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3. Benefits of using smart wearables during physical activities for seniors
Seniors with low activity levels mentioned that wearing activity tracking devices increased their motivation to improve their exercise level and were willing to continue to use them. The data collected by the device that influenced their decision were data relevant to the improvement of their exercise level, such as number of steps, exercise minutes and distance walked (Abouzahra & Ghasemaghaei, 2020).
Moreover, seniors with low activity levels slightly modified their daily activities to take more steps, such as taking stairs instead of elevators, parking far away from destination buildings, or walking to an area instead of driving (Kononova et al., 2019). It appears that seniors with low activity levels could be significantly benefited from the usage of wearable activity tracking devices, by improving their activity levels and therefore their physical condition, as well as their mental state, self-confidence, and perceived quality of life (Abouzahra & Ghasemaghaei, 2020).
Using smart wearable activity trackers has been shown to be associated with improved physiological outcomes, such as reduced body mass index (BMI), bodyweight and waist circumference, reduced blood pressure, and increased aerobic capacity, which occur when PA is increased (Ferguson et al., 2022). Smart wearable activity trackers also have the potential to improve psychosocial outcomes, such as depression and anxiety, through increases in PA, as PA is shown to have antidepressant and anxiolytic effects (Ferguson et al., 2022). Another important benefit of activity trackers is that through the increase in PA, seniors can experience reductions in pain and disability improving, therefore, their overall quality of life (Ferguson et al., 2022).
Lastly, another key benefit of using smart wearable tracking devices in seniors is social connection. For a population that is characterised by social isolation and loneliness, technology that addresses social connectedness needs is perceived as helpful in overcoming barriers to increase PA (Kononova et al., 2019). Smart wearable activity trackers provide the users with the feature to make plans to exercise with or compete against friends or family. By doing that, seniors have a stronger sense of engagement with family and friends, including working towards the same goals. In addition, smart wearable activity trackers often have built-in motivational prompts and exercise reminders which influence users to break prolonged sedentary behaviour detected by the devices. These functionalities help overcome PA barriers experienced by older adults (Li, 2023).
Using smart wearable activity trackers has been shown to be associated with improved physiological outcomes, such as reduced body mass index (BMI), bodyweight and waist circumference, reduced blood pressure, and increased aerobic capacity, which occur when PA is increased (Ferguson et al., 2022). Smart wearable activity trackers also have the potential to improve psychosocial outcomes, such as depression and anxiety, through increases in PA, as PA is shown to have antidepressant and anxiolytic effects (Ferguson et al., 2022). Another important benefit of activity trackers is that through the increase in PA, seniors can experience reductions in pain and disability improving, therefore, their overall quality of life (Ferguson et al., 2022).
Lastly, another key benefit of using smart wearable tracking devices in seniors is social connection. For a population that is characterised by social isolation and loneliness, technology that addresses social connectedness needs is perceived as helpful in overcoming barriers to increase PA (Kononova et al., 2019). Smart wearable activity trackers provide the users with the feature to make plans to exercise with or compete against friends or family. By doing that, seniors have a stronger sense of engagement with family and friends, including working towards the same goals. In addition, smart wearable activity trackers often have built-in motivational prompts and exercise reminders which influence users to break prolonged sedentary behaviour detected by the devices. These functionalities help overcome PA barriers experienced by older adults (Li, 2023).