Training with feedback improves judgements of non-biological linear elastic stiffness

Abstract

A recent unsuccessful attempt to train physiotherapy students to accurately judge lumbar posteroanterior (PA) stiffness may have been due to the students inability to learn to judge a basic component, i.e. linear elastic stiffness. The current study investigated whether an equivalent amount of training with feedback as used in a previous study, improved the same students' ability to judge linear elastic stiffness. The four third-year physiotherapy students from the previous study participated. Students rated the stiffness of 76 stimuli (metal springs) during pre-test, training and post-test sessions held over a 3.5 week period. During the training, trial-by-trial feedback was given regarding the accuracy of their judgements. A paired t -test demonstrated a significant reduction in absolute error between the pre-test and the post-test ( P < 0.05). Immediate quantitative feedback training improved physiotherapy students' ability to judge linear elastic stiffness.