This module is an essential component of all the Postgraduate Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Imaging awards. It aims to develop students’ knowledge of the theoretical principles that underpin ultrasound imaging. The science related to ultrasound generation and image production will be explored in order for students to be able to link these theoretical elements to practical considerations. Students will become familiar with common ultrasound artefacts and their impact on ultrasound imaging. They will understand the key factors that influence equipment choice alongside the responsibilities for equipment maintenance and other quality assurance processes

This module is suited for clinicians who are competent musculoskeletal ultrasound scanning practitioners but have no injection experience. It aims to develop students’ knowledge, practical use and clinical application of ultrasound guided musculoskeletal injections. The clinical role of ultrasound guided musculoskeletal injections relates to the evidence base supporting its role in the management of many musculoskeletal presentations and the increasing requirement for clinicians to guarantee the site of injection, thereby providing evidence of needle placement.

This module is designed for experienced health professionals within the field of musculoskeletal health care. It aims to explore the value and relationship between each component of a complex patient assessment and how appropriate timing and choices are made regarding assessment tools and treatment pathways utilised. Key topics include Complexity, the Biopsychosocial Model, Working and Communicating with others, Benefits and Limitations of Diagnostic Tests and Extended Scope/Professional Boundaries.

This module aims to enable you, as an experienced practitioner in the field of musculoskeletal practice (general practitioner, physiotherapist, occupational therapist e.g. hand therapist or nurse, e.g. in rheumatology), to extend your scope of practice to include the use of palpation guided injection therapy. Injections of common peripheral musculoskeletal pathologies are covered including pharmacology principles related to corticosteroids and local anaesthetics, professional issues and prescribing frameworks.

This module aims to enable you, as an experienced practitioner in the field of musculoskeletal practice (general practitioner, physiotherapist, occupational therapist e.g. hand therapist or nurse, e.g. in rheumatology), to extend your scope of practice to include the use of palpation guided injection therapy. Injections of common peripheral musculoskeletal pathologies are covered including pharmacology principles related to corticosteroids and local anaesthetics, professional issues and prescribing frameworks.

This module is an essential component of all the Postgraduate Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Imaging awards. It introduces students to the practical skill of musculoskeletal ultrasound imaging including the ESSR protocols. The role of imaging for different professional groups is acknowledged including the varied documentation and communication requirements.

This module is recommended for you if you are an experienced musculoskeletal clinician, e.g. physiotherapist, occupational therapist, nurse or general practitioner and are keen to expand your understanding of assessment tool. Components of the musculoskeletal assessment are evaluated in this module including the role of questions used, clinical examination techniques, imaging modalities and other investigations. This module is designed to enable you to undertake an advanced clinical assessment they may incorporate the use of diagnostic tools such as radiographic imaging and laboratory investigations.

This module is suited for clinicians who have already received training in palpation guided musculoskeletal injections and are also competent musculoskeletal scanning clinicians. The module focuses on drawing these skill sets together to enable clinicians to perform musculoskeletal ultrasound guided injection

This module allows students the opportunity to take a structured approach to applying learning to their professional practice.  Those working in healthcare and sport commonly attend learning events such as conferences, workshops, skills training or role shadowing as part of their professional development.  Although highly valuable in terms of shaping ones ideas, learning techniques and broadening understanding, there is limited opportunity afforded within these ‘one-off’ learning events to allow demonstration of reflection, critical analysis, contextualisation and evaluation.  This module is designed to give people working in health and sport an opportunity to demonstrate how they have applied the learning they have gained from such events to their day to day practice.

This module allows students the opportunity to take a structured approach to applying learning to their professional practice.  Those working in healthcare and sport commonly attend learning events such as conferences, workshops, skills training or role shadowing as part of their professional development.  Although highly valuable in terms of shaping ones ideas, learning techniques and broadening understanding, there is limited opportunity afforded within these ‘one-off’ learning events to allow demonstration of reflection, critical analysis, contextualisation and evaluation.  This module is designed to give people working in health and sport an opportunity to demonstrate how they have applied the learning they have gained from such events to their day to day practice.

This module allows students the opportunity to take a structured approach to applying learning to their professional practice.  Those working in healthcare and sport commonly attend learning events such as conferences, workshops, skills training or role shadowing as part of their professional development.  Although highly valuable in terms of shaping ones ideas, learning techniques and broadening understanding, there is limited opportunity afforded within these ‘one-off’ learning events to allow demonstration of reflection, critical analysis, contextualisation and evaluation.  This module is designed to give people working in health and sport an opportunity to demonstrate how they have applied the learning they have gained from such events to their day to day practice.

This module allows student to develop their self-knowledge, expertise at work and formal knowledge to lead, plan and undertake a work-based improvement project. It takes a structured and learner-managed approach, maximising opportunities for learning and professional development in the workplace. The module places control over the learning process in the hands of participants who negotiate their own learning contract with their academic supervisor and workplace mentor. The learning contract sets out intended learning and the actions required to achieve it and the evidence that will demonstrate achievement.

This module allows student to develop their self-knowledge, expertise at work and formal knowledge to lead, plan and undertake a work-based improvement project. It takes a structured and learner-managed approach, maximising opportunities for learning and professional development in the workplace. The module places control over the learning process in the hands of participants who negotiate their own learning contract with their academic supervisor and workplace mentor. The learning contract sets out intended learning and the actions required to achieve it and the evidence that will demonstrate achievement.

