Overview of the Benjamin System of Orthopedic Massage
This course is hands-on and will strongly increase your palpation and treatment skills. Participants will come away with a strong foundation of assessment tools with specific tests to rule out and address injuries. Practitioners will learn to distinguish injuries from chronic tension.
Each segment focuses on detailed testing on acute and chronic injuries related to that area of the body. Practitioners will learn to look past minor indicators, which may mislead their treatment approach. With this increased accuracy in assessing injuries, a therapist can reduce treatment time and increase their effectiveness in reducing clients’ pain.
Orthopedic Massage Certification
There are a total of six training workshops required for orthopedic massage certification: the Shoulder, Neck/Thorax, Low Back, Knee/Hip/Thigh, Wrist/Hand/Elbow, and Foot/Ankle/Low Leg. The workshops can be taken in any order. Students must take a private lesson with Lois for each workshop. During these private tutoring sessions, students practice the assessment tests, palpations and massage techniques from each workshop. This allows students to check and refine their skills. The cost is $75 per lesson.
Certification Track Requirements
- Completion of all six segments
- Private lesson for each of the six segments
- Passing grade on each segment exam
- Passing grade on a practical exam covering all segments
7 Dimensions of Training
Each workshop has the following components:
Anatomy: Students view, draw and palpate relevant musculoskeletal structures.
Assessment: Students practice detailed history taking, palpation of injured structures, and learn the specific orthopedic assessment tests for the part of the body being studied.
Theory: Students use the history, assessment test findings, and the results of palpation to determine which structures are injured.
Technique: Students learn detailed treatment techniques to eliminate unwanted adhesive scar tissue, including deep transverse friction, therapeutic exercises, and stretching.
Integration: After learning the theoretical basis and assessment procedures, students integrate this information in hands-on learning games using case studies of actual clients.
Clinic: Students practice their skills by participating in an injury assessment clinic, free and open to the public, under Lois’ supervision.
Exams and Private Lessons: Students test their understanding with open book exams. Those working toward certification in Orthopedic Massage fine tune their hands-on skills in additional private tutoring sessions with Lois .
Low Back
This segment focuses on specific frictioning techniques for the ligamentous structures, joints and muscles of the low back. The skills learned are helpful in assessing and treating tendon and ligament injures, sacroiliac ligament sprains, lumbar sacral sprain, sciatica and disc injuries.
February 21, 22,& 23, 2020 | Friday 10:00am-6:00pm | Saturday and Sunday, 9:00am-5:00pm
Tuition: $445
Discount with early registration by Jan. 31: $395 (no refunds after Feb. 14th)
Credits: 21 contact hours
Place: Body Mind Learn Center, 616 N. North Court; Suite 250, Palatine. Il. 60067
Contact: Lois Orth-Zitoli, 312-391-4715, lois@fullcirclehealthinc.com
Knee, Hip and Thigh
The skills learned are helpful in assessing and treating tendon and ligament injuries, patellar tendinitis, medial compartment syndrome, chronic hamstring and quadriceps injuries, and iliotibial band syndrome. There will be a strong focus in the segment on athletic based injuries.
June 12, 13, & 14, 2020 ~ Friday 10:00am-6:00pm | Saturday and Sunday, 9:00am-5:00pm
Tuition: $445
Discount with early registration: $395 by May 22nd; (no refunds after June 5th)
Credits: 21 contact hours
Place: Body Mind Learn Center Center, 616 N. North Court, Suite 250, Palatine, Il.60067
Contact: Lois Orth-Zitoli, 312-391-4715, lois@fullcirclehealthinc.com
Foot, Ankle and Low Leg
The skills learned are helpful in assessing and treating, tendon and ligament injuries, lateral ankle sprains, plantar fasciitis, achilles tendinitis, as well as lateral and posterior shin splints.
January 24, 25, & 26, 2020 | Friday 10:00am-6:00pm | Saturday and Sunday, 9:00am-5:00pm
Tuition: $445; Discount with early registration by Jan 3rd; $395 (no refunds after Jan. 17th)
Credits: 21 contact hours
Place: Body Mind Learn Center, 616 N. North Court, Suite 250, Palatine, Il.60067
Contact: Lois Orth-Zitoli, 312-391-4715, lois@fullcirclehealthinc.com
Neck & Thorax
This segment focuses on detailed testing for possible disc and ligament injuries as well as nerve root lesions. Assessment tools for this segment include active resistance tests (to rule out neurological dysfunction) and passive tests (to isolate ligamentous injuries, which may be masked by secondary muscle spasms). Hands-on techniques include friction of neck muscles and ligaments.
October 11-13, 2019 | Friday 10:00am-6:00pm | Saturday and Sunday, 9:00am-5:00pm
Tuition: $445
Discount with early registration by Sept. 13th: $395 (no refunds after Oct. 4th)
Credits: 21 contact hours
Place: Body Mind Learn Center, 616 N. North Court; Suite 250, Palatine. Il. 60067
Contact: Lois Orth-Zitoli, 312-391-4715, lois@fullcirclehealthinc.com
Shoulder
The Shoulder: The skills learned are helpful in assessing and treating tendon and ligament injuries, rotator cuff injuries, subscapularis tendonitis, acromio-clavicular joint or ligament sprain, biceps and triceps tendinitis, and acute bursitis.
December 6-7, 2019 | Friday and Saturday, 9:00am-5:00pm
Tuition: $350; Discount with early registration by November 7th: $298 (no refunds after November 29th)
Credits: 14 contact hours
Place: Body Mind Learn Center, 616 N. North Court; Suite 250, Palatine. Il. 60067
Contact: Lois Orth-Zitoli, 312-391-4715, lois@fullcirclehealthinc.com
Wrist, Hand and Elbow
The skills learned are helpful in assessing and treating tendon and ligament injuries, repetitive stress injuries, carpal tunnel syndrome, trigger finger and tennis/golfer’s elbow.
April 10, 11 $ 12, 2020 | Friday 10:00pm-6:00pm | Saturday and Sunday, 9:00am-5:00pm
Tuition: $445; Discount with early registration by March 20th: $395 (no refunds after April 3rd)
Credits: 21 contact hours
Place: Tribe Healing Arts, 1819 W. Belmont Ave. Chicago. Il.60657
Contact: Lois Orth-Zitoli, 312-391-4715, lois@fullcirclehealthinc.com
About the Instructor
Lois Orth-Zitoli is both an orthopedic massage therapist and a health/nutrition coach. She is the owner of Full Circle Health in Chicago. She has worked in the field of Orthopedic Massage Therapy for over 30 years, in both private practice and as the owner/director of Massage Therapy Professionals for 15 years. Under Dr. Benjamin’s direct supervision, Lois spent 4 years training to teach injury assessment and treatment to massage therapists. Lois is an engaging and passionate teacher who employs a variety of teaching/learning styles to meet the needs of each student.
What workshop participants say…
“Ben Benjamin Orthopedic Massage Midwest has expanded my practice beyond what I ever imagined possible. While completing my Orthopedic Certification over a two-year period, I received 167 new client referrals with a 98% rebooking rate. Every time a client got better, they spread the word. My phone is still ringing. This had been the smartest continuing education investment I made in my 9-year career!”
“Ben Benjamin’s Orthopedic Massage Training has helped move my career to a heightened level of professionalism. My heart’s desire has always been to minimize my client’s pain. These trainings have given me the technical skills to make that desire a reality. My confidence,client base, and income have increased tremendously. I highly recommend this training!“