ma-vr: 8:30 - 17:00
Musculoskeletal ultrasound is a great example of how an imaging technique can contribute to a moreevidence baseddiagnostic and therapeutic process for physical therapists. Applying and interpreting ultrasound is a specialized process and requires thorough and in-depth training to draw the right diagnostic conclusions. Working together with general practitioners and specialists gets new dimensions with this study Musculoskeletal Ultrasound for Physical Therapists and offers great opportunities. Do you like to work in daily practice at the highest level of development? Then this Ultrasound training will definitely suit you!
Duration: 2 or 3 years
Start: September
Variant: part-time
Degree: Master of Science (MSc)
Location: Amersfoort
Study load: 13 to 16 hours per week
Credits: 90 ECTS
Level: EKK 7
Accreditation: NVAO
Download the Study Guide
The Master in Musculoskeletal Ultrasound for Physical Therapists (MSc.) is a specialization within physical therapy and unique of its kind. As a specialized therapist, you will be working in the musculoskeletal field.
As a specialist, you distinguish yourself as a Master in Musculoskeletal Ultrasound for Physical Therapists by:
In your daily practice (first-, one-and-a-half- or second-line setting) your master’s level is characterized by being able to diagnose and treat patients with (complex) health problems or orthopedic problems in the extremities, whether or not using musculoskeletal ultrasound.
For you, complexity means dealing with problems or contexts in which you cannot fall back on existing knowledge and experience, and with unpredictable situations in which you must make responsible strategic choices independently. Examples of complicating factors include the presence of psychosocial factors, aberrant biological factors, multi-morbidity or multi-site pathology.
Education is provided by the leading specialists in the field: radiologists, various medical specialists and Extended Scope Physical Therapists with years of experience in musculoskeletal ultrasound. Furthermore, you will be trained as an Extended Scope Specialist and anatomy is offered through our digital cutting table and the necessary anatomical specimens in cooperation with VU Brussels. All this is done in an up-to-date environment with appropriate equipment.
The first year of the Master Musculoskeletal Ultrasound study consists of a basic ultrasound module and an evidence-based clinical reasoning module. In the basic ultrasound module you will lay a comprehensive and solid foundation to apply ultrasound at Master level. During the module you will learn the basics of ultrasound, delve into anatomy and learn to apply ultrasound to the joints of the lower and upper extremity. Ultrasound and anatomy are strongly connected. Therefore, this module also discusses relevant aspects and innovative insights regarding the anatomy of osseous, arthrogenic, muscular, neurogenic and vascular structures in the upper and lower extremity. Competencies covered during this module:
You will take the basic evidence-based clinical reasoning module together with students of the Orofacial Physical Therapy Specialist program. This program consists of gaining the generic master competencies, such as:
Year 2 of the ‘Master Musculoskeletal Ultrasound’ study follows further in-depth studies in ultrasound, anatomy, pathology and epidemiology related to the Upper Extremity (module 2) and Lower Extremity (module 3).You will learn to apply and interpret ultrasound responsibly within the evidence-based physical therapist-specialist decision-making process, where diagnostic accuracy, objective and clinical relevance are key pillars.You will learn additional scanning positions around the various joints, delve into pathology recognition and (sono)anatomy, and hone your diagnostic ultrasound examination skills.In addition, you learn to interpret pathology and communicate this to colleagues and referrers. Part of the teaching days during these modules will be given by radiologists.
In addition, in the second year you will take the second part of the basic module evidence-based clinical reasoning. During this module you will delve further into topics such as clinical reasoning, evidence-based practice, methodology and statistics, clinimetry, implementation and innovation.
Year 3 begins with the Extended Scope module in which you will be trained in the competencies appropriate to this new professional role. This is followed by specialized learning days where advanced knowledge and skills are covered.
This year has a strong multidisciplinary character. Therefore, you will be taught by medical specialists such as the radiologist, neurologist, rheumatologist, orthopedist and general practitioner. But there will also be broadening topics such as ultrasound-guided injection therapy and ultrasound and pelvic physical therapy (capita selecta).
During the third year, you will continue to complete various internships and mini-clinics in primary and secondary care and work on your thesis work.
The modules of the training include multiple formative and summative tests, so that you have sufficient feedback moments and your competencies are tested in a focused way. Assessment of your practical skills in performing and interpreting ultrasound is continuous and formative during the module. Hereby both teachers and fellow students assess your performance.
We also train you as an Extended Scope Specialist during the program. As a master’s graduate, you can register in the quality register ofNVES: The Dutch Association of Extended Scope Specialists. Extended Scope Specialists strengthen diagnostics and treatment in primary and secondary care by, for example, holding exercise clinics at general practitioners or outpatient clinics.
