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Review
. 2025 Aug 9:1-14.
doi: 10.1080/17483107.2025.2543937. Online ahead of print.

Commercial wrist-worn wearable devices for older adults: a scoping review

Erick Guilherme Peixoto de Lucena  1 , José Igor Vasconcelos de Oliveira  1 , Aurea Soriano-Vargas  2 , Didier Augusto Vega Oliveros  3 , Anderson Rocha  2 , Marco Carlos Uchida  1
Affiliations
Free article
Review

Commercial wrist-worn wearable devices for older adults: a scoping review

Erick Guilherme Peixoto de Lucena et al. Disabil Rehabil Assist Technol. .
Free article

Abstract

Purpose: This study aims to review the scientific literature on commercial smart wrist-worn devices for monitoring health and well-being in older adults. Materials and methods: Searches were conducted in four electronic databases: PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and IEEE Xplore. The included studies are original, peer-reviewed, published in English, and involved older adults aged 60 years and older who used commercial smart wrist-worn devices (such as smart bands and smartwatches).

Results and conclusions: Following the eligibility criteria, 14 studies were selected for review. The studies evaluated the effectiveness of these wrist-worn devices in predicting fall risk, detecting atrial fibrillation, and analysing gait patterns and mobility in free-living conditions. Additionally, the devices proved effective in measuring physical activity parameters and assessing sleep. Overall, commercial wrist-worn devices show promise as reliable tools for monitoring health and mobility in older adults.

Keywords: Health Monitoring; Wearable technology; Wrist-worn Devices; activity trackers; older adults; smartwatch.

Plain language summary

Commercial wrist-worn devices offer reliable tools for assessing and mitigating fall risks in older adults. Incorporating these devices into rehabilitation programs enables early detection of functional decline, supporting targeted interventions to enhance balance and reduce fall incidence.These devices can monitor gait patterns, track step counts, and assess cardiovascular health, giving rehabilitation professionals detailed data to create tailored plans. This enhances the tracking of mobility advancements and health results for older adults.Usability and acceptance of wrist-worn devices among older adults underline their potential for long-term integration into rehabilitation. Devices designed with user-friendly features can encourage consistent use, improving adherence to rehabilitation programs and enhancing quality of life by fostering active participation in health monitoring.

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