Key Information
MSK ultrasound introduction course
The Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Introduction Course is a two-day, hands-on scanning programme delivered on site at King’s College London (KCL). It is the entry point into one of the most clinically transformative skills in modern musculoskeletal medicine. It can also be the first step towards the full KCL Clinical Ultrasound (Musculoskeletal Ultrasound) PgCert.
You will cover ultrasound physics, machine operation, and MSK anatomy as it appears on screen, then apply that knowledge directly in scanning sessions across a range of musculoskeletal structures. The faculty-to-delegate ratio is kept low, so the majority of your time is hands-on, with individual feedback from clinicians who use this skill daily across radiology, sonography, and physiotherapy.
📋 Download the Course Outline in full
Read the comprehensive outline and hour by hour teaching schedule – faculty included.
A Stepping Stone to the Pg Cert
This introductory course is structurally mapped to dovetail into our full Postgraduate Certificate (Pg Cert) in Clinical Ultrasound with the Musculoskeletal Pathway, in partnership with King’s College London. It is intentionally designed to accommodate three types of learner:
- Standalone Training: Gain immediate clinical ultrasound skills over two days with absolutely no pressure to commit to further academic study.
- “Try-Before-You-Buy” Taster: Experience the level of training, faculty expertise, and university environment before deciding if you want to enrol in the full PgCert later this year.
- Fast-Track: Secure an early, practical head-start on your career development, if you are already planning or committed to the full Postgraduate Certificate path.
course benefits
- King’s College London, one of the UK’s top five medical universities.
- Central London, stunning location.
- Cross-disciplinary teaching team. Consultant Radiologist, MSK Sonographer, Advanced Physiotherapist.
- Technique and clinical thinking in equal measure. Hands-on scanning alongside MSK structures and pathology.
- £495 offset against the PgCert, if you decide to continue on the MSK Pathway.
benefits for your clinical practice
Physiotherapists and Sports Medicine
Bridge the gap between physical palpatory assessment and live tissue imaging. Learn to build a working map between your deep anatomical knowledge and live on-screen structures to speed up patient care journeys.
Radiologist
Translate your foundational understanding of structural anatomy and cross-sectional imaging into dynamic, live clinical assessments. This course helps you perfect freehand probe-handling, real-time tissue tracking, and patient interaction.
Sonographer
Expand your existing ultrasound skillset into the highly complex musculoskeletal system. Master the technical optimisations required for superficial tissue, learn to manage specific MSK artefacts, and gain the clinical confidence to identify subtle pathology across tendons, ligaments, and joints.
Rheumatologist
Focuses on the rapid identification of joint inflammation, synovitis, enthesitis, and early erosions. Learn to utilise point-of-care ultrasound to guide immediate treatment plans and accurately monitor disease progression right in the clinic.
GP with special interest
Develop the core practical skills needed for same-appointment triage and diagnosis of peripheral joint complaints, enabling more efficient patient pathways and confident clinical decision-making.
course content
Ultrasound Fundamentals
- How ultrasound works — the physics of sound wave conversion into images
- How to operate the machine and use the probe correctly
- How to adjust machine settings to optimise image quality
Clinical Context
- Why MSK ultrasound is growing in clinical use
- How it compares to other imaging modalities, including MRI
- Its role in speeding up patient journeys and enabling same-appointment diagnosis
Anatomy
- Musculoskeletal anatomy as it appears on an ultrasound screen
- Building a working map between anatomical knowledge and live imaging
Live Demonstrations
- Faculty scan shoulders, knees, and ankles on a main monitor
- Structures identified and labelled in real time
- Introduction to pathology and abnormalities as they appear on screen
Hands-On Scanning Practice
- Participants scan shoulders, knees, and ankles
- Faculty circulate and provide individual guidance throughout
- Low delegate-to-tutor ratio ensures sufficient scanning time and feedback
Progress to PgCert
- Choose to continue onto the Clinical Ultrasound PgCert at King's College London in September and your first two days are in the bag
- You'll have met the faculty, trialled the facilities, and begun building the practical skills the certificate is built on
- The £495 course fee is fully offset against your PgCert costs.
learning outcomes
By the end of the two days, you will be able to:
- Operate ultrasound equipment confidently – select the correct probe, adjust machine settings, and optimise image quality for superficial MSK structures.
- Read anatomy live on screen – connect what you already know anatomically to what you’re actually seeing on the monitor.
- Scan shoulders, knees, and ankles independently – with individual faculty feedback throughout, at a 1:3 tutor-to-delegate ratio.
