Palpation is one of the most important skills acquired by osteopathic students. It may be a challenging skill to acquire, and it requires often self-confidence and time. Hands-on guidance is a traditional method to give feedback and support the learning process. External feedback improves palpation accuracy and used muscle force in palpation training. Still the challenge of subjectivity and the lack of an objective standard remains. Recently the use of ultrasound imaging as a visual feedback tool has successfully widened its traditional use in the field of radiology. Over the last 8 years we have introduced the use of ultrasound in teaching sessions with students in osteopathy, physiotherapy and podiatry. These both deepen the topographical knowledge and three-dimensional understanding of the anatomical structures, as well as improve the understanding of the functioning of the musculoskeletal, arterial and nervous system. This presentation will focus on the theoretical basics of ultrasound imaging and present results of projects conducted with students.

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Jouko Heiskanen, MD, Senior Lecturer at Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Sciences since 2001
Teacher of musculoskeletal problems at Tampere University Faculty of Medicine since 1994
Medicine teacher in Finnish Manual Therapy Organization over 20 years
Teacher of musculoskeletal problems at Jyväskylä and Kuopio University 1995-2005
Music and dance medicine specialist at Tallin music academy, Sibelius Academy
Co-author of Sports medicine in disability books
Articles:
How Do Clinical Test Results Differentiate Chronic and Subacute Low Back Pain Patients from “Non-Patients”? The Journal of manual & manipulative Therapy Vol 17 Number 1 , 09
Ultrasound as a tool for teaching, evaluating and retraining muscle recruitment, Soundeffects vol 3 2012; 10-15
Could ultrasound and elastography visualized densified areas inside the deep fascia? Original Research Article. Journal of Bodywork and
Movement Therapies online 3 December 2013, in press, Tuulia Luomala, Mika Pihlman, Jouko Heiskanen, Carla Stecco