Video: Simulation system designed to teach spinal manipulation skills
S. Himmelstein | March 25, 2019A simulated spine system offers a new tool to improve the skills of physical therapists-in-training. University of Melbourne, Australia, researchers believe this tool can provide more accurate feedback about applied pressure than the traditional teaching technique, which entails having students practice on each other.
The system was designed with input from physiotherapy experts to look and feel like a human spine, supportingUsing smart foam sensors, SpinalLog measures the pressure being applied to the spine by the student’s hand or fingers during a simulated assessment. Source: Sarah Fisher/University of Melbourne the learning of mobilization techniques through real-time visual feedback and deformation-based passive haptic feedback. Smart foam sensors incorporated into the SpinalLog device measure pressure exerted by hands or fingers to the spine during a simulated assessment.
Pressure data displayed on screen with a 3D spinal model provides visual cues as to the pressure pattern and method used to manipulate the device. Tests demonstrated that simultaneous visual feedback has a strong beneficial effect on task performance without introducing a substantial lag. The sensor deformation helped participants exert forces at the correct baseline level, and while the physical shape of the device had little effect on task performance, it was the most important feature regarding participants’ perceptions of the benefits of the device for learning spinal mobilization.
Future classroom deployment of SpinalLog could substantially increase the amount and quality of feedback students receive on their performance, increase practice time as it does not require a volunteer and allow students to make mistakes without hurting volunteers.