Investigating Visual-Spatial Abilities in Students and Expert Physical Therapists.

ABSTRACT: Purpose: Visual-spatial abilities (VSAs) - the aptitude for mentally processing, retaining, and manipulating visual input - are used by physical therapists in movement analysis. Superior VSAs have been demonstrated in experts compared with novices in other fields, including surgery, anatomy, and aviation, but no literature has investigated VSAs in physical therapy. The purpose of this study was to quantify VSAs in expert and student physical therapists and investigate the differences between the two groups. Our results could assist future researchers in identifying areas for skill development and improved clinical competency in students and novice therapists. Method: Expert physical therapists and first-year PT students completed four computerized VSA tests in t

SUBMITTER: Radan F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7238925 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature