Augmented reality learning environment for physiotherapy education

Abstract

Background

An understanding of how to translate anatomical knowledge and application of body mechanics to dynamic scenarios with real-life clients and movement is often a challenge for physiotherapy students.

Objective

Augmented Studio is an augmented reality system that helps facilitate this by projecting anatomical structures over moving bodies and allowing annotation of these structures.

Methods

Via a user and learner-centred design approach, augmented reality technology can assist education of physiotherapy students through augmentation and annotation.

Results

Using projection mapping Augmented Studio enables display of anatomy such as skeleton and muscles on the body in real time as it moves. With the creation of a technique to deliver hand-drawing annotation projected onto the moving body student and teacher clinical reasoning strategies can be made explicit.

Conclusion

Outcomes from a pilot usability study showed that Augmented Studio promotes the creation of an engaging teaching and learning experience and the facilitation of communication between teachers and students.

Keywords:

• Physiotherapy education
• Augmented reality
• Annotation
• Projection mapping
• Virtual anatomy