tips for learning about muscles?

[vatsal]

We have begun studying the superficial muscles. Learning the origin, insertion, synergists, agonists...... I am feeling overwhelmed and completely lost right now and we just started! Does anyone have suggestions about studying the muscles? How to study and learn about them so I KNOW and understand how they work. I have Trailguide to the Body and the flashcards. I read them but I feel like the information just isn't making sense to me yet. Things just aren't clicking. Any suggestions? I need to do something before I get too far behind. I have been out of school for a long time. I really don't know how to "study". Please help!?

 

[Valdis K]

tips for learning about muscles?

http://www.massageplanet.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=22351 I pasted this in response to your question. I had some really great input. If this does not work, I posted the same question in the student forum. It is titled Learning muscles, HELP. It is overwhelming at first, just hang in there. Do what works for you and it will all click. I had been out of school for 32 years. It comes back. Aren't brains wonderful

 

[scheccid2]

tips for learning about muscles?

I learn best when I can apply what I am learning to something I can put my hands on. For instance, when I studied the forearm, I would touch my arm and feel for the origin, insertion and perform the action. Not only did this give my brain another pathway to help remember, I had a 3D image in my head that I could apply to the work I was doing during hands on exams.

You can easily apply this method to any part of the body, and then, work with a partner and do the same thing. It also doesn't feel so much like studying when you work this way. If you can get even some of your time studying this way, I believe you will notice a difference in how well you remember.

During tests, I would literally be groping myself to remember, and it worked!!

 

[Veronika [:]

tips for learning about muscles?

I learn best when I can apply what I am learning to something I can put my hands on. For instance, when I studied the forearm, I would touch my arm and feel for the origin, insertion and perform the action. Not only did this give my brain another pathway to help remember, I had a 3D image in my head that I could apply to the work I was doing during hands on exams.

You can easily apply this method to any part of the body, and then, work with a partner and do the same thing. It also doesn't feel so much like studying when you work this way. If you can get even some of your time studying this way, I believe you will notice a difference in how well you remember.

During tests, I would literally be groping myself to remember, and it worked!!

Good idea. Making the brain apply it in different ways helps cement it there. I would do the same thing- feel the muscle, origin, & insertion, do the action, and I also found it helped me to draw them and re-write the names (basically making my own flashcards). You can try saying it out loud to yourself while you're doing all these things so you're activating the visual, auditory, kinesthetic, and abstract thought processes. In my every day life, even if I write a note to myself and never look at it again, I usually remember what it was anyway.

Also, try not to feel overwhelmed by thinking about all the muscles you're having to learn. Just focus on one at a time until you feel confident about it then move on to the next with periodical comprehensive reviews. It's a lot easier to take one bite of the pie at a time rather than shoving the whole thing in

 

[Rafael M]

tips for learning about muscles?

One word. WARFEL!

...(and my personal concoction of colored flashcards).

There are two excellent Warfel books. Both listed on Amazon in their hardback forms for about $1.00 each. Don't let the price fool you. I have the old hardbacks (they didn't have it in soft cover when I was in school). They use these a lot in medical school, etc. (so you don't have to worry about getting something that is off the beaten path). Get them!

Each page has an individual muscle with the Origin, Insertion, Function, Nerve & Artery in an easy to read and understand format. Amazon allows you to "look inside the book", so you can see what I mean.

Just look a little lower than "Availiable from these Sellers" and "Used" to a little box which shows "Formats" . There, you can click on the hardcover version if you want to save a little more money. I prefer hardcover anyway when I get books. Other people don't.

Hope it helps!

• The Extremities: Muscles and Motor Points
  John H. Warfel
  
• The Head, Neck, and Trunk
  John H. Warfel

 

[Athena]

tips for learning about muscles?

QUOTE OF THE DAY... t004

Aren't brains wonderful

 

[JaiDiva]

tips for learning about muscles?

Thank you so much for the tips! I am actually excited about trying some of the tips as I study them today. Starting with reading the information to myself as I'm studying. And focusing on just one or two muscles at a time instead of the whole list. I have been palpating on myself as I'm reading. That seems to help. I was doing that the other day in the doctor's waiting room. I was giggling to myself thinking about what the other patients in the waiting room must have been thinking. What the heck is that girl doing?!? LOL...... I think that maybe I've been trying to learn too much at one time. And that was making me feel overwhelmed too.

 

[Helpful Answers]

tips for learning about muscles?

Thank you so much for the tips! I am actually excited about trying some of the tips as I study them today. Starting with reading the information to myself as I'm studying. And focusing on just one or two muscles at a time instead of the whole list. I have been palpating on myself as I'm reading. That seems to help. I was doing that the other day in the doctor's waiting room. I was giggling to myself thinking about what the other patients in the waiting room must have been thinking. What the heck is that girl doing?!? LOL...... I think that maybe I've been trying to learn too much at one time. And that was making me feel overwhelmed too.

I always wonder what the people at the testing centers think when people take the NCE and MBLEx, always moving their limbs around and poking themselves. It's gotta be pretty entertaining!

 

[hanoverianluvr95]

tips for learning about muscles?

Anybody use Trail Guide to the Body AUDIO guide? I am thinking about ordering this. But before I spend even more money I was wondering if anyone has used these CD's and what you thought of them.