Wearables positives for athlete performance, injury prevention

New data showing wearable technologies can provide information to amateur athletes that can improve performance and prevent injuries, according to a presentation at a meeting of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine. "Our wearable devices and their ability to measure internal physiologic measurements, core body temperature and oxygen utilization have the ability to impact the lives of athletes," said sports medicine specialist James Voos.

“You can imagine being at a marathon or a soccer tournament, and if everyone participating had a wearable monitor that measured their core body temperature, their heart rate and how hydrated they are — all of which exist right now — you could pick up if an athlete was getting ready to cramp or overheat or develop an abnormal heart rate,” Voos said. “Being able to identify that athlete and intervene ahead of time could literally be lifesaving.”

Voos said wearable technologies have also become more cost-effective, which has allowed college and amateur athletes to use them as well.