Article
An innovative approach to teaching and learning hand anatomy for therapists, students and patients
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Authors
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Margareta Persson
- Hand Surgery Clinic Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden
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Sarah Mee
- Chelsea and Westminster NHS Trust, London, UK, London, United Kingdom
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Deganit Kanz
- Nekuda Optimit, Hadera, Israel
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Brigitte Sparl
- Rehabilitationsklinik Tobelbad, Tobelbad, Austria
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Pat McKee
- University of Toronto, Oakville, Canada
| Published: | February 6, 2020 |
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Outline
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Clinical issue/s: A review of hand anatomy is often an essential part of courses for hand therapists. The challenges for course instructors are to (1) enhance and refresh hand anatomy knowledge in a time-efficient and meaningful way and to (2) demystify the intrinsic muscles and their attachments. Additionally, it is useful to have a tool to help patients to understand the anatomy of their injured/affected hand.
Clinical reasoning: A thorough understanding of hand anatomy is essential for examination, evaluation and intervention in hand therapy.
Innovative, analytical or new approach: For the past several years, we presenters from five countries have used the Anatomy Glove Learning System in courses taught to therapists, as well as to occupational therapy and physical therapy students. We have also found it valuable in patient education to help provide insight and understanding of their injuries and the rationale for various therapies therapeutic interventions. The System is comprised of a glove, with, bones printed on the front and back, and instructional videos, in English, French and Portuguese, that provide direction for drawing muscles and tendons onto the glove with coloured markers.
We will describe the various ways we have used the glove-drawing exercise as a pre- or post- course activity (where the therapist/student does it at home at his/her own pace) or within a course, and in patient education.
Since teaching and learning with the System is so effective and fun, we have used the system again and again. Course participants comment that they find the learning experience effective, fun and time efficient, and that difficult concepts are made understandable.
Contribution to advancing HT practice: This unique "hands-on" approach provides therapists/students with a firm grasp of hand anatomy knowledge to apply in clinical practice. The drawn Anatomy Glove is very useful for patient education and for therapists to refresh their hand anatomy. Enhanced knowledge of functional anatomy is important for the hand therapist.
