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Clinicians Turn to Wearables to Prescribe Tailored Exercise Regimens – Innovation & Tech Today

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Clinicians Turn to Wearables to Prescribe Tailored Exercise Regimens – Innovation & Tech Today

Wearables for health are rapidly becoming a staple in everyday fitness and wellness regimes as more people turn to technology to enhance their lifestyles. These devices track your steps and monitor your heart rate. 

Now, health professionals use them to prescribe specific physical activities tailored to your personal health goals. This innovative approach offers a customized fitness plan directly from your wrist. It enables you to achieve optimal health results through scientifically backed recommendations.

The Growing Trend

Wearable devices are beyond popular — they revolutionize how people manage their health and fitness. In 2023, about 35% of women and 34% of men in the U.S. embraced these gadgets. They integrate them into their daily routines to track wellness and fitness metrics.

The magic happens when medical and fitness experts tap into this technology for customized exercise prescriptions. They use information from your device to design workouts that fit your specific health needs, turning raw data into actionable health advice.

This trend is only going to grow. Experts believe wearable technology to register a compound annual growth rate of 14.6% from 2023 to 2030. It’s the future of personal health management, putting the power of data on your wrist.

Benefits of Wearables for Health Care

Wearable technology provides patients and practitioners with powerful tools for monitoring and managing health. Here are its benefits that revolutionize how people approach wellness and disease prevention:

Motivation and Engagement

Wearables for health go beyond monitoring — they motivate users. Imagine getting real-time feedback and earning rewards as you meet your fitness goals. A study found that 83% of people felt more motivated to stay active when their wearables sent them cues. 

It transforms routine exercises into a fun and engaging game. This gamification makes sticking to your health goals rewards and enjoyable. It motivates you to have a healthier lifestyle with every achievement.

Personalization

Wearables allow you to have a fitness plan crafted down to the last detail. Your doctor can tailor exercise prescription guidelines to fit your unique health needs and goals. Whether aiming to lose weight, build strength, or improve heart health, these smart gadgets analyze your daily activity and physiological data to help you create a personalized workout schedule.

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This bespoke approach ensures that every sprint, squat, and stretch is optimized for your body’s requirements. It maximizes the effectiveness of your fitness efforts and keeps you on track toward your wellness objectives.

Data Tracking and Management

Wearables for health are like having a personal health assistant at your fingertips. They monitor vital signs such as body temperature, blood pressure, heart rate, and falls. This constant vigilance means they can catch significant changes in your health parameters. This allows timely interventions that can prevent complications.

Doctors can monitor patients’ conditions in real-time, adjusting treatments as needed. This level of ongoing observation helps manage chronic conditions more effectively. It also enhances overall health outcomes by informing patients and their healthcare team at every step.

Potential Drawbacks

While wearables for health offer significant benefits, they come with challenges users need to pay attention to. Here are the potential limits users must understand to navigate the complexities of this technology:

Privacy Concerns

One of the primary ethical concerns with wearable tech is how it collects and stores your data. While these devices gather detailed information about your health and activities, you can’t ignore the risks associated with data sharing and potential breaches. Understanding who has access to your data and how they protect it is essential.

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This awareness is crucial as, without robust security measures, sensitive information about your health could fall into the wrong hands. It could lead to privacy violations and potentially severe consequences. Being informed and vigilant about the privacy policies of your wearable device will help safeguard your personal information.

Dependence on Technology

Wearables for health are incredibly helpful, but there’s a risk in relying too heavily on them to manage your lifestyle. While these devices provide valuable insights and data, they are not a substitute for professional medical advice or the human touch of health care providers.

You must maintain a balanced perspective and use wearables as one of the many tools in your health arsenal. Remember, technology can support your lifestyle decisions but shouldn’t make them for you. Stay engaged with your overall health by combining the convenience of wearables with regular check-ups and consultations with healthcare professionals.

Accuracy and Reliability

Wearables for health are convenient for tracking your fitness and wellness metrics. However, it’s crucial to be aware of their limitations, especially regarding accuracy. A study has shown that the absolute error in data from these devices can be 30% higher during physical activity than when you are at rest.

This discrepancy means that while the trends and overall patterns can help you understand your health, the specific numbers might only sometimes be spot-on. Using this information as a general guide rather than an exact measure is wise. In addition, consulting with health professionals is always vital for precise health assessments and advice.

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Harnessing Technology for Better Health Outcomes

As you reflect on integrating technology into health and fitness, it’s clear wearable devices can be a significant part of your journey toward enhanced personal health management. These devices empower you to control your wellness in previously unimaginable ways. While they are not without drawbacks, the overall trajectory points toward a future where tech and health care are increasingly intertwined.

Explore how wearable tech might fit into your health routine and experiment with different devices to see which aligns best with your health goals and lifestyle.

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Adults hop on viral ‘rebounding’ trend to make exercise fun again — ‘I feel like a kid’

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Adults hop on viral ‘rebounding’ trend to make exercise fun again — ‘I feel like a kid’

Forget boring home workouts, on-demand HITT classes and cold winter runs.

The latest wellness trend bouncing around TikTok involves a workout you might not even realize you’re doing, and that’s the point. It’s called rebounding. This low-impact exercise involves jumping on a mini fitness trampoline — called a rebounder — to get your heart pumping and support lymphatic drainage.

