Use of commercially available wearable devices for physical rehabilitation in healthcare: a systematic review

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate whether commercially available 'off-the-shelf' wearable technology can improve patient rehabilitation outcomes, and to categorise all wearables currently being used to augment rehabilitation, including the disciplines and conditions under investigation.

Design: Systematic review following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis 2020 statement checklist, and using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach.

Data sources: Embase, MEDLINE, Web of Science and the Cochrane Library were searched up to and including July 2023.

Eligibility criteria: We included trials and observational studies evaluating the use of consumer-grade wearables, in real patient cohorts, to aid physical therapy or rehabilitation. Only studies investigating rehabilitation of acute events with defined recovery affecting adult patients were included.

Data extraction and synthesis: Two independent reviewers used a standardised protocol to search, screen and extract data from the included studies. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Methods Risk of Bias in Randomised Trials V.2 and Risk of Bias in Non-Randomised Studies of Interventions tools for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies, respectively.

Results: Eighteen studies encompassing 1754 patients met eligibility criteria, including six RCTs, six quasi-experimental studies and six observational studies. Eight studies used wearables in Orthopaedics, seven in Stroke Medicine, two in Oncology and one in General Surgery. All six RCTs demonstrated that wearable-driven feedback increases physical activity. Step count was the most common measure of physical activity. Two RCTs in orthopaedics demonstrated non-inferiority of wearable self-directed rehabilitation compared with traditional physiotherapy, highlighting the potential of wearables as alternatives to traditional physiotherapy. All 12 non-randomised studies demonstrated the feasibility and acceptability of wearable-driven self-directed rehabilitation.

Conclusion: This review demonstrates that consumer-grade wearables can be used as adjuncts to traditional physiotherapy, and potentially as alternatives for self-directed rehabilitation of non-chronic conditions. Better designed studies, and larger RCTs, with a focus on economic evaluations are needed before a case can be made for their widespread adoption in healthcare settings.