This two-day continuing professional development course offers an introductory, clinically oriented overview of musculoskeletal (MSK) sonography, tailored for healthcare professionals working in rehabilitation, chiropractic care, and sports medicine.

The course is designed as a foundational learning experience. It does not aim to train participants for independent diagnostic use of ultrasound, but rather to provide a structured understanding of how ultrasound imaging can support clinical reasoning, enhance patient communication, and complement physical examination.

A key feature of the course is the integration of dynamic (movement-based) ultrasound assessment, allowing participants to observe musculoskeletal structures in motion and relate imaging findings to function.

The teaching approach reflects current perspectives in healthcare, emphasizing:

• patient-centred care 
• responsible imaging use 
• and interprofessional collaboration with imaging specialists

Knowledge

• Explain the basic physical principles of ultrasound imaging 
• Recognize common artefacts and their clinical implications 
• Describe the capabilities and limitations of MSK sonography 
• Understand the relationship between imaging findings and patient symptoms in a biopsychosocial context 

Practical Skills

• Perform basic ultrasound scanning of major joints using standardized approaches 
• Acquire and optimize images in both static and dynamic conditions 
• Observe tissue behavior during movement (functional assessment) 
• Perform simple measurements (e.g., distances, cross-sectional areas) 
• Use colour Doppler at a basic level 

Clinical Integration:

• Relate sonographic findings to anatomy, function, and patient presentation 
• Perform side-to-side comparisons to support clinical interpretation 
• Use ultrasound as a tool to support—not replace—clinical decision-making 
• Identify situations where referral for further imaging or specialist consultation is appropriate 

Day 1 (08:00 – 17:00):

08:00 – 10:15 | Clinical Introduction: Ultrasound in Practice

• Case-based lecture (~75 minutes) 
• Real clinical scenarios where MSK sonography influences and refines treatment decisions 
• How ultrasound can support targeted rehabilitation and manual therapy 
• When imaging meaningfully changes clinical management-and when it does not 

10:15 – 11:00 | Ultrasound Equipment & Image Optimization

• Extended introduction to ultrasound machine operation 
• Probe selection and handling 
• Depth, gain, focus, and image optimization 
• Understanding how machine settings influence image quality 
• Hands-on familiarization with the device 

11:15 – 13:00 | Practical Session: Shoulder Examination (Part 1)

• Standardized shoulder scanning approach 
• Probe positioning and orientation 
• Identification of key anatomical structures 
• Supervised hands-on practice 

14:00 – 16:00 | Practical Session: Shoulder Examination (Part 2)

• Continued shoulder examination 
• Refinement of probe handling and image acquisition 
• Introduction to dynamic (movement-based) assessment 
• Clinical correlations and functional observation 

16:00 – 17:00 | Practical Session: Knee Examination (Introduction)

• Introduction to standardized knee examination 
• Basic scanning planes and key structures 
• Initial hands-on practice 

Day 2 (08:00 – 14:00)

08:00 – 10:00 | Practical Session: Knee Examination (Continuation)

• Completion of standardized knee protocol 
• Refinement of technique and anatomical orientation 
• Integration of dynamic assessment 
• Side-to-side comparison 

10:15 – 12:00 | Clinical Integration (Focused)

• Measurement of clinically relevant structures (e.g., distances, CSA) 
• Introduction to colour Doppler 
• Interpreting findings in relation to patient symptoms 
• Linking imaging with function and movement 
• Clinical reasoning: how ultrasound may support - but not replace - decision-making 

14:00 – 15:30 | Practical Session: Selected Regions (Demonstration & Guided Practice)

• Ankle and Achilles tendon 
• Hip 
• Wrist and elbow 
• Focus on transfer of scanning principles across regions 

This course is intended as an introductory educational activity within a continuing professional development course framework.

It does not provide certification or authorization to independently diagnose medical conditions using ultrasound.

Instead, it aims to:

• build foundational understanding of MSK sonography 
• support clinical reasoning and patient education 
• enhance collaboration with radiologists and imaging providers 
• promote safe and ethical use of imaging within professional scope of practice 

Participants are expected to apply the knowledge gained in accordance with provincial regulations and their respective professional college guidelines.