Longitudinal Data Collection via Consumer-Grade Wearable Sensors in Adolescent Student-Athletes: Feasibility and Potential (Preprint)

BACKGROUND Recent advancements in sports medicine have been fueled by innovative technologies, particularly consumer-grade wearable devices like Fitbit, Apple Watch, and Garmin. These devices offer physiological and biomechanical data and hold promise for personalized, real-time, and remote assessment of athlete recovery. However, few studies have been conducted with these devices in adolescent student athletes. OBJECTIVE The primary objective of this study was to assess the feasibility of integrating consumer-grade wearable technology into injury recovery monitoring of adolescent student-athletes. METHODS The study included 34 high school student-athletes aged 14-18 diagnosed with either concussion or orthopedic injury, enrolled within 10 days of injury. Participants were equipped with a Fitbit Sense for continuous monitoring of physiological markers, including cardiovascular metrics, physical activity levels, and sleep patterns. Data collection extended 4-6 weeks beyond injury clearance, during which adherence rates were assessed at both hourly and daily intervals. Hourly adherence was defined as the proportion of participants with at least one recorded heart rate data point per hour, while daily adherence was defined as the proportion of participants with at least one recorded heart rate data point per 24-hour period. RESULTS The study demonstrated high participant adherence to wearing the device. The orthopedic injury cohort exhibited a median adherence rate of 95%, with individual rates ranging from 82% to 100%. Similarly, the concussion cohort demonstrated a median adherence rate of 93%, with adherence rates spanning from 37% to 100%. Notably, the study encountered minimal issues related to device functionality, with only one participant necessitating a device replacement. CONCLUSIONS These findings demonstrate successful integration of wearable technology in data collection for adolescent student-athletes recovering from sports-related injuries. However, it is important to consider current limitations, including factors that may influence data accuracy and precision. Conclusions: In conclusion, this feasibility study demonstrates the practicality of employing consumer-grade wearable technology for the collection of physiological and biomechanical parameters in adolescent student-athletes recovering from sport-related injuries. The high level of adherence highlights the potential applicability of consumer-grade wearable devices in this population. Study findings lay the foundation for future investigations with larger and more diverse cohorts to identify the utility of device metrics in identifying unique patterns of injury-specific recovery (i.e., sport-related concussion). Consumer-grade wearable devices offer promise for optimizing assessment and management of injured athletes through wearable technology integration into standard clinical protocols.