The Fitbit Ionic in action during a workout in August (Photo by Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images)
Wearables are electronic devices that are worn on the body as accessories to analyze physiological data. Most common in the sport and fitness industries, wearables are used to analyze fitness or sport-specific movements. Recent technological advancements and the creation of multi-purpose products have expanded the use of wearables outside of the sports industry and into health and wellness and corporate sectors.
Wearables come in many different forms and are currently one of the most popular sports and fitness products in the consumer and elite athlete marketplaces. Garmin designed a new Smartwatch that allows users to make contactless payments. PlayGoal created a fitness band for children that will lock their electronic devices until they reach their fitness goal for the day. Outside the fitness realm, Motus provides baseball players with a wearable device which will analyze their pitching and hitting data to protect them from injury. Catapult, a player tracking company originally focused on elite athletes, is bringing their new consumer-facing PLAYERTEK product to the forefront of consumer wearable technology by providing real-time data on player output, distance run, calories burned, and workload. Yoga lovers can use wearables like the new NADI X vibrating yoga pants that assist wearers in correctly completing their poses. Cyclists can turn their helmet into a smart helmet using the Ahead clip-on, which allows them to safely listen to music and talk on the phone. If you have ever known the struggle of your Apple Watch not being compatible to the cardio machines at your gym, you will be pleasantly surprised to see that the new IOS from Apple will enable just that. The NFL Player’s Association (NFLPA) has partnered with WHOOP to provide each player with a wearable that gives them the ability to monitor sleep, strain, and recovery.
Wearables have a range of uses for athletes of all kinds. From professional athletes to the casual weekend warrior, wearables attempt to assist in smarter training and faster recovery by producing actionable insights through physiological data collection.
