Journals / Adıyaman Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi / 2026 / Cilt: 12 Sayı: 2

Effectiveness of ultrasound-assisted training and the role of learning styles in enhancing shoulder anatomy knowledge and palpation skills in physiotherapists

Fizyoterapistlerde omuz anatomisi ve palpasyon becerilerinin geliştirilmesinde ultrason destekli eğitimin etkinliği ve öğrenme stillerinin rolü

Ümit Erkut(İSTANBUL RUMELİ ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0000-0002-5889-4495
Abdurrahim Yıldız(SAKARYA UYGULAMALI BİLİMLER ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0000-0002-6049-0705
Rüstem Mustafaoğlu(İSTANBUL ÜNİVERSİTESİ-CERRAHPAŞA)0000-0001-7030-0787
Pages
200–208
Publication Date
2026-08-20
🏛️Bibliographic metadata and full text access for this article are provided via DergiPark.
DergiPark Record ↗
✨

AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

Conclusion: Ultrasound-assisted training significantly improves anatomical knowledge and palpation skills in physiotherapists, with the greatest benefits observed in kinesthetic and multimodal learners.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:Aim: To evaluate the effect of ultrasound-assisted shoulder anatomy training on anatomical knowledge, palpation accuracy, and knowledge retention among physiotherapists.
📊
Key Findings & Data:Materials and Methods: Fifty licensed physiotherapists without prior musculoskeletal ultrasound training completed a 16-hour ultrasound-assisted training program.
💡
Conclusion & Impact:Conclusion: Ultrasound-assisted training significantly improves anatomical knowledge and palpation skills in physiotherapists, with the greatest benefits observed in kinesthetic and multimodal learners.
🔬Design:Survey & Empirical Study
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Kas-iskelet sistemi · Ultrason · Palpasyon

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate the effect of ultrasound-assisted shoulder anatomy training on anatomical knowledge, palpation accuracy, and knowledge retention among physiotherapists. Materials and Methods: Fifty licensed physiotherapists without prior musculoskeletal ultrasound training completed a 16-hour ultrasound-assisted training program. Anatomical knowledge, location identification, and palpation accuracy were assessed before and after training using a standardized protocol and a 4-point scale (0–3). Learning styles were determined using the VARK questionnaire. Results: Significant improvements were observed in all outcomes (p<0.001). Median anatomical knowledge scores increased from 11 to 24, while location identification and palpation accuracy improved from 16 to 24. Kinesthetic learners showed the greatest improvement (32.7%), followed by multimodal learners (20.4%) (p<0.01). Conclusion: Ultrasound-assisted training significantly improves anatomical knowledge and palpation skills in physiotherapists, with the greatest benefits observed in kinesthetic and multimodal learners.

Özet

Amaç: Fizyoterapistlerde ultrason destekli omuz eklem anatomisi eğitiminin palpasyon doğruluğu ve omuz anatomisi bilgisi üzerindeki etkisini değerlendirmek. Gereç ve Yöntem: Daha önce kas-iskelet sistemi ultrason eğitimi almamış 50 lisanslı fizyoterapist, 16 saatlik ultrason destekli eğitim programına katıldı. Eğitim öncesi ve sonrası anatomik tanımlama, konum belirleme ve palpasyon doğruluğu 4 puanlık ölçek (0–3) ile standartlaştırılmış bir denek üzerinde değerlendirildi. Öğrenme stilleri VARK anketi ile belirlendi. Bulgular: Eğitim sonrası tüm sonuçlarda anlamlı iyileşme saptandı (p<0,001). Medyan anatomik tanımlama puanı 11’den 24’e, konum belirleme ve palpasyon doğruluğu puanı ise 16’dan 24’e yükseldi. VARK’a göre en yüksek gelişim kinestetik (%32,7), ardından multimodal öğrenenlerde (%20,4) görüldü ve gruplar arasında anlamlı fark bulundu (p<0,01). Sonuç: Ultrason destekli eğitim, fizyoterapistlerde anatomik bilgi ve palpasyon becerilerini anlamlı şekilde geliştirmektedir. En belirgin kazanımlar kinestetik ve multimodal öğrenenlerde görülmektedir.

🔖

Cite This Article

Erkut, Ü., Yıldız, A., Mustafaoğlu, R. (2026). Effectiveness of ultrasound-assisted training and the role of learning styles in enhancing shoulder anatomy knowledge and palpation skills in physiotherapists. Adıyaman Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi, Cilt: 12 Sayı: 2, 200–208. https://doi.org/10.30569/adiyamansaglik.1934323

📄 Full Text PDF Viewer

📄

PDF görüntüleyici hazırlanıyor...