This module allows student to develop their self-knowledge, expertise at work and formal knowledge to lead, plan and undertake a work-based improvement project. It takes a structured and learner-managed approach, maximising opportunities for learning and professional development in the workplace. The module places control over the learning process in the hands of participants who negotiate their own learning contract with their academic supervisor and workplace mentor. The learning contract sets out intended learning and the actions required to achieve it and the evidence that will demonstrate achievement.

This module will explore the key skills required to achieve competence as a First Contact Musculoskeletal Practitioner. It is suitable for clinicians already working in First Contact Practitioner (FCP) roles within primary care or for those working towards a future FCP role.

This module will explore the key skills required to achieve competence as a First Contact Musculoskeletal Practitioner. It is suitable for clinicians already working in First Contact Practitioner (FCP) roles within primary care or for those working towards a future FCP role.

This module is aimed at Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) working within the Musculoskeletal (MSK) field (including Hand Therapy) wishing to gain a greater understanding of current concepts in upper limb rehabilitation. This module is appropriate for clinicians working in both primary, secondary, and tertiary care. The 'Multi-professional Advanced Clinical Practice (ACP) framework' was published in 2017 in response to ensure the long-term sustainability of the NHS. At the heart of this is development of a critical workforce role to deliver innovative models of care in a consistent way to ensuring safety, quality, and effectiveness. Core capabilities for health and care professionals are detailed in the framework, it is stated that: 'The language used to describe the capabilities is deliberately mapped to level 7 taxonomy to support and make clear the expectation that people working at this level are required to operate at master's level i.e. to have the ability to make sound judgements in the absence of full information and to manage varying levels of risk when there is complex, competing or ambiguous information or uncertainty.' AHPs are central to the assessment and management of MSK conditions, their professional development towards advanced practice level supported by higher education institutions is essential to fulfilment of this vision. The framework sets out 4 key pillars of practice, each with a set of capabilities, this module and its assessment strategies aim to support professionals to evidence achievement of capability within these pillars. Within the field of Hand Therapy educational routes to achievement of Accredited Hand Therapist qualification under the British Association of Hand Therapists (BAHT) and Advanced Practice in Hand Therapy include university-based masters modules. BAHT states: 'For a BAHT postgraduate education system to work and in order to increase the standing of Hand Therapyas a specialty in the United Kingdom we need to see more courses running.' This module will add to Hand Therapists level 7 learning enabling them to work towards Advanced Practice status and provide additional options to achieve points towards the Accredited Hand Therapist qualification. As most students are in full-time employment and located some distance to the University, this module enables remote study using e-learning technology, (Moodle) and remote tutorials via Zoom. The postgraduate musculoskeletal team at The University of Essex prioritises enabling study and minimising barriers; tutors will aim to be flexible with tutorial times and responsive to individual's clinical, professional, and personal circumstances.

This course is aimed at experienced musculoskeletal practitioners, working at or towards Advanced Clinical Practitioners status. These clinicians who work in the field of musculoskeletal medicine will gain a greater understanding on the impact of medication on musculoskeletal rehabilitation. This module would be ideal for those working in primary, secondary and tertiary care and First Contact Practitioner roles. Physiotherapists and other AHP’s working in the UK will be expected to give advice about medication use in some capacity to their patients. The type of advice and support given to patients will vary dependent on their status as either a non-prescriber, supplementary or independent prescriber. Clinicians who give advice about medication should understand the legislative framework underpinning quality assurances as well as its impact on musculoskeletal health and its role in rehabilitation of musculoskeletal conditions. This module aims to support and develop critical thinking of practicing clinicians in understanding the impact of commonly prescribed medications on musculoskeletal health and its effects on rehabilitation. After completion of this course, students will have a grounded understanding of the impact of NSAID’s, analgesics and neuropathic pain medications on musculoskeletal tissue health and wider effects on rehabilitation. Students will also have increased knowledge and understanding of the legal and professional framework surrounding medicines legislation which will inform safe practice within their speciality. This module is suitable for Advanced Clinical Practitioners and First Contact Physiotherapists. The learning aligns with HEE’s Multiprofessional Advanced Clinical Practice Framework, A Roadmap to Practice and the Musculoskeletal Core Capability Framework (Domain C: Capability 8 Pharmacotherapy). As most students are in full-time employment and located some distance to the university, this module enables remote study using e-learning technology, (Moodle) and remote tutorials via Zoom. The postgraduate musculoskeletal team at The University of Essex prioritises enabling study and minimising barriers; tutors will aim to be flexible with tutorial times and responsive to individual’s clinical, professional, and personal circumstances. Applicants should have a relevant first degree OR a relevant professional experience or qualifications that demonstrates the ability to study at Level 7. A minimum of 1-year post-registration experience. Current Registration with the relevant UK or equivalent professional body Current registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) or equivalent (eg GMC for doctors and NMC for nurses).

This module is designed to equip clinicians with evidence that verifies their clinical capability in the musculoskeletal FCP role and is aligned with the Stage 2 requirements of HEE's Roadmap to FCP. No university attendance is required, students need the support of a clinical mentor in primary care.

This module is designed to equip clinicians with evidence that verifies their clinical capability in the musculoskeletal FCP role and is aligned with the Stage 2 requirements of HEE's Roadmap to FCP. No university attendance is required, students need the support of a clinical mentor in primary care.