Flexible evaluation of electrotherapy treatments for learning purposes.

Computers are extensively used for training and simulating tasks that are hazardous in a real-life situation or require expensive, delicate or difficult to access equipment. In the present work we describe a system for the assessment of clinical practices involving the use of electrotherapy. The existing variety of currents, electrical parameters and electrode configurations make this a challenging subject for undergraduate physical therapy students. Extensive training is required before they can treat real patients, since an incorrect practice may have no effect on the patient’s condition, or even worse, cause severe pain or burns. Our system, implemented as a serious game, can facilitate this training, since the opportunity for supervised clinical practice with real equipment is limited.