References (20)

  1. Huang P, Zheng B, Liu S, Xu L, Chen C, Zhan S. Effectiveness of ultrasound imaging in assessing the palpation skills of rotating physicians. Front Genet. 2022;13:894716.
  2. USBJI (United States Bone and Joint Initiative). The burden of musculoskeletal diseases in the United States (BMUS). 3rd ed. Rosemont, IL: United States Bone and Joint Initiative; 2014.
  3. Lucas J, van Doorn P, Hegedus E, Lewis J, van der Windt DA. A systematic review of the global prevalence and incidence of shoulder pain. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2022;23:1073. doi: 10.1186/s12891-022-05973-8
  4. Miniato MA, Anand P, Varacallo MA. Anatomy, Shoulder and Upper Limb, Shoulder. StatPearls [Internet]. July 24, 2023.
  5. Kitagawa T, Aoki Y, Sugimoto H, Ozaki N. Randomised controlled trial for evaluation of an ultrasound-guided palpation intervention for palpation skill training. Sci Rep. 2022;12(1):1189. doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-05290-z.
  6. Burbank KM, Stevenson JH, Czarnecki GR, et al. Chronic shoulder pain: part I. Evaluation and diagnosis. Am Fam Physician. 2008;77:453-460.
  7. Pace P, Manske RC, Voight M, Wolfe C. MSK Ultrasound: An IJSPT Perspective. Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2023;18(1):1-10. doi: 10.26603/001c.68184
  8. Whittaker JL, Ellis R, Hodges PW, et al. Imaging with ultrasound in physical therapy: What is the PT's scope of practice? A competency-based educational model and training recommendations. Br J Sports Med. 2019;53(23):1447-1453.
  9. Huang Y, Wee TC, Loh KY, YL. Use of Ultrasound to Enhance Musculoskeletal Palpation Skills of the Upper and Lower Limbs Anatomy: A Scoping Review. J Med Ultrasound 2025;34(1):75-84. doi: 10.4103/jmu.JMU-D-24-00026.
  10. Cohen J. Statistical Power Analysis for the Behavioral Sciences. 2nd ed. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates; 1988.
  11. Strike K, Chan A, Maly MR, Newman ANL, Solomon P. Scoping Review of Curicula and Pedagogical Approaches for Physiotherapist Performed Point of Care Ultrasonography. Physiother Can. 2023;75(4):322-336.doi:10.3138/ptc-2021-0079.
  12. Jacobson JA. Fundamentals of Musculoskeletal Ultrasound. 3rd ed. Elsevier; 2017.
  13. Terslev L, et al. The OMERACT Ultrasound Group: A Report from the OMERACT 2016 Meeting and Perspectives. J Rheumatol. 2017;161240. doi: 10.3899/jrheum.161240
  14. Izzetti R, et al. Reliability of OMERACT Scoring System in Ultra-High Frequency Ultrasonography of Minor Salivary Glands: Inter-Rater Agreement Study. J Imaging. 2022;8(4):111. doi: 10.3390/jimaging8040111
  15. Fleming ND. Teaching and learning styles: VARK strategies. Christchurch, New Zealand: Author; 2001.
  16. Zeitouni, F., Matejka, C., Boomer, M., et al. Integration of point of care ultrasound into undergraduate medical education at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center school of medicine: a 6 year review. BMC Medical Education, 2024;24(1), 1476.
  17. Shin J, Song C. Effects of an ultrasound-assisted palpation training program on physical therapy student's palpation skills. Phys Ther Rehabil Sci. 2024; 13(3), 324-331. doi: 10.14474/ptrs.2024.13.3.324
  18. Hoopmann RA, et al. International consensus conference recommendations on ultrasound education for undergraduate medical students. The Ultrasound Journal. 2022;14(31).
  19. Forero J, Vette AH, Hebert JS. Technology-based balance performance assessment can eliminate floor and ceiling effects. Scientific Reports. 2023;13(1):14488. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-41671-8
  20. Huang Y, Wee TC, Loh KY, YL. Use of Ultrasound to Enhance Musculoskeletal Palpation Skills of the Upper and Lower Limbs Anatomy: A Scoping Review. J Med Ultrasound 2025;34(1):75-84. doi: 10.4103/jmu.JMU-D-24-00026.