Last updated: August 2026

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Diagnostic musculoskeletal ultrasound lets rehabilitation providers evaluate soft tissue during movement — something static imaging like MRI can't do. Ultrasound has comparable accuracy to MRI for many musculoskeletal disorders at the fraction of the cost and with less inconvenience for the patient. It can be done in the office in a matter of minutes while providing information that cannot be discerned from physical examination alone. It also allows objective, repeatable monitoring of tissue changes throughout a course of rehabilitation while opening up other treatment possibilities. It is particularly helpful for needling, and allows for targeted tendon or perineural needling while enhancing patient safety. It is truly one of the most game changing skills an outpatient musculoskeletal specialist can learn.

 

This self-paced online course teaches musculoskeletal diagnostic ultrasound for physical therapists, chiropractors, athletic trainers, and other rehabilitation providers, covering upper and lower extremity applications.

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Quick facts:

• Self-paced, online, learn from home

• Covers upper and lower extremity musculoskeletal ultrasound for $799; this is excellent value for a comprehensive musculoskeletal ultrasound course

• Includes ultrasound knobology and physics fundamentals

• Includes needle guidance basics

• Covers anatomy, scan technique, and scanning protocols by region

• Includes real-world case discussion from physical therapy practice with pathoanatomical examples

• First module is free to preview- three lectures designed to address frequently asked questions to help get you started

• Not an RMSK prep course, but supports RMSK certification training

• Scanning labs for hands-on feedback are planned for the future

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What does this course cover?

• Knobology and physics — the ultrasound machine fundamentals needed before scanning

• Regional anatomy — upper and lower extremity structures relevant to rehab practice

• Scan technique  — how to acquire diagnostic-quality images by region

• Pathology recognition — what abnormal findings look like on ultrasound

• Needle guidance basics — introductory concepts for ultrasound-guided procedures

• Real-world application — how diagnostic ultrasound is used in an actual physical therapy practice

• Protocols- printable sheets to help you practice each region comprehensively

• Recommended reading- primary research articles that will make you well rounded in MSK ultrasound

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Frequently Asked Questions

 

Is diagnostic ultrasound as accurate as MRI for musculoskeletal conditions?

 

Ultrasound becomes more accurate the more skilled and experienced a user gets. For certain conditions — such as full-thickness supraspinatus tears — diagnostic ultrasound has shown accuracy comparable to MRI (see here https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/23259671211035106

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It is also useful for many other soft tissue conditions such as, tendinosis, ligament sprains, and meniscus tears. It is particularly helpful for peripheral nerve entrapments, and has comparable accuracy compared to nerve conduction studies for conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome (see here https://www.cureus.com/articles/120054-a-comparative-analysis-between-ultrasound-and-electromyographic-and-nerve-conduction-studies-in-diagnosing-carpal-tunnel-syndrome-cts-a-systematic-review-and-meta-analysis#!/). 

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Who is this course designed for?

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Physical therapists, chiropractors, athletic trainers, and other rehabilitation providers who want to learn musculoskeletal diagnostic ultrasound.

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Who teaches the course?

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The course is taught by Ross Eckstein, PT, DPT, OCS, RMSK, CSCS. Ross has 10 years of experience in outpatient orthopedic physical therapy practice and over five years of diagnostic ultrasound experience. He has been RMSK certified for nearly four years and has taught musculoskeletal diagnostic ultrasound at the university level. He has also been involved in developing online educational content for years at Specialized Clinician and formerly at Therapy Insights. 

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Can I try the course before buying?

 

Yes. The first module is free and includes three videos. These cover how musculoskeletal ultrasound can impact rehabilitation practice, what to consider when buying a machine, other training options, and certification pathways. See the three links at the bottom of the page to access these lectures. 

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Does this course prepare me for the RMSK exam?

 

It is not designed explicitly as an RMSK prep course. It can, however, supplement RMSK certification training as it covers much of the content that would be relevant for the exam.

 

Specialized Clinician also offers a separate full-length RMSK practice exam.

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Do I need prior ultrasound experience to take this course?

 

The course covers knobology and physics fundamentals from the start, so no prior ultrasound experience is assumed.

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Is hands-on scanning practice included?

 

Not yet — scanning labs for hands-on feedback are planned as a future addition that can be added on optionally. The current course is self-paced video instruction.

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Where and how is the course taken?

 

Online, self-paced, at home, on your own schedule.

 

Are there subscription fees, and am I limited in how long I have access to the course? 

 

You have lifetime access to the course and can watch/refer to it as many times as you like. 

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Is this course approved for CEUs?

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Not yet. This is in progress but the course will be fully approved for physical therapy CEUs in the future.