The effectiveness of Anatomy Glove Learning System in the training of massage therapy students

Anatomy Glove Learning System (AGLS) is a new pedagogical tool developed for teaching hand anatomy to health students. A comprehensive understanding of hand anatomy and its relationship to function is essential to clinical practice in allied health professions. AGLS is comprised of (1) a glove imprinted with anatomically correct bones that is worn on the non-dominant hand of the learner, and (2) video clips showing the anatomy of the hand on dissected cadaveric specimens, followed by a demonstration of how to draw the structures onto the glove using coloured markers. The goal of this study was to evaluate the educational effectiveness of AGLS in the training of massage therapy students at Humber College. It was hypothesized that the tactile experience of drawing the anatomy of the hand onto the glove would provide students with kinesthetic feedback that may enhance their understanding of hand anatomy and their self-perceived confidence in this knowledge. It was also anticipated that drawing onto the glove would serve as an active and engaging learning experience. Students rated AGLS as a positive learning experience and highly recommended AGLS for future students. AGLS and the traditional 2D learning approach had the same effect on students' hand anatomy knowledge and self-perceived confidence; however, students had a strong preference for AGLS. The positive effect that AGLS had on students' knowledge of hand anatomy and on their self-perceived confidence in this knowledge provides support for the use of AGLS in the education curriculum of health profession fields.

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