The master’s program is a part-time program taught on our campus in Amersfoort. In addition to the contact days, you will follow a number of internship days. The contact days can be found on the right side of this page under the heading “Details”. The study load is 13 to 16 hours per week, excluding internship. The master program comprises a total of 90 credits (EC).
As a general physiotherapist with a Bachelor’s degree, you follow a regular three-year master’s program at SOMT University of Physiotherapy. Contact days are always on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 09.00 to 17.00 in Amersfoort. The three-year program starts in September.
Can you handle a higher course load? Then you can also complete the full Master Musculoskeletal Ultrasound in 2.5 years. The total study load and quality is equal to that of the three-year program. Through efficient, hybrid teaching with lots of personal guidance, we have developed an ambitious but studyable program for you.
Have you already completed an HBO Master’s degree in a physical therapy specialization or a WO Master’s degree? Then it is possible to accelerate the Master Musculoskeletal Ultrasound and there are exemption options for the first- second and third year of study.
The Examination Board will decide for each student who has an exemption for what. This will be determined by previous training and courses, experience through the years, any scientific products or implementation projects through peer consultation or otherwise.
Have any questions? Please feel free to email: studentenadministratie@somt.nl
Admission to the Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Master’s program for physical therapists is possible with a bachelor’s degree in physical therapy recognized by the Dutch government and BIG registration.
It is desirable to be employed in practice, as the case histories used in the teaching sessions have a continuous interaction with professional practice.
Study load: 13 to 16 hours per week
Credits: 90 ECTS
Level: EKK 7
Accreditation: NVAO
Language of instruction: Dutch with English-language scientific literature
Start of study: September
Download the Study Guide here
This HBO master’s program leads to the degree of Master of Science in Musculoskeletal Ultrasound. The program is distinguished primarily by its high level of quality. The broad deep content of the program includes practical classes taught by musculoskeletal radiologists.
The integration of ultrasound into the daily practice of the physical therapist is an important part of the training. Physical therapists are trained to become competent ultrasound technicians who, from their role in the first-, one-and-a-half- or second-line care, provide sustainable responsible diagnostics. Ultrasound, performed by the Extended Scope physical therapist, is an excellent combination in this regard. Therefore, there is a module in the curriculum specifically focused on the (new) role of the Extended Scope physiotherapist. This module is identical to the 10-day continuing education “Targeted Referral” and offers you the opportunity to register in the register of the Dutch Extended Scope Society (NVES).
After diagnostics, it doesn’t stop in the Musculoskeletal Ultrasound training for physical therapists. In addition to knowledge of pathology and pathophysiology, the training focuses on the therapeutic process according to best evidence-practice principles.
During the training you will be taught by highly skilled teachers with extensive didactic and clinical experience. Our teachers are not only academically trained, but also active in their own ultrasound and physical therapy practices. As a result, they bring practical and up-to-date knowledge directly to the classes.
In addition, you will work in small, personal teaching groups, providing you with intensive guidance that meets your learning needs. Because ultrasound is also used by medical professionals, there are several valuable interfaces. You will be taught by medical specialists such as radiologists, orthopedists, neurologists and general practitioners. This multidisciplinary nature makes our training unique and ensures that you are well prepared for practice.
With our good reputation in the field, this course provides a solid foundation for your future as a specialist.
During the Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Master’s for Physical Therapists, you will learn important skills to function in a professional environment:
Education is always guided from clinical case histories where modules are organized by body regions. For each module, the conditional basic scientific subjects are offered and clinical reasoning is trained based on the available scientific evidence for the added diagnostic value of ultrasound. The indication for ultrasound is always weighed against all possible alternatives for physical, imaging or other medical-specialist examination, the consequences for the treatment policy and the outcomes for the patient. Course days always include successive learning activities for preparation, learning activities during contact education and learning activities for processing (portfolio assignments). In addition, the course provides supervised internship and practical skills training.
In all courses at SOMT University of Physiotherapy, we work with blended learning. In the preparatory learning activities you use e-learning, in addition to studying textbooks and scientific articles, practicing practical skills and describing practical problems.
During the education contact days, you follow active forms of education, such as response lectures, working groups and skills training. To put what you have learned into practice, you will build a portfolio. Reflection and peer review are important tools here to guide and further develop your learning process.
During both the second and third years of the program, you will complete internships. This includes mini-clinics and individual internships, both in primary and secondary care.
Do you want to study with us and are you younger than 56? If you are not entitled (anymore) to regular study financing, you can sometimes still borrow money to pay tuition or fees.
The amount of lifelong learning credit depends on the amount of tuition or fees. For more information and applications, go to duo.nl/ levenlanglerenkrediet.
