BCorrect. Pronation turns it down.
• CIncorrect. That's away from midline.
• DIncorrect. That's a foot movement.

Answer: A) Body position

• ACorrect. Provided by receptors in muscles and joints.
• BIncorrect. It's body position.
• CIncorrect. It's body position.
• DIncorrect. It's body position.

Answer: B) Use light pressure, avoid known metastatic sites, and skip vigorous joint mobilization

Bone metastases weaken bone, so fractures can happen even from slight force. Adapt with light pressure, avoid the affected bones and skip vigorous joint movement, rather than refusing all massage.

• AIncorrect. Bones affected by metastases can break with only slight force. The client's pain report is not a reliable guide to safe pressure over these sites.
• BCorrect. Bone weakened by metastatic cancer can fracture even from slight injury. Light pressure, avoiding the affected bones and skipping forceful mobilization lower that risk while still offering comfort.
• CIncorrect. Bone metastases call for careful local changes rather than refusing massage altogether. Gentle massage away from the affected bones can still be given for comfort.
• DIncorrect. Deep pressure near fragile bone raises the risk of fracture and can increase pain. Only light work is appropriate around metastatic sites.

Answer: B) Gentle pressure with enough lubricant to minimize drag and shearing on the skin

Aging skin thins, loses its protective fat layer, and has fragile blood vessels, so rubbing or pulling can tear it and minor trauma can bruise it. Use gentle pressure and minimize friction.

• AIncorrect. Skin rolling lifts and pulls the skin. Pulling on aging skin can cause skin tears, and working without lubricant adds drag.
• BCorrect. Aging skin is thinner, has less padding underneath, and has fragile blood vessels. Gentle pressure and low friction lower the risk of skin tears and bruising.
• CIncorrect. Deep friction puts strong shear on the skin and on fragile vessels. Keeping it short doesn't stop it from tearing skin or causing bruising.
• DIncorrect. Reduced sensation makes injury more likely, because the client may not notice too much pressure. It is a reason to be more careful, not to press harder.

Answer: B) Regular massage in training to support recovery

• AIncorrect. That's pre-event.
• BCorrect. It's part of an ongoing program.
• CIncorrect. That's rehabilitative.
• DIncorrect. That's inter-event.

Answer: A) Brief, light-to-moderate strokes on the working muscles, keeping the athlete alert

Between events, the goal is to keep the athlete ready to compete. Massage should be brief, light to moderate, and focused on the muscles being used, without deep or sedating work.

• ACorrect. Inter-event massage is short and light to moderate. It aims to ease tension and support recovery without making the athlete sluggish or sore before the next event.
• BIncorrect. Deep friction can cause inflammation and soreness. That kind of work belongs in maintenance or rehabilitation sessions, not between events.
• CIncorrect. A long, sedating session raises parasympathetic activity and can reduce readiness to perform. Inter-event work is kept short and focused.
• DIncorrect. Sustained, intense compression can leave muscles sore or less responsive right before competition. Detailed trigger point work should be done later, after the event.

Answer: B) About 180 degrees

• AIncorrect. That's limited.
• BCorrect. The arm can reach overhead.
• CIncorrect. That isn't possible.
• DIncorrect. That's shoulder height only.

Answer: B) To identify conditions that contraindicate or require modifying massage

The health history form is mainly a screening tool. It helps the therapist rule out contraindications and identify areas of caution so the session can be planned safely, all within scope of practice.

• AIncorrect. Session techniques and the client's response go in the session notes (for example, SOAP notes) after treatment, not on the intake health history.
• BCorrect. The health history gathers information on conditions, medications and injuries. The therapist uses it to rule out contraindications, spot areas of caution and plan a safe treatment.
• CIncorrect. Diagnosing medical conditions is outside a massage therapist's scope of practice. The form informs treatment decisions and referrals, not diagnosis.
• DIncorrect. Releasing records requires a separate, specific authorization from the client. That is not the main purpose of the health history.

Answer: B) Ease the pressure, point out the breath-holding, and ask the client to rate their comfort

Pressure is adjusted throughout the session based on the client's ongoing verbal and nonverbal feedback. When the client's body shows discomfort that contradicts what they say, the therapist should reduce pressure and check in.

• AIncorrect. The intake request is only a starting point. Pressure has to keep changing based on how the client responds during the session, not on what was written beforehand.
• BCorrect. Breath-holding and jaw clenching are nonverbal signs of discomfort or guarding. The therapist should adjust and check in using both verbal and nonverbal feedback so the pressure stays within the client's comfort.
• CIncorrect. Clients often downplay discomfort. When the body shows distress that contradicts the words, the therapist should address it instead of relying on the verbal answer alone.
• DIncorrect. Guarding means the client is protecting against pressure that is too much. Adding pressure raises the risk of pain, injury and loss of trust.

Answer: C) File a report with the state licensing board, following any other reporting duties under local law

Serious misconduct such as sexual abuse of clients should be reported to the state licensing board, which handles complaints about licensees. Depending on local law, other reporting duties, such as to law enforcement, may also apply.

• AIncorrect. Sexual misconduct with clients is a serious violation that puts clients at risk. Handling it privately and waiting to see if it continues leaves clients exposed to more harm.
• BIncorrect. Clients can file complaints, but leaving it entirely to them ignores the therapist's own professional responsibility to report serious misconduct they know about.
• CCorrect. State massage therapy boards investigate complaints about inappropriate conduct and legal or ethical violations by licensees. Depending on the jurisdiction and the conduct, a report to law enforcement or another authority may also be required.
• DIncorrect. Telling the employer may be appropriate, but it doesn't replace reporting to the regulatory board. The owner may not act, and the board is the body responsible for protecting the public.

Answer: A) Politely decline and thank the client, keeping the relationship professional

Accepting personal social invitations from clients creates a dual relationship. A polite, clear decline keeps the relationship professional without offending the client.

• ACorrect. Going to a client's personal social event creates a dual (social plus professional) relationship that can blur roles and affect treatment. A warm, polite refusal protects the therapeutic relationship.
• BIncorrect. This adds a social role and a business-promotion role on top of the therapeutic one. It mixes roles and could make the client uncomfortable.
• CIncorrect. Giving treatment at a client's private party mixes social and professional roles and moves care outside a proper professional setting.
• DIncorrect. Ignoring the client is unprofessional and can hurt the therapeutic relationship. A clear, courteous decline is better.

Answer: C) Massage oil and linens used up in sessions that year

Ordinary and necessary business costs, such as supplies used in the practice, are deductible. Federal income tax, government fines, and the value of your own labor are not.

• AIncorrect. The Schedule C instructions list federal income taxes among the taxes you cannot deduct, even when they come from business income.
• BIncorrect. Fines and penalties paid to a government for breaking the law, such as parking tickets, are not deductible, even when they happen during business activity.
• CCorrect. Materials and supplies can be deducted to the extent they were actually used in the business during the tax year.
• DIncorrect. The IRS does not let owners deduct the value of their own labor. Only actual business costs can be deducted.

Answer: D) Use body weight and leaning, not arm strength alone

• AIncorrect. Breathe normally.
• BIncorrect. That strains the thumbs.
• CIncorrect. That strains the back.
• DCorrect. Keep joints stacked.