Exploring the integration of wearables into sport physiotherapy practices in Finland
Jatto, Tolulope Rebecca (2025)
2025
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025122238877
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025122238877
Tiivistelmä
The integration of wearables, from motion sensors to AI-operated programs, within health and sports has improved patient outcomes, decision making, personalized rehabilitation programs. This has enabled objective assessments, remote physiotherapy interventions.
Aim: The study aimed to synthesize existing articles on wearables and their integration into Finnish sport physiotherapy practices, as well as innovations in this field.
Task and objectives: The objectives were to identify and explore research themes, wearable technologies, and innovations in Finland.
Methods: An integrative review guided by Whittmore and Knalf (2005) was conducted. Existing publications from 2020 to 2025 were searched comprehensively in PubMed, IEEE Xplore, Science Direct, and PEDro via janet.finna.fi. The PRISMA 2020 process guided the selection of studies. Six eligible studies met the inclusion criteria and underwent data analysis assessment using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal tool and the RE-AIM framework. Content analysis revealed the usability and the adoption of the wearables.
Result: Trends, innovations, outcomes regarding usability, the current state of wearables, and technological implications within Finnish sports and rehabilitation field were revealed. There were diverse reflections of usability and efficiency of wearable devices among different groups of individuals, such as self-monitoring activity devices and physiological monitoring devices.
Conclusion: The study revealed the usability factors, reliability and accessibility in Finland. It also highlighted research gaps in the limited number of articles on the use of wearables in the sports field for assessment, diagnosis, and management. Additionally, there were few articles on long-term experimental studies and skill competence among the healthcare teams
Recommendations: More research should be carried out on new skill sets developed by Finnish physio-therapists and sports professionals, proficiency in use and data interpretation for physical activity for an improved innovative practice.
Aim: The study aimed to synthesize existing articles on wearables and their integration into Finnish sport physiotherapy practices, as well as innovations in this field.
Task and objectives: The objectives were to identify and explore research themes, wearable technologies, and innovations in Finland.
Methods: An integrative review guided by Whittmore and Knalf (2005) was conducted. Existing publications from 2020 to 2025 were searched comprehensively in PubMed, IEEE Xplore, Science Direct, and PEDro via janet.finna.fi. The PRISMA 2020 process guided the selection of studies. Six eligible studies met the inclusion criteria and underwent data analysis assessment using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal tool and the RE-AIM framework. Content analysis revealed the usability and the adoption of the wearables.
Result: Trends, innovations, outcomes regarding usability, the current state of wearables, and technological implications within Finnish sports and rehabilitation field were revealed. There were diverse reflections of usability and efficiency of wearable devices among different groups of individuals, such as self-monitoring activity devices and physiological monitoring devices.
Conclusion: The study revealed the usability factors, reliability and accessibility in Finland. It also highlighted research gaps in the limited number of articles on the use of wearables in the sports field for assessment, diagnosis, and management. Additionally, there were few articles on long-term experimental studies and skill competence among the healthcare teams
Recommendations: More research should be carried out on new skill sets developed by Finnish physio-therapists and sports professionals, proficiency in use and data interpretation for physical activity for an improved innovative practice.