Mechanochromic smart textiles for posture monitoring in postural and joint-control exercises: review of materials, integration strategies, and application prospects

Mechanochromic materials offer a promising solution for smart textiles by enabling real-time, energy-free visual feedback through mechanical strain-induced color changes. Posture-focused and joint-control exercises such as yoga, pilates, and rehabilitation involve subtle, low-intensity movements that require continuous and accurate biomechanical feedback. Subtle mechanical strains generated during posture-focused and joint-control exercises limit the applicability of conventional electronic wearables due to power consumption, system complexity, and latency, whereas mechanochromic materials can accommodate these scenarios with passive, real-time visual feedback. This review explores the fundamental mechanisms of mechanochromic materials and evaluates textile integration strategies including surface coating, fiber spinning, and polymer blending. Key mechanochromic platforms such as polymer-based systems, cholesteric liquid crystal elastomers, and photonic crystal materials are compared in terms of responsiveness, durability, and suitability for low-strain applications. Furthermore, this paper proposes a user-centered application framework to guide the design of mechanochromic smartwear tailored for postural and joint-control use. By connecting material innovation with application-specific demands, this review lays the groundwork for nonelectronic smart garments that support proprioception, movement precision, and rehabilitation effectiveness in low-movement exercise scenarios.