MASSAGE & BODYWORK LICENSING
EXAMINATION (MBLEX) STUDY GUIDE
BY THE FEDERATION OF STATE
MASSAGE THERAPY BOARD (FSMTB)-
PRACTICE EXAM
Maintaining professionalism and professional boundaries may be more challenging in
which of the following settings?
A. Outdoor location
B. Practitioner's home
C. Client's home
D. Athletic event - ANSWER-C, Client's home
The facet joints of the spine are also known as __________.
A. vertebral apophyses.
B. zygapophyseals.
C. zygomatic arches.
D. transverse processes. - ANSWER-B, zygapophyseals
Which of the following syndromes causes swelling of the muscles in the lower leg,
resulting in impingement of the neurovascular structures?
A. Restless leg
B. Tarsal tunnel
C. Piriformis
D. Compartment - ANSWER-D, Compartment
Deciding whether to take on a client, who is a friend, requires __________.
A. permission from state/local massage board.
B. professional judgement.
C. a permeable boundary.
D. the practitioner to make special accommodations. - ANSWER-B, professional
judgement.
Which of the following assessments is used by a practitioner to observe how a client
walks?
A. Gait
B. Postural
C. Range of motion
D. Post-treatment - ANSWER-A, Gait
,Which movement will lengthen the fibers of the quadratus lumborum on the right side of
the body?
A. Hip elevation
B. Lateral flexion to the right
C. Lateral flexion to the left
D. Extension of the vertebral column - ANSWER-C, Lateral flexion to the left
Which of the following external forces is best used by the practitioner to elongate soft
tissue?
A. Twisting
B. Shearing
C. Compressive
D. Tensile - ANSWER-D, Tensile
One component of proper body mechanics is to __________.
A. stabilize with the front foot while performing long strokes.
B. remain in a neutral position throughout the session.
C. utilize the back foot to support the practitioner's weight.
D. keep the feet and hips in a symmetric stance. - ANSWER-C, utilize the back foot to
support the practitioner's weight
Which of the following muscles forms the cap of the shoulder joint?
A. Trapezius
B. Teres minor
C. Teres major
D. Deltoid - ANSWER-D, Deltoid
Which of the following joints allows the most movement?
A. Atlantooccipital
B. Symphysis pubis
C. Sacroiliac
D. Acetabulofemoral - ANSWER-D, Acetabulofemoral
A new client presents with a diagnosis of thoracic outlet syndrome. Which of the
following would be a common complaint?
A.Numbness in the ulnar side of the hand
B. Cramping in the diaphragm
C. Pain shooting down the right leg
D. Achiness between the shoulder blades - ANSWER-A, Numbness in the ulnar side of
the hand
Which of the following structures is responsible for detecting the amount of tension
within a muscle?
A. Muscle spindle
B. Golgi tendon organ
C. Perimysium
, D. Sarcomere - ANSWER-B, Golgi tendon organ
Which movement will shorten the fibers of the rectus abdominis?
A. Extension
B. Flexion
C. Rotation
D. Pronation - ANSWER-B, Flexion
The term pronator refers to which of the following characteristics of muscles?
A. Location
B. Action
C. Size
D. Shape - ANSWER-B, Action
A term for an overuse condition that affects the anterior or posterior regions of the lower
leg is__________.
A. shin splints.
B. gout.
C. tarsal tunnel syndrome.
D. piriformis entrapment. - ANSWER-A, shin splints
What component of the therapeutic relationship would the practitioner make an effort to
decrease, in order to encourage a client-centered connection?
A. Fiduciary relationship
B. Disclosure
C. Confidentiality
D. Power differential - ANSWER-D, Power differential
A practitioner performing superficial strokes on a client creates what type of effect?
A. Mechanical
B. Chemical
C. Reflexive
D. Thermal - ANSWER-C, Reflexive
A chiropractor writes a prescription for a patient to receive 30-minute massage sessions
once a week. The sessions should be focused on the cervical area. During a scheduled
session, the client asks the practitioner to work on the lower legs and feet because she
went for a jog earlier. What is the best course of action for the practitioner to take?
A. Call the chiropractor and ask for verbal permission to modify the treatment plan
B. Modify the original treatment plan to incorporate the legs and feet and inform the
chiropractor of the changes made to this session
C. Continue with original treatment plan and inform client that the legs and feet may be
addressed in the next session after consulting with the chiropractor
D. Have the client sign a new treatment plan and send a copy to the chiropractor -
ANSWER-C, Continue with original treatment plan and inform client that the legs and
feet may be addressed in the next session after consulting with the chiropractor
EXAMINATION (MBLEX) STUDY GUIDE
BY THE FEDERATION OF STATE
MASSAGE THERAPY BOARD (FSMTB)-
PRACTICE EXAM
Maintaining professionalism and professional boundaries may be more challenging in
which of the following settings?
