Within just one session of using the Virtual Haptic Back,
first-year medical student Aaron Miller could tell a
difference in his palpatory skills. Since then, Miller believes
that training on the computer program should be a requirement
for all students at OU-COM.
“The Virtual Haptic Back is one of the most interesting and
intelligently designed
machines I have ever come across,” Miller says. “It was
fascinating to use. Anyone truly interested in osteopathic
manipulative medicine (OMM) should try it. It allows one to
better understand what they should be feeling for.”
Funding for the Virtual Haptic Back came from Ohio University
and the Osteopathic Heritage Foundation (OHF), which has
committed $1.16 million to the project. “The OHF grant provides
the funds to buy equipment, including haptic devices, computers,
cameras, supplies, and to pay salaries,” says John Howell,
Ph.D., professor of physiology. “The project would not have
been possible without that support.”
Howell says the development of the software for the haptic back
began in 2001. The programming was done by Robert Conatser,
lab research associate, Interdisciplinary Institute for
Neuromusculoskeletal Research, in collaboration with biomedical
sciences and family medicine and the Department of Mechanical
Engineering.
The Virtual Haptic Back Laboratory houses the computer equipment
which simulates patients’ problems for students to practice
upon, says Howell. The haptic back is capable of simulating a
range of dysfunctions from disks being out of alignment to
strained muscles.
So how does it work?
First, one places his or her fingertips inside two robotic arms
to begin the simulation. You then are in a virtual space in
which as you manipulate your fingertips and hands, the haptic
back simulates the tactile sensations of tissue and muscles that
one would experience during a patient examination. These virtual
muscles are likewise examined to pinpoint the pain producing
problems. A computer screen provides a visual interface for the
user. The computer can simulate the feel of strained or tight
muscles, which students must find by palpation.
“We have data that shows students get better after repeated use
of the haptic back,” Howell says. During the lab sessions,
students perform a pretest and then complete eight sessions of
15 minute each on the haptic back.
Students then complete a posttest, which showed they had
improved their ability to find muscles in stress. Howell says
the testing helped students hone their manipulation skills,
while gaining confidence in palpitating.
Tony Le, a first-year medical student, saw his skills
enhanced by using the computer simulation.
“After approximately six months experience in the OMM lab, I
initially used the haptic back to try and enhance my sensitivity
in diagnosing a disorder,” he says. “As the practice sessions
went on, I started to imitate the actual procedure that we use
in the OMM lab. I believe that the haptic back has enhanced my
capability to detect more sensitive areas. But without continued
practice, I could eventually lose that ability.”
Like his fellow classmate Miller, Le says he would like to see
training on haptic back integrated into OU-COM’s curriculum.
After further research, Howell says the university would like to
see the software used nationwide, helping other students better
their skills. Le believed all students — with and without
clinical experience — can benefit from haptic back training.
“For the ones that have never performed OMM, this can help
sharpen the receptors on the fingers that will be used,” Le
says. “It can help initiate one so one understands and actually
feels what is explained in lectures and labs. For students
learning OMM, like me, it helps enhance palpatory sensitivity.
Because of this training, I can focus on and have a much better
sense of how to interpret a wide range of feelings and
sensations.”
- 30 -
News for
the week of
Feb 27 – March 3
