The purpose of this home study course is to introduce clinicians to diagnostic musculoskeletal ultrasound imaging as a highly effective, non-invasive diagnostic tool that complements manual therapy, dry needling, and regenerative interventions.

Through a combination of lecture, video demonstration, and clinical case studies, participants will build confidence in tissue identification, understand pathology progression, and learn how ultrasound-guided percutaneous tenotomy stimulates tissue healing in chronic tendinopathies.

• Musculoskeletal ultrasound physics and principles

   

• • Understanding image echogenicity (anechoic, hyperechoic, hypoechoic)
    
  • Knobology and image optimization techniques
    
  • The “5 Ps” for repeatable and consistent imaging
    
  • Identification of normal vs pathological tissues:
    
    • Tendons
      
    • Ligaments
      
    • Muscles
      
    • Nerves
      
    • Cartilage
      
    • Vasculature
      
  • Real-time dynamic imaging examples (shoulder, knee, elbow, Achilles)
    
  • Histology of tendinopathy and enthesis dysfunction
    
  • Percutaneous needle tenotomy (PNT) theory and application

     

Module 1: Welcome to Diagnostic Ultrasound Foundations
📝 Course Intro, Logistics & Certification Pathway

Module 2: The Case for Ultrasound in Physical Therapy
📝 Why PTs Need Ultrasound in Today’s Practice

Module 3: Ultrasound Physics, Probes & Knobology
📝 Understanding the Tools: From Probe to Picture

Module 4: Real-Time Imaging & Motion-Based Diagnostics
📝 Dynamic Ultrasound: Real-Time Insight into Motion

Module 5: Reading the Image: Grayscale & Echogenicity
📝 Understanding Image Appearance: Normal vs. Abnormal

Module 6: The 5 Ps of Consistent Imaging
📝 Reliability Starts with Positioning

Module 7: Tendons & Tendinopathy Explained
📝 Collagen, Enthesis, and Imaging Chronic Injury

Module 8: Ultrasound-Guided Percutaneous Tenotomy
📝 From Diagnosis to Dry Needling Intervention

Module 9: Case Studies and Clinical Outcomes
📝 Seeing Healing Happen: Real Patients, Real Results

At the completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Understand the physics behind diagnostic musculoskeletal ultrasound.
  
• Identify normal and abnormal tissue structures in ultrasound images.
  
• Perform proper patient and probe positioning for optimal image acquisition.
  
• Recognize ultrasound findings related to tendinopathy and enthesis dysfunction.
  
• Explain the principles of ultrasound-guided percutaneous tenotomy.
  

Appreciate the clinical application of regenerative dry needling under ultrasound guidance.

Must be a licensed healthcare provider (PT, DC, DO, MD, NP, PA, OT, ATC)