To investigate differences in therapists' eye movement trajectory parameters when assisting patients on stairs, based on clinical experience, and to explore factors contributing to observation skill and fall prevention ability.
The study involved twenty-six physical therapists (sixteen male, ten female, mean age 31.6 ± 4.8 years) with 9.7 ± 4.7 years of clinical experience. The eye-tracking device used was the Talk Eye Lite (manufactured by Takei Kiki Co., Ltd.), and the data of the participants during one round of watching a simulated patient ascend and descend a staircase was recorded. Data were analyzed from the first to third steps. Measured parameters included binocular composite angle deviation (X and Y axes) and average right-eye (dominant-eye) movement speed. Participants were divided into two groups: >ten years (n=14) and
For ascent, the X-axis deviation was 51.90 ± 112.3 [deg] (> ten years: 78.20 ± 149.80,
While eye movement speed tended to increase with experience, the range of movement during assisted walking may be narrow. Horizontal gaze and eye movement speed varied considerably, indicating significant individual differences in the more experienced group. Those with > ten years of experience could quickly observe patients' problems while focusing on a narrower vertical point when descending stairs. This study examined physical therapists' eye movement trajectories during assisted stair climbing, comparing groups with more than and under ten years of experience.
Results indicate that the Y-axis deviation of the binocular synthesis angle improves with experience, and ten years of experience serves as a good benchmark for observing movements and identifying problems when assisting patients on stairs, particularly during descent.
Motion analysis
Physiotherapy education
