Transforming Pediatric Physical Therapy Education Using Generative AI

At Touro University School of Health Sciences, the vast potential of AI is already being explored. Dr. Bhavini Surana, Assistant Professor in the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) department, recently received a Faculty Innovation Grant from Touro focused on integrating AI into teaching and learning. Passionate about preparing future clinicians for a rapidly evolving healthcare landscape, she developed a project focusing on physical fitness in children combining AI literacy with public health impact.

Regular physical activity is essential for healthy growth and development in children. Yet, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 in 5 children in the United States is obese, a statistic influenced by multiple factors, including increased screen use for education, play, and leisure, often resulting in children not meeting the recommended daily movement guidelines. To address this challenge, Dr. Surana’s project trained third-year DPT students to use Google Gemini, a generative AI assistant, to design age-appropriate weekly physical activity plans for school-aged children. To ensure a structured and educational experience, students were provided with comprehensive prompting guidelines that facilitated systematic, thoughtful interactions with the AI tool, reinforcing both clinical reasoning and responsible technology use.

Thirty students were divided into eight groups to create activity plans for different age groups, ranging from three to 21 years old. They were told each weekly physical activity plan should include components of aerobic, muscle, and bone strengthening exercises; a detailed description for each activity written in age-appropriate and child-friendly language; a list of equipment needed for each activity; the setting the activity will take place in (home, school, playground etc.); activity details highlighting frequency, intensity, and resistance using the most recent evidence-based guidelines; and an assessment on the outcomes of each activity.

After creating their age-specific plans using Gemini, students peer-reviewed each other’s work to compare how different prompts influenced the outputs. When the plan creation and peer reviews were complete, the AI activity ended with the students completing a guided reflection individually. The process highlighted AI’s variability, reinforced evidence-based standards, and showed that all plans were strong overall, with only minor feedback on formatting and layout.

Leveraging the Power of AI

During the in-class activity, students refined their prompts multiple times when working with Google Gemini, quickly discovering that clearer, step-by-step instructions produced more accurate and developmentally appropriate results. As they improved their prompting strategies, Gemini generated more creative activity ideas, simpler explanations, and eye-catching visuals of children performing strengthening and aerobic exercises.

“The experience helped our students understand the difference between a basic Google search and working with an interactive AI assistant. Ultimately, the project demonstrated how AI can help PTs efficiently create clear, comprehensive, and patient-friendly exercise plans, which in turn gives them more time for direct patient care and benefits patients and providers alike,” said Dr. Surana.

Jenna Blank, a class of ‘26 DPT student, who recently participated in this activity, dreams of a future career working in a sports physical therapy clinic that treats high-level athletes. “The biggest thing I learned from participating in this activity was that AI can do far more than I expected. It can generate exactly what you ask for. I like things to be highly organized, so having a tool that structures my thoughts and plans clearly will benefit me as a future practitioner,” said Blank.

Overall, after completing the activity, DPT students showed a clear shift from seeing ‘AI as a fun toy’ to seeing ‘AI as a clinical partner.’ They also showed a strong grasp of both the efficiency gains and the heavy responsibility that comes with clinical oversight when using AI generated information for patient care.

“As a professor, I was very impressed to see students exercising caution when considering AI use for clinical purposes. They were quick to point out the lack of evidence and references seen in AI-generated information. They also understood their role in examining AI-generated information under a fine lens before using or sharing it,” said Dr. Surana.

Through innovative initiatives like this, Touro’s DPT program is ensuring future PTs responsibly leverage emerging technologies, including AI, grounded in evidence and guided by clinical judgment, while delivering compassionate patient care.