The use of wearable devices is rapidly growing due to their many benefits, from sports to healthcare. In the healthcare field, wearable devices are increasingly in demand for noninvasive patient monitoring and rehabilitation training. These devices come equipped with integrated analytical sensors and mobile connectivity.
In today's digital age, the Internet of Things (IoT) has enabled people and objects to communicate through connected devices such as phones, smart wearables, bands, implanted surgical instruments, and other portable health monitors. IoT devices have revolutionized healthcare by allowing for remote patient monitoring in hospitals and homes. This has led to the creation of smart healthcare systems that can find and treat dangerous illnesses and problems early on, cutting down on unnecessary doctor visits, hospital stays, and costs.
Real-time physiological monitoring is becoming increasingly important in sports and healthcare. Wearable sensors capture vital signs directly from the body in an accurate and non-invasive manner, enabling athletes to objectively track their performance and body movements. These devices also optimize sports training and track athletes' progress. Future wearable monitoring devices will integrate sensors/actuators, energy sources, motion, and communication into clothes, improving user comfort and simplifying the manufacturing process.
Wearable devices also have the potential to aid convalescents in their post-surgical recovery. Recent studies have shown that enhanced recovery after surgery programs improve recovery quality and reduce rehabilitation time outside of clinical centers. However, over 70% of patients moving home fail to follow post-surgical programs due to a lack of time and feedback from specialists, difficulty remembering exercises, and an inability to feel the benefits of therapies. Monitoring a person's kinetics and other vital and physiological parameters is necessary to collect data and provide important tracking feedback to the user. This allows for protocols that ensure patients complete their physiotherapy programs at home and for physicians to assess their progress.
The COVID-19 pandemic has spurred the use of wearable sensors in healthcare and revealed an abundance of innovative means for improving patient care. In the coming years, there are a lot of things that this technology could be used for, and Agado Live is already taking advantage of it by integrating wearable devices to its platform.
