Bridging Gaps in Wearable Technology for Exercise and Health Professionals: A Brief Review
Abstract
The proliferation of wearable devices, especially over the past decade, has been remarkable. Wearable technology is used not only by competitive and recreational athletes but is also becoming an integral part of healthcare and public health settings. However, despite the technological advancements and improved algorithms offering rich opportunities, wearables also face several obstacles. This review aims to highlight these obstacles, including the prerequisites for harnessing wearables to improve performance and health, the need for data accuracy and reproducibility, user engagement and adherence, ethical considerations in data harvesting, and potential future research directions. Researchers, healthcare professionals, coaches, and users should be cognizant of these challenges to unlock the full potential of wearables for public health research, disease surveillance, outbreak prediction, and other important applications. By addressing these challenges, the impact of wearable technology can be significantly enhanced, leading to more precise and personalized health interventions, improved athletic performance, and more robust public health strategies. This paper underscores the transformative potential of wearables and their role in advancing the future of exercise prescription, sports medicine and health.
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Many companies are incentivised to gather and monetise extensive amounts of user data, often concealing the scope of these practices behind dense, difficult-to-read privacy policies.
“Many companies are incentivised to gather and monetise extensive amounts of user data 31 , often concealing the scope of these practices behind dense, difficult-to-read privacy policies 32,33 .”
From Privacy in consumer wearable technologies: a living systematic analysis of data policies across leading manufacturers (2025) · cites this paper as [33]
Structural factors such as vendor lock-in and 'choice legacy' reduce users' ability to manage or transfer their data.
“Structural factors such as vendor lock-in and 'choice legacy'-where users become dependent on proprietary software ecosystems-further reduce users' ability to manage or transfer their data 4,33 .”
From Privacy in consumer wearable technologies: a living systematic analysis of data policies across leading manufacturers (2025) · cites this paper as [33]
Once accepted, agreements often grant manufacturers broad discretion to share data with third parties or store it in jurisdictions with weaker privacy protections.
“Once accepted, these agreements often grant manufacturers broad discretion to share data with third parties or store it in jurisdictions with weaker privacy protections 33,56 .”
From Privacy in consumer wearable technologies: a living systematic analysis of data policies across leading manufacturers (2025) · cites this paper as [33]
Previous research has highlighted risks stemming from inadequate data protection, opaque third-party sharing practices, and regulatory gaps that leave users vulnerable to breaches.
“Previous research has highlighted risks stemming from inadequate data protection, opaque third-party sharing practices, and regulatory gaps that leave users vulnerable to breaches 33,42,54 .”
From Privacy in consumer wearable technologies: a living systematic analysis of data policies across leading manufacturers (2025) · cites this paper as [33]
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Doherty, C., Baldwin, M., Lambe, R., Altini, M., & Caulfield, B. (2025) · npj Digital Medicine · doi:10.1038/s41746-025-01757-1 · Cited by 55 · see citing works
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- Authors
- Schumann, M., & Doherty, C.
- Venue
- International Journal of Sports Medicine
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- Georg Thieme Verlag KG
- Published
- 2024-07-30
- Volume
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- 1439-3964
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