This CME course represents an intensive, evidence-based review of examination and injection techniques for musculoskeletal problems encountered in daily practice. Numerous studies demonstrate that more than 20 percent of all visits to primary care providers deal with these complaints. The pertinent history and physical examination techniques are reviewed. The functional anatomy of the joint, as well as common mechanisms of injuries, is stressed. After an initial review of the basics of clinical examination, demonstration and practice of examination techniques will be completed; additionally, the benefits of joint aspiration and orthopedic injection will be discussed, demonstrated, and practiced.
To enhance your learning, it is recommended that participants attend this course in comfortable attire so that you will be able to get supervised practice experience in the examination techniques pertinent to every joint. More than 75 percent of the two-day course involves interactive joint injection sessions. Each session has extensive practice times with joint models to review and practice common aspiration and injection techniques. CPT codes for the different aspiration and injection techniques are reviewed, and other issues for coding and reimbursement are discussed.
By the end of this activity, the participant should be better able to:
- Review the anatomy and function of various joints.
- Learn specific clinical tests to evaluate each joint using evidence-based medicine guidelines.
- Review common mechanisms of injuries and pathology that can lead to them.
- Review an introduction to imaging techniques used for evaluation.
- Practice exam techniques in a supervised setting.
- Practice joint aspirations and injections using joint models.
2025 Course Accreditation
The Texas Academy of Family Physicians designates this live activity for a maximum of 14.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
The AAFP has reviewed Joint Exam and Injections with an Introduction to Ultrasound Guidance: The First Step and deemed it acceptable for AAFP credit. This session is approved for 14.5 Live AAFP Prescribed credits. Term of approval is from 05/01/2025 to 12/05/2025. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Learn more about our accreditation.
7:30 - 8 a.m.
- Registration and breakfast
Day One
8 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. — 1.5 CME Credits
Course Introduction and Basics of MSK Examination and Ultrasound
- Review related terminology of musculoskeletal assessment.
- Outline the principles of an effective musculoskeletal assessment.
- Identify important clinical points of the history of present illness and review the process of the musculoskeletal exam.
- Introduce the basics for the application of ultrasound guidance for injections.
9:30 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. — 0.75 CME Credits
Shoulder: Anatomy, Clinical Assessment, and Common Clinical Problems
- Implement the core concepts of sports medicine as applied to shoulder exams and clinical subsets for applied clinical anatomy, careful history and physical exam, and the role of rehabilitation exercises.
- Specifically diagnose and detail the management of the most common shoulder problems, including subacromial impingement and adhesive capsulitis.
10:15 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. — Break
10:30 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. — 0.75 CME Credits
WORKSHOP I: Shoulder Examination
- Practice shoulder examination techniques.
11:15 a.m. – 12 p.m. — 0.75 CME Credits
Basics of Injections
- Learn the basics of injection techniques for various joints.
12 p.m. – 1 p.m. — Lunch
1 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. — 0.5 CME Credits
Elbow/Wrist/Hand: Anatomy, Clinical Assessment, and Common Clinical Problems
- Implement the core concepts of sports medicine as applied to the elbow, wrist, and hand for applied clinical anatomy, careful history, and physical exam.
- Learn to specifically diagnose and adequately manage the most common elbow, wrist, and hand injuries.
1:30 p.m. – 2 p.m. — 0.5 CME Credits
WORKSHOP II: Elbow/Wrist/Hand Examination
- Practice elbow, wrist, and hand examination techniques.
2 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. — 0.75 CME Credits
Introduction to Ultrasound Guided Injections
- Identify the indications, benefits, risks, and contraindications of ultrasound-guided joint injections in the family medicine office.
- Describe general principles involved in administering ultrasound-guided joint injections to include consent, equipment anesthesia, choice of corticosteroid, and injection technique.
- Discuss proper coding for joint injections and aspirations with and without ultrasound guidance.
2:45 p.m. – 3 p.m. — Break
3 p.m. – 5 p.m. — 2 CME Credits
WORKSHOP III: Upper Extremity Injections with an Introduction to Ultrasound Guidance
- Learn and practice upper extremity joint injections with ultrasound guidance.
Day Two
8 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. — 0.5 CME Credits
WORKSHOP IV: Introduction to Shoulder and Knee Aspiration
- Learn and implement should and knee aspiration techniques through hands-on practice on synthetic and non-synthetic tissue models.
8:30 a.m. – 9:15 a.m. — 0.75 CME Credits
Knee: Anatomy, Clinical Assessment, and Common Clinical Problems
- Implement the core concepts of sports medicine as applied to the knee for applied clinical anatomy, careful history, physical exam, and the role of rehabilitation exercises.
- Specifically diagnose and adequately manage the most common traumatic and atraumatic knee injuries.
9:15 – 10 a.m. — 0.75 CME Credits
WORKSHOP V: Knee Examination
- Practice knee examination techniques.
10 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. — Break
10:15 a.m. – 11 a.m. — 0.75 CME Credits
Lumbar Spine/Hip: Anatomy, Clinical Assessment, and Common Clinical Problems
- Review the clinical anatomy of the lumbar spine and hip.
- Review the epidemiology and natural history of low back pain and hip pain.
- Outline the evidence-based approach to clinical assessment of the lumbar spine and hip.
11 a.m. – 12 p.m. — 1 CME Credit
WORKSHOP VI: Lumbar Spine/Hip Examination
- Practice lumbar spine and hip examination techniques.
12 p.m. – 1 p.m. — Lunch
1 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. — 0.75 CME Credits
Leg/Ankle/Foot: Anatomy, Clinical Assessment, and Common Clinical Problems
- Implement the core concepts of sports medicine as applied to the leg, ankle, and foot for applied clinical anatomy, careful history, and physical examination.
- Specifically diagnose and adequately manage the most common leg, ankle, and foot injuries, including ankle sprain, Achilles tendon injuries, plantar fasciitis, and Morton’s neuroma.
1:45 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. — 0.75 CME Credits
WORKSHOP VII: Leg/Ankle/Foot Examination
- Practice leg, ankle, and foot examination techniques.
2:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. — Break
2:45 – 4:30 p.m. — 1.75 CME Credits
WORKSHOP VIII: Lower Extremity Injections
- Identify the indications, benefits, risks, and contraindications of lower extremity joint injections.
- Implement general principles involved in administering lower extremity injections, including consent, equipment, anesthesia, choice of corticosteroid, and technique.
- Discuss the basics of coding lower extremity joint injections.
- Practice hands-on joint injection techniques on the lower extremities.
TOTAL CME CREDITS: 14.5
