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

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.