Beyond “YouTube clips”: a qualitative study of manual therapy educators’ perceptions of 3D technology in MT education

Sampath, K Kovanur, McIntyre, C, Arumugam, Ashokan, Thomson, Oliver P. and Andersen, Patrea (2026) Beyond “YouTube clips”: a qualitative study of manual therapy educators’ perceptions of 3D technology in MT education. Journal of Manual & Manipulative Therapy. ISSN 2042-6186

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Abstract

Three-dimensional (3D) technologies such as virtual reality (VR) may facilitate the teaching and learning of manual therapy (MT). Teachers play a pivotal role in determining how new tools and technology are adopted and applied in the curriculum. Moreover, educators? feedback can guide the development of tools tailored to MT training needs. This qualitative study aimed to explore MT educators? perceptions of current teaching methods, the role of 3D technologies in MT education, and the barriers and enablers to their integration. In-depth interviews; data were analyzed using thematic analysis. online. 13 educators (9 males, 4 females; 10 physiotherapy, 3 osteopathy) from five different countries participated in this study. Five themes were identified that appeared to influence participants? perception of the role of technology in manual therapy education. These were (1) Teaching strategies in MT, (2) Paradigm shift in MT education, (3) Complexities in teaching MT ? Tacit and embodied challenges of palpation and specificity, (4) Role of educators in MT education and (5) Future directions and technological integration in MT education. These five themes collectively highlight both the challenges and opportunities in MT education. The participants not only critiqued the current teaching methods employed in MT but also their role as an MT educator. While acknowledging the paradigm shift in MT education, participants believed that emerging technologies such as VR are transformative tools for MT education. Future research to explore the added utility of technology such as VR to traditional teaching methods is required.

Item Type:	Article
Keywords:	Manual therapy education, Virtual reality, Educator perceptions, Curriculum integration, Qualitative research
Schools:	UCO School of Osteopathy
Depositing User:	Jessica Tovey
Date Deposited:	21 May 2026 14:39
Last Modified:	21 May 2026 14:39
URI:	https://hsu.repository.guildhe.ac.uk/id/eprint/646

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