Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science

korean Academy of Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science (물리치료재활과학회)
권호 표지
DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

Effects of an Ultrasound-assisted Palpation Training Program on Physical therapy Student's Palpation Skills

  • Junmo Shin (Department of Physical Therapy, College of Health and Welfare, Sahmyook University) ;
  • Changho Song (Department of Physical Therapy, College of Health and Welfare, Sahmyook University)
  • Received : 2024.08.20
  • Accepted : 2024.09.25
  • Published : 2024.09.30
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to explore the effects of a novel training program that integrates ultrasound technology to enhance the palpation skills of physical therapy students. The program was designed to support students in developing more precise palpation techniques by using ultrasound as a supplementary tool for anatomical identification. Design: A randomized controlled trial. Methods: A total of twenty students, all enrolled in the physical therapy department at S University, who met the specified selection criteria, were randomly assigned to one of two groups: the experimental group (EG, n=10) or the control group (CG, n=10). The experimental group participated in an ultrasound-assisted palpation training program, while the control group did not receive this intervention. Results:The experimental group demonstrated significant improvements in their ability to accurately palpate anatomical landmarks, specifically the long head of the biceps brachii (LHBT) and the lateral joint line of the knee (LJLK), as well as an increased level of confidence in their palpation skills (p<0.05). A comparative analysis of changes from pre- to post-training revealed statistically significant differences between the two groups (p<0.05). Conclusions: The findings of this study suggest that the ultrasound-assisted training program can provide valuable educational benefits, offering foundational data to enhance the development of palpation skills in physical therapy students and making a meaningful contribution to educational research within the field.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

This paper was supported by the Academic Research Fund of the Sahmyook University in 2024.

References

  1. Spoto MM, Collins J. Physiotherapy diagnosis in clinical practice: a survey of orthopaedic certified specialists in the USA. Physiother Res Int. 2008;13:31-41. 
  2. Chong JNF, De Luca K, Goldan S, Imam A, Li B, Zabjek K, et al. Ordering diagnostic imaging: a survey of Ontario physiotherapists' opinions on an expanded scope of practice. Physiothera Can. 2015;67:144-56. 
  3. Field D, Hutchinson JSO. Field's anatomy, palpation, and surface markings: Elsevier Health Sciences; 2006. 
  4. Simmonds MJ, Kumar S. Health care ergonomics Part II: Location of body structures by palpation A reliability study. Int J Ind Ergon. 1993;11:145-51. 
  5. Rho ME, Chu SK, Yang A, Hameed F, Lin CY, Hurh PJ. Resident accuracy of joint line palpation using ultrasound verification. PM R. 2014;6:920-5. 
  6. Schwarzkopf R, Oron A, Loebenberg M. Shoulder pain: assessment, diagnosis and treatment of common problems. Harefuah. 2008;147:71-6, 93. 
  7. Degenhardt BF, Snider KT, Snider EJ, Johnson JC. Interobserver reliability of osteopathic palpatory diagnostic tests of the lumbar spine: improvements from consensus training. J Am Osteopath Assoc. 2005;105:465-73. 
  8. Kitagawa T, Aoki Y, Sugimoto H, Ozaki N. Randomised controlled trial for evaluation of an ultrasound-guided palpation intervention for palpation skill training. Sci Rep. 2022;12:1189. 
  9. Styles B, Torgerson C. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) in education research - methodological debates, questions, challenges. Educ Res. 2018;60:255-64. 
  10. Woods R, Wisniewski SJ, Lueders DR, Pittelkow TP, Larson DR, Finnoff JT. Can Ultrasound Be Used to Improve the Palpation Skills of Physicians in Training? A Prospective Study. PM R. 2018;10:730-7. 
  11. Muscolino JE. The muscle and bone palpation manual with trigger points, referral patterns and stretching: Elsevier Health Sciences; 2008. 
  12. Grassi W, Filippucci E, Carotti M, Salaffi F. Imaging modalities for identifying the origin of regional musculoskeletal pain. Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol. 2003;17:17-32. 
  13. Gazzillo GP, Finnoff JT, Hall MM, Sayeed YA, Smith J. Accuracy of palpating the long head of the biceps tendon: an ultrasonographic study. PM R. 2011;3:1035-40. 
  14. Sederberg M, Liem B, Tarkhan A, Gessel T, LaCourse M, Latzka E. Brief Ultrasound-Aided Teaching to Improve the Accuracy and Confidence of Resident Musculoskeletal Palpation. PM R. 2020;12:391-6. 
  15. McDevitt AW, Cleland JA, Strickland C, Mintken P, Leibold MB, Borg M, et al. Accuracy of long head of the biceps tendon palpation by physical therapists; an ultrasonographic study. J Phys Ther Sci. 2020;32:760-7. 
  16. Bisbinas I, Belthur M, Said HG, Green M, Learmonth DJ. Accuracy of needle placement in ACJ injections. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2006;14:762-5. 
  17. Pichler W, Weinberg AM, Grechenig S, Tesch NP, Heidari N, Grechenig W. Intra-articular injection of the acromioclavicular joint. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 2009;91:1638-40.