Mental Rotation, 3D Perception, and Practical Skill Development in Physiotherapy Students

Abant Izzet Baysal University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Educational Problems

Treatments: Other: Spatial-Cognitive & 3D-Perception Training Program; Other: Sham Spatial-Cognitive & 3D-Perception Training Program

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07241026

AIBU-FTR-RK-13

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study investigates the role of mental rotation and 3D perception abilities in shaping the practical skill performance of physiotherapy and rehabilitation students. By exploring the relationship between spatial cognitive abilities and hands-on competencies, the research aims to provide insights that may improve educational strategies and clinical training outcomes.

Full description

Practical skills are fundamental to physiotherapy and rehabilitation education, requiring students to accurately interpret anatomical structures, movement patterns, and therapeutic techniques in three-dimensional space. Cognitive abilities such as mental rotation and 3D perception are considered essential in processing spatial information and transferring theoretical knowledge into clinical practice. However, limited research has explored how these spatial abilities influence the acquisition and execution of practical competencies in physiotherapy training.

This study aims to assess the relationship between mental rotation ability, 3D spatial perception, and the practical performance of physiotherapy and rehabilitation students. Standardized spatial ability tests will be used alongside practical skill assessments to identify correlations between cognitive factors and clinical task execution. The findings are expected to contribute to curriculum design by highlighting the importance of integrating spatial training modules and potentially guiding student selection or tailored support strategies.

The aim of this study is to examine the impact of mental rotation and 3D perception abilities on the development and performance of practical skills in physiotherapy and rehabilitation students, with the goal of enhancing educational methods and optimizing clinical training outcomes.

Enrollment: 118 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 30 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Willingness to participate and provide written informed consent
• Normal or corrected-to-normal vision

Exclusion criteria

• History of neurological or musculoskeletal disorders affecting upper-limb function or spatial cognition
• Severe visual impairments that cannot be corrected
• History of epilepsy, severe motion sickness, or vestibular disorders
• Participation in other spatial-cognition or VR-based training programs within the last 6 months
• Use of medications affecting cognitive function or balance

Trial design

Primary purpose: Health Services Research

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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118 participants in 2 patient groups

3D spatial cognition training and mental rotation

Experimental group

Description:

Participants will receive a structured mental rotation and 3D spatial cognition training program, consisting of immersive virtual reality (VR) practice, computerized rotation tasks, and hands-on spatial exercises

Treatment:

Other: Spatial-Cognitive & 3D-Perception Training Program

Sham 3D spatial cognition training and mental rotation

Sham Comparator group

Description:

Participants will receive a sham mental rotation and 3D spatial cognition program, consisting of non-spatial computerized tasks and general educational activities without targeted spatial training

Treatment:

Other: Sham Spatial-Cognitive & 3D-Perception Training Program