Customer Reviews

Appleton & Lange's Quick Review: Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (2nd Edition)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

This is a good book for getting yourself into the mind frame of test-taking and for determining subject matter for study. However, the book is riddled with errors -- typos (inexcusable), answers which bear no relation to the question (obviously the questions were changed, but not the answer key), answers which indicate one response is correct letter but for which the answer points to a different response, and just plain incorrect answers.

The author bases questions on exerpts from reference materials, but frequently words the question so that the original meaning is garbled (at best) or inaccurate. Many, many questions are of the format which includes a choice of "all of the above" -- the actual certification exam does not include ANY of this type of question. Additionally, many questions focus on obscure terminology (pathologies and anatomy) which only serve to frustrate the reader. The actual certification test includes very few terminology questions, but when included, the questions focus on common terms.

The questions in the book on Chinese medicine deal with specific meridian locations and acupressure points, while the actual certification test is more concerned with the role each meridian plays in body fuction and with the five element theory (which the book barely addresses). For anyone weak in Chinese medicine, the book does not do an adequate job of preparing for the exam.

Finally, the diskette included with the book was riddled with many of the same errors as the text.

At best, the book gets the reader in a mind frame for answering multiple choice questions, but should not be the sole source for test preparation. The errors are extremely frustrating and I found myself asking if anyone proofread the text or actually tried to take the tests in the book and on diskette.

I passed my NCBTMB exam today and it was due to my having this book. I purchased a two-volume set advertised in various massage magazines for $79.95 ($97.00 with shipping) and this $26.00 book blew that set away! This book comes with a computer disk containing practice tests. When I sat down to take the exam today I thought I was taking the practice exams at home. The questions are almost identical! Be aware that a significant portion of the exam is based on oriental medicine principles. Although this book covers some Chinese medicine topics, be sure to study basic concepts of Auryvedic medicine as well. Thanks for a great review book!

In studying for the state therapist's exam, this book proved to be more realistic for the State of Texas. The manner and wording of the practice tests, and the accompanying diskette were immensely helpful, and quite similar to the actual state test. I would note, however, that if you are seeking national certification, there are better study guides in existence.

The layout is terrible, the format of questions has nothing to do with actual NCTMB format, the book contains mistakes.

I suggest using "Review for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork Certification" 2nd edition by Joseph Ashton and Duke Cassel instead. I especially liked the web links to 2 online tests. It's the most NCTMB-like source I found.

Several of the tests have 5+ mistakes, including the diskette. I found it to be an invaluable review tool nonetheless. You just have to WATCH OUT and not memorize wrong information. I just took and passed the NCBTMB exam yesterday and working with the diskette prepared me well with the sort of questions on the exam. The only difference between the book questions was that too many of the ones with All of the above as an answer had D. All of the above as the answer. On the test itself there were NO questions with all of the above or none of the above as a choice.

This book and study disk was very helpful in studying for the NCBTMB!! The questions were very similar to those I received. I passed the first time. I highly reccomend this to anyone studying to take Nationals. Good luck.

The book is really good at getting you use to taking a test. As for the information in the book I have counted 17 plus questions that have incorrect answers .

This is book is a wonderful review for the State Boards and the NCETMB. It's pretty thorough and I consider it a must buy. However, if you want something that is extremely specific for the NCETMB test, buy the following which is also available on amazon.com:
The Ultimate Study Guide for the National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork: Key Review Questions and Answers (Published 2003)
Volume 1: (ISBN: 0971999643), Volume 2 (ISBN: 0971999651),
Vol 3: (ISBN: 097199966X).
I used these four books for the NCETMB and I passed the first time by a lot. I have another friend who also used these study guides and passed the NCETMB the first time. My advice is if you want pass the first time, get all four books.

Please don't get me wrong! If your sole purpose in life is to learn basic Swedish massage and pass the NCBTMB so you can go to work in a hair saloon, PLEASE buy this book; it is absolutely what you need. If you aspire to loftier goals, pass on this one and go look on the shelf of the most successful Massage Therapist in town; those are the book that you want.

The A&L is really pretty much just a prep book for the NCBTMB, so don't grab it expecting "PATHOLOGY FOR MASSAGE THERAPISTS" or "SOFT TISSUE MANIPULATION", because it's simply not that detailed.

Think about everything you know about driving a car. Now think about the thin little yellow book that you were given to study for your driving test. . . This is the little yellow book for "national" certification, nothing more.

I have recently graduated from massage school and am studying for the exam. I found this book a helpful guide, but I also found several mistakes in spelling and to actual answers to the questions. So be aware of that if you decide to use this book!!