3 T Training Tool: Peg Boards™

Peg Boards™ provides the ability to practice stabilizing hands for precision movements during finer manipulations. Trains two handed dexterity. Avoid rushing through this exercise. If done in a rushed manner, it is likely that more beads will drop. Beads dropping is similar to causing tissue trauma and torn blood vessels. 

Offer consistent guidance and reminders on the proper precision grip and the further precision gained by resting the lateral portion of the hand and knuckles on the surface to stabilize them.

Peg Boards™ is part of the 3 Ts Training Tools (3 Ts), a training method designed to provide hands-on training and practice for individuals working with animals in research, testing and educational settings. They incorporates simple, inexpensive, and effective tools to teach and encourage practice of non-surgical and surgical procedures, prior to conducting similar training and practice on live animals. The tools used for the 3 Ts surgical curriculum for Aseptic Rodent Surgery Training and Practice is called the “3 Ts Dexterity Tools™”. These exercises are designed to address many of the common repetitive hand motions and skills required to perform surgery. Trainees will learn to translate the skills they have developed on the 3 Ts inanimate training tools into practice on live animals.

More information about Translational Training Tools™ here.

Description:

1. Use forceps to handle beads.
2. Place beads onto pegs in a pattern designated by the trainer.
3. Note that the beads do not firmly seat onto the pegs.
4. Practice stabilizing hands during the process of bead placement.
5. Try not to drop beads in the process.
6. Try not to knock off any of the beads already placed.
7. Try dominant hand then non-dominant hand.
8. Attempt to improve speed through proper precision grip of the tissue forceps, stabilization of the hands and by using a pair of forceps in each hand.

Ingredients:

• Small cylindrical beads. Our preference is Perler® Biggie Beads which are approximately 5mm long and 4 mm in diameter.
• A peg board onto which the cylindrical beads can be placed. The Perler® Biggie Beads come with a board that is ideal for our purposes.
• During the Peg Board exercise, provide the trainee with at least two pairs of thumb forceps.

Supplies: Storage cup for the beads

Instructions:

1. Place the peg board on a level surface
2. Open a cup of beads beside the peg board and pour 30 to 50 beads into the lid of the cup for easier access for the trainee
3. The Peg Board is now ready for the trainee to begin the exercise

For more information and images to help guide the process, please see The Joy of Training Cookbook, Volume 2: (Recipies for crafting your own purpose-specific training tools for surgery practice). 

Dexterity Tools™ and Exercises from Volume 2:

1. Macro Dexterity Tools™:

1. 1. Bead Board™
   2. Neuter Board™
   3. Tissue Board™
   4. Nail Board™
   5. Cutting Ring™