Soft Tissue and Joint Injection Therapy

This module is aimed at experienced clinicians working within the musculoskeletal field wishing to extend their clinical skills to include soft tissue and joint injection therapy.

Participants in the module to date have included Physiotherapists, General Practitioners, Occupational Therapists, Hand Therapists, Rheumatology Nurses and Podiatrists.

The module is suitable for clinicians working within both primary and secondary care.

Learning outcomes

By the end of this module you are expected to be able to:

• demonstrate advanced knowledge of general musculoskeletal anatomy
• demonstrate advance soft tissue assessment and diagnostic skills
• be able to clinically reason and evaluate the need for intervention with injection therapy
• understand and discuss the contraindications for injections
• understand and discuss safety techniques involve in injection administration
• be able to carry out safely injection and aspiration procedures in joints and soft tissues

Our expert staff

Our tutors are all experienced musculoskeletal clinicians with many years of injection therapy experience.

• a relevant first degree, OR relevant professional experience or qualifications that demonstrates ability to study at M level
• a minimum of three years post-registration experience
• current registration with the relevant UK or equivalent professional body: HCPC or equivalent registration, e.g. in case of doctors (GMC) and nurses (NMC)
• current professional practice within an environment where musculoskeletal injection could be used
• have an approved supervisor which should include a doctor and/or a qualified injection therapist/practitioner.

English language requirements

If English is not your first language we require an IELTS score of 6.5 or a TOEFL score of 450/200.

If you do not meet our IELTS requirements then you may be able to complete a pre-sessional English pathway that enables you to start your course without retaking IELTS.

Module Outline

This module aims to provide students with critical understanding of the key concepts underpinning musculoskeletal soft tissue and joint injection therapy.

Topics covered will include:

• Common upper and lower limb presentations
• Soft tissue and joint injection techniques
• Relevant Pharmacology
• Consent, contraindications, safety and documentation
• Anaphylaxis identification and management
• Legal and professional Frameworks surrounding injection therapy
• Applied case studies
• Communication
• Professional Issues
• Academic skills
• Surface marking
• Injection technique
• Holistic patient care

You are expected to have identified a suitable mentor in your workplace who can support your with developing your practical injections skills.

Assessment strategy

There are three components to the summative assessment of this module.

• Case Based Questions and Answers (2,500 words). Weighting: 60%.
• Viva answering questions about your Case Based Questions and Answers (15 minutes). Weighting: 40%
• A record of ten supervised musculoskeletal injections. There is no weighting for this element but it must be passed.

• Fees for 2025-26 (.docx).

If you have any questions about the module fees please email msk@essex.ac.uk.

In the first instance approach your Education Liaison Manager to see if funding can be secured via the organisation you are working for.

To apply for an individual module please complete the module application form (.docx) and email to msk@essex.ac.uk for the attention of Sophie Young.