Advanced MSK Practice 1: Principles of Advanced MSK Practice

This module is specifically tailored for musculoskeletal (MSK) outpatient physiotherapists, but may also benefit MSK clinicians from a range of disciplines and clinical settings, including hand therapy, podiatry, MSK outpatient physiotherapy, major trauma, trauma and orthopaedics, and osteopathy.

Have you ever found that enhancing your knowledge of understanding, assessing and treating MSK disorders does not necessarily translate into improved outcomes for your patients? This module provides the key principles of true biopsychosocial MSK healthcare needed to underpin successful MSK assessment and intervention, integrating psychosocial and lifestyle factors within person-centred assessment and management of musculoskeletal disorders.

The module empowers students to step away from biomedical default thinking and develop skills in clinical reasoning, reflection and evidence synthesis. It helps practitioners become comfortable with the complexity, uncertainty and nuance inherent in MSK health while making thoughtful decisions with patients. An evidence-based overview of contemporary MSK practice theory will be provided, with students critically reflecting on and evaluating their approaches to MSK practice.

This module was designed in collaboration with several MSK consultants in MSK outpatient physiotherapy, hand therapy, major trauma, trauma and orthopaedics, and podiatry, and is accredited by NHSE against the Advanced MSK Practice Curriculum and Capabilities Framework.

This module is a precursor to the Advanced MSK 2: Applied Advanced MSK Practice, where students will learn to integrate these key principles with expert assessment and treatment skills, with a strong emphasis on hands-on capabilities.

Who is it for?

This course is for registered healthcare professionals working in any area of musculoskeletal clinical practice, including physiotherapists, podiatrists, hand therapists, osteopaths, and trauma specialists.

Timetable

• 15 September 2026
• 22 September 2026
• 29 September 2026
• 06 October 2026
• 13 October 2026
• 20 October 2026
• 27 October 2026
• 03 November 2026.

Benefits

This module enables learners to fulfil the NHSE Advanced Practice Multiprofessional Framework (2024), the NHSE Advanced Practice MSK Curriculum and Capabilities Framework (2023), and the IFOMPT Educational Standards Framework (2016). Completion facilitates accreditation as an Advanced MSK Practitioner and can contribute towards the MSc Advanced MSK Practice, or part of a portfolio route to achieve the NHS Advanced Practice digital badge.

This short course module is designed to be flexible in allowing you to study and reach your goals at your own pace. Our health CPD courses are credit-bearing modules that may contribute to a University degree or award.

Transfer course credits towards postgraduate taught degree

As a health care professional, once you've completed this course you could offset 15 credits as part of a postgraduate programme, continuing your study with further modules to make up a Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert) 60 credits.

Employ your clinical MSK knowledge and skills with maximum effect by enhancing the key knowledge and skills which underpin excellent clinical practice. The teaching curriculum focuses on moving from biomedical paradigms towards evidence-based, person-centred biopsychosocial care.

Knowledge

Critically evaluate contemporary Advanced MSK Practice theories, issues and evidence situated within a biopsychosocial philosophy, and appraise their implications for MSK clinical practice (NHSE Domains A, B, C; IFOMPT Dimensions 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8).

Synthesise and apply research evidence with clinical assessment to determine, justify and adapt person-centred MSK treatment strategies, including sensitive communication around patient beliefs, expectations and the limitations of assessment and treatment techniques (NHSE Domains A, B, E; IFOMPT Dimensions 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9).

Skills

Analyse and reflect on your own clinical reasoning and practice, demonstrating insightful evaluation of how advanced MSK theoretical principles are applied when assessing and managing individuals with MSK pain or injury (NHSE Domains A, B, C; IFOMPT Dimensions 6, 7).

Apply and critically reflect on the principles of advanced MSK practice through a structured portfolio of clinical encounters, and justify and defend assessment and management decisions during a viva examination using evidence, reasoning and patient-centred considerations (NHSE Domains A, B, C; IFOMPT Dimensions 6, 7).

Values and attitudes

Generate innovative solutions to MSK health challenges by integrating and operationalising contemporary MSK understandings within existing pathways and systems at the micro, meso and macro levels, demonstrating awareness of service delivery and interprofessional collaboration (NHSE Domain D; IFOMPT Dimension 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10).

• Psychological theory and Behavioural economics
• Impact of modern life on MSK health and Pain neuroscience
• Situating MSK within a biopsychosocial paradigm
• Digital technology, AI, and healthcare advances
• Health inequalities, population health, and health promotion
• Race and gender inequality in MSK healthcare
• Effective communication and therapeutic alliance
• Fundamentals of biomechanics and tissue stress
• Advanced clinical reasoning of assessment and management
• Neuromusculoskeletal adaptations and modern manual therapy
• Multiprofessional approaches to the MSK burden
• And more

Assessment

• Portfolio of reflections (40%): Students create a portfolio embedding module teaching into their own clinical practice.
• Viva (60%): A final oral assessment and presentation where students discuss their reflections in detail.
• Summative assessment will take place on 1 December 2026.

Credits

This course is worth 15 credits toward eligible programmes.

Apply for this course by completing this online form.

Undergraduate degree or equivalent

You should have all of the following:

• an honours degree (2:2 or above) from the UK or Republic of Ireland
• a recognised healthcare or health-related professional qualification and current professional registration
• at least two years’ full-time clinical experience (or the equivalent in part-time hours) in health or social care employment, for example physiotherapy, occupational therapy, paramedicine or podiatry

International qualifications

We accept equivalent qualifications gained in other countries. Please see our Postgraduate International Equivalencies. For countries not on this list, we use UK ENIC for assessment. Please see our International Student Support pages for more information.

If you have any questions, you can contact us at pgenquiries@sgul.ac.uk.

English language requirements

This is a Group 1 course.

Full details can be found on our English language requirements webpages.

Course requirements

Applicants must be registered healthcare professionals who practise clinical assessment and treatment of musculoskeletal disorders, with sufficient clinical experience and knowledge to engage fully in Level 7 learning (assessed via the application process).

It is recommended that students are working in a musculoskeletal clinical practice setting whilst undertaking this module, although this is not a formal requirement.

English requirements

If your first language is not English, one of the following is required:

• a first degree from a UK university
• a first degree from an overseas institution recognised by City St George’s, University of London as providing adequate evidence of proficiency in the English language, for example institutions in Australia, Canada or the United States of America
• an IELTS score of 7.0 overall, with no subtest below 7.0
• a Pearson Test of English (Academic) score of 72
• a TOEFL score of 100 overall, with 24 in Writing, 20 in Listening, 19 in Reading and 20 in Speaking
• other evidence of proficiency in the English language which satisfies the relevant Board of Studies, including registration with your professional regulator