- Recognise common pathology – spot the visual signs faculty demonstrate live during the course.
- Decide your next step – apply the skill straight away in practice, or move onto the KCL PgCert with your first two days already behind you.
📄 Get the Core Objectives and Delegate Outcomes
Download the Course Outline PDF to read how learning is sequenced.
two-day teaching schedule
Day One: Foundations, Upper Limb, Head & Neck
7 hours contact timeCourse Introduction & the Clinical Paradigm of POCUS
BMUS compliance framework and the global role of point-of-care ultrasound.
Ultrasound Physics
Wave physics, acoustic impedance and tissue interactions.
System Architecture & Image Optimisation
Optimisation controls, transducer dynamics, and resolving spatial vs. temporal anisotropy.
Probe Manipulation & Tissue Signature Mapping
Hands-on knobology optimisation and mapping of tendon, muscle, nerve and bone on live models.
1:3 ratio
The Upper Limb Complex
Rotator cuff, elbow (common extensor tendon) and wrist (carpal tunnel, flexor/extensor retinaculum).
Mr R. Sharma
Supervised Upper Limb Scanning
Joint recesses, articular interfaces and managing anisotropy.
Introduction to the Hip & Thigh
Hip joint recesses, iliopsoas, lateral hip and quadriceps musculature; managing artifact and depth.
Day Two: Lower Limb, Global Pathology & Refine
7 hours contact timeThe Lower Limb Complex, Part I: Hip & Knee
Anterior hip capsule, iliopsoas complex, quadriceps/patellar tendon, collateral ligaments and effusion windows.
Hands-On Lower Limb Scanning
Hip joint lines, extensor mechanisms and real-time dynamic instability assessment.
The Lower Limb Complex, Part II: Ankle & Foot
Tibiotalar joint, lateral ligament and medial deltoid complexes, Achilles tendon, retrocalcaneal bursa and plantar fascia.
Small Joint & Fascial Mapping
High-resolution scanning of the foot, ankle and distal tendon insertion planes.
Global Pathological Manifestations
Tendinopathy, neovascularisation via Power Doppler, partial vs. full-thickness tears, synovial hypertrophy, cortical erosions and abdominal wall hernias.
Practical Mastery Integration
Unsupervised testing on randomised upper limb, lower limb and trunk selections with live faculty feedback.
Certification & Pathway Guidance
Feedback collection, CPD certificate distribution, and guidance on the King’s College London Post-Graduate Certificate pathway.
📋 See the Schedule in full
Read the comprehensive, two-day (14 hours) teaching schedule – faculty included.
features and format
- Samsung ultrasound equipment with a 3:1 delegate-to-machine ratio – plenty of hands-on scanning time for everyone
- Small group teaching with a 1:3 tutor-to-delegate ratio, ensuring personalised feedback throughout
- Held at the Clinical Skills Centre, King’s College London
- A blended two-day programme combining lectures, live demonstrations, and supervised scanning practice
your faculty
The PrecisionMSK faculty team has been assembled because no single profession has the full picture. MSK ultrasound sits at the intersection of imaging, anatomy, and clinical medicine — and the teaching reflects that.
You will spend time with all three during the course. You are encouraged to ask them anything.
Who should attend?
This course is ideal for a wide range of healthcare professionals, including:
● GPs with a special interest in Musculoskeletal/Sports Medicine
● MSK Radiologists and Trainee Registrars
● Orthopaedic Surgeons
● Sports Medicine Consultants
● Physiotherapists
● Radiographers
● Sonographers
● Podiatrists
For those practicing in the UK, registration with the relevant professional body (eg. GMC, HCPC, SOR) is required.
course fee
£495, payable in full at the time of booking. To reserve your place, use the Book Now button on this course page.
📤 Need this for approval?
Get the full Outline as a PDF – ready to forward for budget sign-off.
[Get the Course Outline →]
off-set against your pg cert
If you choose to enrol on the King’s College London (KCL) Post-graduate Certificate in Clinical Ultrasound: Musculoskeletal Pathway, your £495 is offset against the college’s fees. This applies to the September 2026 intake.
This offer is available to UK and International students. There is no obligation to carry on to the PgCert with KCL.
Key Information
Get in touch
Reach out directly to PrecisionMSK Course Lead Rishi Sharma. Whether you want to talk through the course content, understand the KCL PgCert integration, or discuss your own career development with MSK ultrasound, Rishi is here to help.