(925.21) Anatomy-Focused Exercise Videos to Combine Studying with Wellness
Tuesday, April 5, 2022
10:15 AM – 12:15 PM
Location: Exhibit/Poster Hall A-B - Pennsylvania Convention Center
Poster Board Number: C123
Michael Knox (Michigan State University), Megan Brackmann (Michigan State University), Sejal Mehta (Michigan State University), Maureen Schaefer (Michigan State University), Ryan Tubbs (Michigan State University)
The link between exercise and mental wellness is well appreciated. Yet, many medical students struggle to find the time to incorporate physical activity into their daily lives. A new and innovative teaching style that incorporates movement with Anatomy was developed at Michigan State University. Students are provided a series of supplemental videos that utilize exercise and choreography to reinforce difficult anatomical concepts. Previously published research by Guzzardo et al. demonstrated a link between movement, anatomy learning, and enjoyment. This current study deepens that understanding by gathering student feedback that qualifies the effects of the videos on their wellness.
Methods
First and second year medical students at Michigan State University were provided links to videos housed on the Knockout Anatomy YouTube channel during their Anatomy or Neuromuscular courses. All students within those two cohorts were invited to participate in our IRB-approved qualitative study. Nineteen students completed virtual interviews that asked questions pertaining to their current level of activity, the importance of movement in their life, their motivation behind watching the videos, how the videos made them feel afterward, and if the videos helped them learn the material.
Results
Student responses were broken into four major themes. 1) All interviewees stated they view exercising as important for mental health and academic performance, and nearly all reported their time spent exercising has decreased since starting medical school. 2) After participating in the movement-based videos, most interviewees reported a positive increase in mood and energy levels. 3) Several interviewees reported that participating in the videos reminded them of the positive benefit of routine exercise, and they were more motivated to achieve their weekly exercise goals on a more consistent basis. 4) Academically, most interviewees reported that the videos helped them retain anatomy information, particularly with challenging anatomy topics such as brachial plexus, dermatomes, and myotomes.
Conclusion
Many medical students feel they are unable to reach their exercise goals due to time constraints. Professors in all disciplines can better understand the positive effects of exercise on student wellness and challenge themselves to explore new and innovative ways to bring movement into the learning environment.
References
Guzzardo, G., Gilbert, M., Schaefer, M. and Nazaroff, C. (2021). Exercise Anatomy: A Flexible Approach. The FASEB Journal, 35:S1.