Serratus Anterior: Strategies to Tackle Deep Thoracic Pain

5 Hours CE/CPD | On-Demand Webinar Course with Allison Denney, LMT

Develop practical assessment and treatment strategies for the serratus anterior and the stubborn thoracic, rib-cage, and scapular pain patterns in which it may play a role.

Presented by award-winning educator Allison Denney, LMT—known internationally as The Rebel Massage Therapist—this three-part on-demand webinar course combines anatomy, hands-on model demonstrations, movement, breathing, positional release, case discussion, and clinical reasoning.

Course Overview

The serratus anterior lies beneath layers of tissue and can be overlooked when clients present with deep discomfort along the rib cage or scapular border. Its influence on scapular movement, breathing mechanics, thoracic mobility, and overhead function makes it important to understand within a broader assessment.

Through recorded treatment-room demonstrations and instructor discussion, Allison shows how to assess, access, and treat this region while considering when serratus involvement is likely—and when practitioners should investigate elsewhere.

What You Will Learn

Topic Professional Focus Functional Anatomy Understand the serratus anterior’s role in scapular movement, breathing, thoracic mobility, and overhead function. Pain Patterns Recognize presentations in which serratus dysfunction may contribute to rib-cage or scapular discomfort. Hands-On Treatment Apply safe, efficient techniques for accessing deeper fascial and muscular layers. Movement and Breath Combine movement, breathing, and positional release within treatment. Clinical Reasoning Decide when serratus is a meaningful treatment target and when further investigation is appropriate. Treatment Sequencing Integrate assessment and treatment strategies into a clear, practical sequence.

Course Content

Session Focus Session 1: Foundations Anatomy review, palpation, assessment, and foundational serratus treatment techniques. Session 2: Advanced Application Deeper structures, advanced access strategies, and movement and breath integration. Session 3: Clinical Discussion Case studies, troubleshooting, practitioner questions, and refinement of clinical application.

Who This Course Is For

This course is suitable for massage therapists, manual therapists, physical therapists, rehabilitation and sports clinicians, and other qualified practitioners working with deep thoracic pain, rib-cage discomfort, scapular instability, restricted overhead motion, or altered shoulder mechanics. No advanced manual therapy background is required.

About Allison Denney

Allison Denney, LMT, is an internationally recognized massage therapist, award-winning educator, and creator known as The Rebel Massage Therapist. With more than 20 years of clinical experience, she is respected for making complex anatomy accessible, engaging, and immediately useful in treatment practice.

Her teaching encourages therapists to understand the anatomy, respect the tissue, and work with the body’s capacity for movement and change.

Included With This Course

Included Details Recorded Sessions Three recorded webinar sessions including two model demonstrations and clinical discussion. Course Workbook Downloadable workbook and supporting course assets. Companion Course Online companion course designed to reinforce and deepen learning. Online Exam Online assessment required for continuing education credit. Downloadable Certificate Downloadable 5 Hours CE/CPD certificate following successful completion. Lifetime Access Revisit all recordings and course materials whenever required.

CE Finder

This course has been approved for continuing education by professional boards and associations. Scroll through the list to find your board or association.

Course: Serratus Anterior: Strategies to Tackle Deep Thoracic Pain
Approvals Listed: 48
CE Broker Provider: #20-1365379 Approvals in alphabetical order Alabama Board of Massage Therapy Approved Hours: 5 Alabama State Board of Occupational Therapy *General* Approved Hours: 5 Alaska Board of Massage Therapists Approved Hours: 5 Arizona Board of Occupational Therapy Approved Hours: 5 Arizona State Board of Massage Therapy Approved Hours: 5 Arkansas Board of Massage Approved Hours: 5 Association of Massage Therapists (AMT) Approved Hours: 5 Board of Certification for the Athletic Trainer (BOC) Approved Hours: 5 Canadian Athletic Trainers Association (CATA) Approved Hours: 2 CEU/CPD Self-Cert Approved Hours: 5 College of Massage Therapists of New Brunswick (CMTNB) Approved Hours: 5 College of Massage Therapists Ontario (CMTO) Approved Hours: 5 Connecticut Board of Massage Therapy Approved Hours: 5 Deleware Board of Massage and Bodywork Approved Hours: 5 Distrcit of Columbia Board of Massage Therapy Approved Hours: 5 Florida Board of Massage Therapy Approved Hours: 5 Georgia Board of Massage Therapy *General* Approved Hours: 5 Georgia State Board of Occupational Therapy Approved Hours: 5 Indiana Board of Massage Therapy Approved Hours: 5 Iowa Board of Massage Therapy Approved Hours: 5 Maine Board of Massage Therapy Approved Hours: 5 Maryland Board of Massage Therapy Examiners Approved Hours: 5 Massage Therapists' Association of Nova Scotia (MTANS) Approved Hours: 5 Massage Therapy Assc of Manitoba (MTAM) Approved Hours: 5 Massage Therapy Assc of Saskatchewan (MTAS) Approved Hours: 5 Missouri Board of Therapeutic Massage Approved Hours: 5 Montana Board of Massage Therapy Approved Hours: 5 National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (NCBTMB) Approved Hours: 5 Natural Health Practitioners of Canada (NHPC) Approved Hours: 5 NCBTMB - New York Approved Hours: 5 Nebraska Massage Licensure Board Approved Hours: 5 Nevada Board of Massage Therapists Approved Hours: 5 New Hampshire Advisory Board of Massage Therapists Approved Hours: 5 New Jersey Board of Massage & Bodywork Therapy Approved Hours: 5 North Carolina Board of Massage & Bodywork Therapy Approved Hours: 5 North Dakota Board of Massage Therapy Approved Hours: 5 Oklahoma Board of Massage Therapy Approved Hours: 5 Oregon Board of Massage Therapists Approved Hours: 5 Pennsylvania State Board of Massage Therapy Approved Hours: 5 Prince Edward Island Massage Therapy Association (PEIMTA) Approved Hours: 5 Registered Massage Therapists' Association of Ontario (RMTAO) Approved Hours: 5 South Carolina Massage/Bodywork Panel Approved Hours: 5 South Dakota Board of Massage Therapy Approved Hours: 5 Tennessee Board of Massage Licensure Approved Hours: 5 Virginia Department of Health Professions (Massage Therapy) Approved Hours: 5 Washington Board of Massage Approved Hours: 5 West Virginia Massage Licensure Board Approved Hours: 5 Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (Massage Therapy) Approved Hours: 5

Approval requirements can change. Please confirm acceptance with your own board, association, employer, or regulatory authority before registration.