In-Person Course

Seeing the Problem:

Austere and Clinical Application of Ultrasound Imaging

About the Course

This immersive two-day musculoskeletal ultrasound training with extensive hands-on practice is designed for physical therapists and other healthcare providers seeking applied imaging skills relevant to both clinic-based and austere environments. In partnership with Pura Health, this course emphasizes small-group interaction and deliberate practice using multiple ultrasound devices. Participants will gain a solid foundation in ultrasound system operation, image acquisition techniques, regional scanning protocols, and interpretation of normal versus pathological findings across key musculoskeletal regions.

Online Prerequisite: Included in the course fee, participants gain access to an 4-hour online component. This section must be completed before attending the in-person course. Access to the online module will open one month before the in-person.

  • Date: May 2-3, 2026
    Location: Vertex PT Specialists | Cayce, SC

    No tents needed. This course takes place in the clinic, for hands-on experience with imaging tools.

  • This course is comprised of an online module and a hands-on training. The online course is 4 hours (.4 PT CEUs) and the in-person component is 14 hours (1.4 CEUs).

    The total cost for the online pre-requisite and in-person course (1.8 CEUs total) is $849.

  • The course is located just 10 minutes from Columbia Metropolitan Airport and 1.5 hrs from Charlotte Douglas International Airport.

    There are numerous hotels located in Cayce and Columbia, SC; but, if you prefer to camp, Sesquicentennial State Park offers tent and RV campsites.

Learning Objectives

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    Demonstrate understanding of ultrasound system fundamentals, including the use of machine console controls such as transducer selection, depth, gain, focal zone, time gain compensation, zoom functions, and Doppler imaging modes (power vs. color Doppler).

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    Explain basic ultrasound physics principles relevant to sports medicine and trauma, including the relationship between frequency, resolution, penetration depth, and image optimization strategies for fluids, air, superficial and deep anatomical structures.

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    Identify and apply proper transducer handling techniques, including slide, tilt, heel-toe, rotation, compression, pivot, and use of stand-off pads to acquire optimal diagnostic images.

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    Perform systematic regional diagnostic ultrasound examinations of the shoulder (anterior, posterior, superior), wrist (volar and dorsal), knee (anterior, medial, lateral, posterior), lower leg/ankle (anterior, medial, lateral, posterior compartments, including Achilles and plantar fascia) right upper quadrant, left upper quadrant, pelvis and pericardium.

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    Recognize the normal and pathological sonographic appearances of bone, cartilage, muscle, tendon, nerve, ligament, fascia, spaces, free fluid, and vascular structures in the shoulder, wrist, knee, lower leg, and ankle.

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    Identify common ultrasound artefacts, including anisotropy, acoustic shadowing, reverberation, and through transmission, and appropriately adjust scanning technique to minimize misinterpretation.

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    Conduct dynamic scanning and stress testing protocols to assess ligament stability, tendon subluxation, and functional impingement in real-time.

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    Conduct rapid assessments of right upper quadrant, left upper quadrant, pelvis and pericardium to view for free fluid.

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    Label, annotate, and measure ultrasound images accurately, and understand the principles of structured diagnostic documentation for clinical use.

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    Differentiate between normal and abnormal musculoskeletal structures through guided case review and hands-on scanning of simulated and real anatomical models.

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    Apply ergonomic principles and patient positioning techniques to ensure both operator safety and patient comfort during scanning procedures.

Meet the Instructors

  • Carlos Jimenez

    PURA HEALTH

    Dr. Carlos Jimenez, DPT, RMSK (Registered in Musculoskeletal Sonography®) is a physical therapist and educator specializing in the practical application of diagnostic ultrasound in high-performance and austere environments. His work focuses on using portable musculoskeletal ultrasound to enhance clinical decision-making when advanced imaging is unavailable or delayed. Drawing from experience in sports medicine and performance settings, he emphasizes structured image acquisition, injury assessment, and risk-informed return-to-activity decisions in resource-limited and wilderness contexts. His teaching integrates diagnostic clarity with real-world constraints, preparing clinicians to use ultrasound as a field-ready extension of the clinical examination.

  • DJ, Mike, Karen, Darren, & Paul

    WILDERNESS PT EDUCATORS

    The Wilderness Physical Therapy Educators are seasoned PT clinicians and professional educators with extensive experience delivering care in austere environments as Physical Therapists and Wilderness EMTs. Their backgrounds stem from US National Park Service backcountry rangers, climbing rangers, search and rescue coordinators, and combat-zone medical providers, . Together, they bring field-tested expertise across rugged terrain, extreme environmental conditions, and high-stakes patient care from the Tetons to the front lines. The Wilderness PT Educators combine decades of clinical practice with firsthand experience in austere patient care to prepare students for real-world challenges beyond the walls of the clinic.