Theory & Practice of Injection Therapy

Theory & Practice of Injection Therapy
MSc module PM104

Course code: PM104
Duration: 180 study hours
Lectures: 24 hours
Credits: 20 credits

Location: Face to Face at various locations in the UK including Bournemouth, Liverpool and London

Information Leaflet: Please click here for IT Module Information Leaflet

The module reviews and develops the clinical reasoning and injection therapy skills needed to practise injection therapy effectively and safely. It is open to all experienced HCPC registered allied health professionals, registered osteopaths, registered nurses and medical practitioners, wishing to integrate these skills into the clinical management of patients with musculoskeletal disorders.

This module is run in 2 Units.

• Unit 1 is the taught component
• Unit 2 is a review, submission of assessed work and practical viva.

There is a 6 month inter-unit gap between units in which you will undertake the required number of supervised injections.

You must be able to attend both Unit 1 and Unit 2 dates.

1. Are you looking to progress your career in MSK?
2. Do you want to be able to offer patients pain relief and have an additional skill in your MSK toolbox?
3. Are you interested in well-established gold standard education and support for training in MSK injection therapy at Master’s level?

SOMM Injection Therapy Course:

1. The first post-graduate injection therapy training course at Master’s level in the UK
2. Established since 1999 by our SOMM alumnus Paul Hattam.
3. We have trained thousands of physiotherapists, doctors and MSK practitioners over the years nationally and internationally
4. Endorsed by Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP)
5. Gold standard injection therapy training course
6. 20 Master’s level credits
7. Highly experienced teaching team
8. Highly reputed in the MSK communities
9. Module is mapped to both the FCP MSK Roadmap and the UK AP MSK Standards
10. High tutor to student ratio

Overview of the course

Our Injection Therapy module was the first post-graduate training course at Master’s level in the UK, which has been well-established since Year 1999 by our SOMM alumnus Paul Hattam. Over this time, the module has continued to improve and progress to meet our students’ expectations, and is responsive to practice development and current evidence. We have trained thousands of musculoskeletal (MSK) physiotherapists, MSK doctors and MSK multi-professions both nationally and internationally over the years.

Our Injection Therapy module is endorsed by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP), and it is regarded as gold standard training course.

Our teaching philosophy is underpinned by the approach developed by Dr James Cyriax and has been fully updated to reflect the latest MSK practice and evidence in injection therapy. The balance of theory lectures and practical sessions is well-maintained. Each injection technique will be covered in detail with relevant anatomical knowledge, current evidence and clinical guidelines in this field. The module presents an analysis and critical appraisal of the evidence for the appropriate use of injection therapy in MSK practice. It endeavours to encourage students to explore this for themselves during their training, and enhance their clinical reasoning skills and critical thinking.

The value of this module also lies in the commitment of all students to participate fully, and to be prepared to share their experiences with the group. Students are actively encouraged to engage in dialogue and discussion with their fellow students in an atmosphere of mutually supportive learning and development.

Our mission is to provide students with a bespoke, effective, interactive and enjoyable learning experience, and to develop required skills, capabilities and clinical reasoning. On successful completion of this module, students will be confident and competent to deliver safe and effective injection therapy practice in a musculoskeletal and multi-professional context.

Our Teaching Team

The teaching team on this module will be both medical practitioners and advanced/ consultant physiotherapists, highly experienced in using injection therapy as part of their clinical practice and highly experienced in Masters-level teaching and assessment. Our tutor to student ratio is high, with the aim of providing students plenty of practical tips and constructive feedback. 

• Dr Sharon Chan-Braddock– Module Coordinator/Course Principal, Injection Therapy module
• Nick Worth– North West Supervision and Assessment Lead, NHS England
• Dr Duncan Reid– Sport and Exercise Medicine Doctor & GPwSI MSK
• Amanda Hensman-Crook– Consultant Physiotherapist & PhD candidate
• Helen Welch– Consultant Physiotherapist & Professional Doctorate candidate
• Matt Daly– APP & FCP Clinical Lead
• Dr Niall Corroon– GP & GP Partner
• Dr Simon Morris– Sport and Exercise Medicine Doctor & GPwSI MSK

Structure of the course

This module will use a range of teaching/learning strategies including lectures, demonstrations, practical sessions, group work, case-based discussions and tutorials.

