Measurement of the magnitude of force applied by students when learning a mobilisation technique

South African Journal of Physiotherapy

 
 
Field Value
 
Title Measurement of the magnitude of force applied by students when learning a mobilisation technique
 
Creator Smit, E. Conradie, M. Wessels, J. Witbooi, I. Otto, R.
 
Subject — mobilization; posteroanterior; force-measurement instrument; inter-therapist reliability; student; learning
Description Passive accessory intervertebral movements (PAIVM’s) are frequently used by physiotherapists in the  assessment and management of patients. Studies investigating the reliability of passive mobilisation techniques have shown conflicting results. Therefore, standardisation of PAIVM’s is essential for research and teaching purposes, which could result in better clinical management. In order to standardise graded passive mobilisation techniques, a reliable, easy-to-use, objective measurement tool must be used. The aim of this  study was to determine whether it is necessary to quantify the magnitude of force applied when teaching a grade I central  posteroanterior (PA) mobilisation technique (according to Maitland) on the cervical spine. An objective measurement tool (FlexiForceTM) was used to determine the consistency of force applied by third and fourth year physiotherapy students while performing this technique. Twenty third- and 20 fourth year physiotherapy students (n=40) were randomly selected. Each subject performed a grade I central PA on sensors placed on C6 for 25 seconds. The average maximum grade 1 force applied by the third year students was  significantly higher than the force applied by the fourth year students (p=0.034). There was a significantly larger variation in applied force among third years (p=0.00043). The results indicate that the current teaching method is insufficient to ensure inter-therapist reliability amongst students, emphasising the need for an objective measurement tool to be used for teaching students. The measurement tool used in this study is economical, easily applied and is an efficient method of measuring the magnitude of force. Further research is needed to demonstrate the reliability and validity of the tool to assist teaching and research in a clinical setting.
 
Publisher AOSIS
 
Contributor
Date 2003-01-12
 
Type info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion — —
Format application/pdf
Identifier 10.4102/sajp.v59i4.206
 
Source South African Journal of Physiotherapy; Vol 59, No 4 (2003); 3-8 2410-8219 0379-6175
 
Language eng
 
Relation
The following web links (URLs) may trigger a file download or direct you to an alternative webpage to gain access to a publication file format of the published article:

https://sajp.co.za/index.php/sajp/article/view/206/206
 
Coverage — — —
Rights Copyright (c) 2003 E. Smit, M. Conradie, J. Wessels, I. Witbooi, R. Otto https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
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