Learning Support System for Nursing Massage Movements Based on LED-Embedded Air Pressure Rubber Sensor

In the field of nursing, hand massage has attracted attention because it can be easily performed anywhere and has numerous benefits, such as reducing anxiety and stress, promoting healing, improving health, and providing relaxation. However, mastering hand massage techniques requires instruction from a professional instructor. Challenges include the difficulty of self-study and of visually assessing the amount of force applied. To improve learning efficiency, this study develops a massage movement learning support system that visually displays force information in real time, allowing for objective evaluation. The learning system displays force information on an arm simulator model with a smooth surface, using a sheet-type rubber sensor and full-color LED lights. Basic experiments are conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the developed learning system. In addition, a method is proposed for evaluating massage skill and learning level based on changes in force distribution detected by the rubber sensor. The effects of learning are verified using the proposed evaluation indices and physiological evaluations.