There are two units in this module, with six months between unit 1 and unit 2.

Unit 1 (3 days)– A combination of lectures, demonstrations, practical sessions, group work, case-based discussion and tutorials will be used to provide the background theory, current evidence and practical skills in injection therapy. The following topics will be covered:

1. Introduction of musculoskeletal injection therapy
2. Basic clinical pharmacology
3. Corticosteroid
4. Local anaesthetics
5. Other injection therapy options such as hyaluronic acid (HA) and platelet rich plasma (PRP)
6. Legal framework
7. Adverse event management
8. Injection therapy equipment
9. Needle proprioception workshop
10. Dosage guidelines
11. Anatomically-guided injection techniques in common MSK conditions in upper limbs and lower limbs
12. Assessment guidelines at Master’s level

Inter-modular period

There is a period of directed learning between the two units where students are required to perform 10 supervised injections to be included within their portfolio. You will be required to arrange an eligible supervisor(s) e.g. MSK physiotherapists with injection therapy experience  of over 3 years or a medical practitioner with MSK injection therapy experience, prior to the course.

Unit 2 (2 days) – as well as the theoretical and practical teaching/learning strategies mentioned above, Unit 2 includes:

1. Tutorials
2. Practical review
3. Critical appraisal of research evidence
4. Case study discussion
5. Supervised review session
6. Practical viva examination

Professional groups who are eligible:

1. Registered allied health professionals, such as physiotherapists, podiatrists, osteopaths
2. Registered medical doctors, such as general practitioners or sports and exercise medicine doctors
3. Other registered professionals, such as advanced nurse practitioners, who fulfil the entry requirements

Entry requirement:

1. HCPC/GMC registration, or registration with other relevant regulatory body, with professional indemnity insurance
2. Access to MSK patients while attending the course
3. Clinical experience of at least 3 years, in which at least 1 year clinical experience in MSK
4. Evidence of MSK post graduate training. E.g. SOMM diploma of musculoskeletal medicine and/or
• Evidence of relevant post-graduate MSK training/ courses with
Higher Education Institutes and/or
• Evidence of stage 1 +/- stage 2 of HEE MSK FCP Roadmap and/or
• Evidence of AP MSK standards

Online resources

Tutor support is available in the inter-unit period. There are also resources accessible on the QMU Hub, including guidance on academic writing, proforma templates for supervised injection and your module handbook. Online student resources are available through the textbook that is recommended as core reading for the module (Atkins, E, Goodlad, E, Chan-Braddock, S (2024) A Practical Approach to Musculoskeletal Medicine, 5th edn. Elsevier, Oxford.)

Assessment format:

Formative assessment:

1. Tutor feedback throughout module, particularly on practical skills.
2. Designated supervisor’s feedback during inter-modular period
3. Case study discussion and critical appraisal of research articles

Summative assessment:

Students will demonstrate achievement of the learning outcomes by completing, and passing all three assessment components:

1. Submission of a supervised injection portfolio providing evidence of a minimum of 10 supervised injections – Core pass/fail component
2. Practical viva examination, with competency and safety pass/fail component – (50% pass mark)
3. Submission of a case study of 2,500 words detailing an injection treatment conducted by the student (50% pass mark)

Review

Another awesome course with SOMM on injection therapy. Learnt so much! Big thanks to Sharon, Nick and Duncan.

Excellent course! Brilliant and approachable tutors!

All tutors are very approachable! Really enjoyed it!

Excellent 3 days! Feel confident going away and applying my new skills!

Great pace and time-keeping. Like the integrated way of practical and theory element.

Really enjoyed it and couldn’t recommend it enough. Tutors are brilliant and can’t wait to get going

Very enjoyable. Highly relevant to current work and I felt very supported by Sharon and Duncan

Really enjoyed all the aspects of the course. Tutors are extremely knowledgeable and helpful. Make it great fun!

Great course. Tutors are very approachable! Highly recommended. Thank you

Really informative- a lot of info and feel prepared to take next step!