A. Outdoor location
B. Practitioner's home
C. Client's home
D. Athletic event - ANSWER-C, Client's home
The facet joints of the spine are also known as __________.
A. vertebral apophyses.
B. zygapophyseals.
C. zygomatic arches.
D. transverse processes. - ANSWER-B, zygapophyseals
Which of the following syndromes causes swelling of the muscles in the lower leg,
resulting in impingement of the neurovascular structures?
A. Restless leg
B. Tarsal tunnel
C. Piriformis
D. Compartment - ANSWER-D, Compartment
Deciding whether to take on a client, who is a friend, requires __________.
A. permission from state/local massage board.
B. professional judgement.
C. a permeable boundary.
D. the practitioner to make special accommodations. - ANSWER-B, professional
judgement.
Which of the following assessments is used by a practitioner to observe how a client
walks?
A. Gait
B. Postural
C. Range of motion
D. Post-treatment - ANSWER-A, Gait
,Which movement will lengthen the fibers of the quadratus lumborum on the right side of
the body?
A. Hip elevation
B. Lateral flexion to the right
C. Lateral flexion to the left
D. Extension of the vertebral column - ANSWER-C, Lateral flexion to the left
Which of the following external forces is best used by the practitioner to elongate soft
tissue?
A. Twisting
B. Shearing
C. Compressive
D. Tensile - ANSWER-D, Tensile
One component of proper body mechanics is to __________.
A. stabilize with the front foot while performing long strokes.
B. remain in a neutral position throughout the session.
C. utilize the back foot to support the practitioner's weight.
D. keep the feet and hips in a symmetric stance. - ANSWER-C, utilize the back foot to
support the practitioner's weight
Which of the following muscles forms the cap of the shoulder joint?
A. Trapezius
B. Teres minor
C. Teres major
D. Deltoid - ANSWER-D, Deltoid
Which of the following joints allows the most movement?
A. Atlantooccipital
B. Symphysis pubis
C. Sacroiliac
D. Acetabulofemoral - ANSWER-D, Acetabulofemoral
A new client presents with a diagnosis of thoracic outlet syndrome. Which of the
following would be a common complaint?
A.Numbness in the ulnar side of the hand
B. Cramping in the diaphragm
C. Pain shooting down the right leg
D. Achiness between the shoulder blades - ANSWER-A, Numbness in the ulnar side of
the hand
Which of the following structures is responsible for detecting the amount of tension
within a muscle?
A. Muscle spindle
B. Golgi tendon organ
C. Perimysium
, D. Sarcomere - ANSWER-B, Golgi tendon organ
Which movement will shorten the fibers of the rectus abdominis?
A. Extension
B. Flexion
C. Rotation
D. Pronation - ANSWER-B, Flexion
The term pronator refers to which of the following characteristics of muscles?
A. Location
B. Action
C. Size
D. Shape - ANSWER-B, Action
A term for an overuse condition that affects the anterior or posterior regions of the lower
leg is__________.
A. shin splints.
B. gout.
C. tarsal tunnel syndrome.
D. piriformis entrapment. - ANSWER-A, shin splints
What component of the therapeutic relationship would the practitioner make an effort to
decrease, in order to encourage a client-centered connection?
A. Fiduciary relationship
B. Disclosure
C. Confidentiality
D. Power differential - ANSWER-D, Power differential
A practitioner performing superficial strokes on a client creates what type of effect?
A. Mechanical
B. Chemical
C. Reflexive
D. Thermal - ANSWER-C, Reflexive
A chiropractor writes a prescription for a patient to receive 30-minute massage sessions
once a week. The sessions should be focused on the cervical area. During a scheduled
session, the client asks the practitioner to work on the lower legs and feet because she
went for a jog earlier. What is the best course of action for the practitioner to take?
A. Call the chiropractor and ask for verbal permission to modify the treatment plan
B. Modify the original treatment plan to incorporate the legs and feet and inform the
chiropractor of the changes made to this session
C. Continue with original treatment plan and inform client that the legs and feet may be
addressed in the next session after consulting with the chiropractor
D. Have the client sign a new treatment plan and send a copy to the chiropractor -
ANSWER-C, Continue with original treatment plan and inform client that the legs and
feet may be addressed in the next session after consulting with the chiropractor