On Amazon, this best-selling model is currently on sale for just $129. It measures in at just 40 inches, making it ideal for small spaces while still offering room for an adult to jump, squat and jog in place. Users swear it gives them a seriously effective full-body workout, and many remark that it’s “so much fun” to use.

Clinical trials also back the benefits: a 12-week rebounding program for overweight women showed significant improvements in body composition as well as a decrease in diastolic blood pressure.

Ready to jump on the rebounding trend, too? You’d better hop on this Amazon deal fast.

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This sleek rebounder by BCAN is sturdy and easy to set up, thanks to pre-assembled bungees and simpel video tutorial.

Reviewers say it’s completely changed their workouts, with one remarking they “feel like a little kid again.” Others have also noted it’s much easier on their joints than higher-impact exercises.

“It absorbs impact well and allows for a nice, smooth rebound that is gentle on the joints, making it perfect for a low-impact cardio workout,” one person explained. “Whether I’m doing high-intensity intervals or simply bouncing for fun, the movement feels fluid and responsive.

The BCAN model features an upgraded handlebar for added stability. It’s 8mm premium bungee — with a durable woven outer layer and a 350-strand natural latex core — delivers smooth, quiet bounces, so you can enjoy your workout without disturbing others.



This article was written by Miska Salemann, New York Post Commerce Writer/Reporter. As a health-forward member of Gen Z, Miska seeks out experts to weigh in on the benefits, safety and designs of both trending and tried-and-true fitness equipment, workout clothing, dietary supplements and more. Taking matters into her own hands, Miska intrepidly tests wellness products, ranging from Bryan Johnson’s Blueprint Longevity Mix to the viral Oura Ring to Jennifer Aniston’s favorite workout platform – often with her adorable toddler by her side. Before joining The Post, Miska covered lifestyle and consumer topics for the U.S. Sun and The Cannon Beach Gazette.

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Fitness trainer with 18 years of experience shares why exercise is crucial for kids: ‘Not just about health and fitness’

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Fitness trainer with 18 years of experience shares why exercise is crucial for kids: ‘Not just about health and fitness’

Exercise is often spoken about in the context of physical fitness – stronger muscles, better stamina and improved overall health. But its value, especially for children, extends far beyond the body. Regular physical activity can quietly shape character, teaching lessons about effort, patience, discipline and resilience that mirror how the real world works. From learning to cope with discomfort to understanding that progress takes time, exercise can become a powerful training ground for life itself.

Exercise is important for kids. (Image generated via Google Gemini)

Also Read | Chennai fitness trainer with 18 years of experience shares 5 simple things to focus on for long-term fitness

Chennai-based fitness trainer with 18 years of experience, Raj Ganpath – founder of the Slow Burn Method, co-founder and head coach at Quad Fitness, and author of Simple, Not Easy – is shedding light on why exercise is important for kids, with the benefits going beyond health and fitness. In an Instagram video shared on February 27, he explains how the impact of exercise extends far beyond physical wellness, shaping resilience, discipline and long-term character development.

Embracing discomfort

According to Raj, exercise is one of the healthiest ways to help children learn how to sit with discomfort in a safe, structured and sustainable way. Life inevitably brings challenges and unease – something adults understand well – but many children today are shielded from situations that test their resilience.

He explains, “Exercise is a great way to experience this discomfort in a safe and sustainable manner. Lifting weights, holding a plank, doing cardio, repping till it burns, all of these things are opportunities to embrace discomfort, opportunities to put themselves in a place where they’re not comfortable and learn from it, opportunities to practice physical and mental resilience.

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Learning hardship

The fitness trainer emphasises that hardship is an inevitable part of life, and meaningful success often requires pushing through moments of difficulty. While most adults recognise this truth through lived experience, children may not always have the same exposure to challenge. Raj believes exercise can bridge that gap.

He elaborates, “It will teach them that they need to do hard things if they want to accomplish something. Getting through a very hard workout, setting a goal and achieving it, completing a task. All of these things are not just random chores. These are incredible opportunities – opportunities to experience hardship and build fortitude.”

Delayed gratification

In today’s fast-paced world, the desire for instant gratification is stronger than ever – and children are growing up at the centre of it. With technology, streaming platforms and 10-minute delivery services, almost everything is available at the tap of a screen. As a result, the ability to wait, persist and work steadily towards a long-term goal can easily take a back seat. Exercise, notes Raj, offers a powerful counterbalance.

He explains, “Everyone wants everything right away today. This is true for us adults too, but it is even more true for our kids because this is the only world they know. A world where everything happens right then and right there, whenever they want it, wherever they want it. Exercise will teach them to wait, to be patient, to trust the process, to fail and still keep going, to work towards something larger that they will get much later. This is a very important character building quality and will serve them well for many, many years to come.”

The fitness trainer concludes, “Exercise is not just about health and fitness. It is a simulation of life itself. A ready-made character building tool available to you to help prepare your kids for life, the raw and real life that they’re going to have to deal with no matter what. So make sure they build the habit and make sure they embrace it.”

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Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. It is based on user-generated content from social media. HT.com has not independently verified the claims and does not endorse them.

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What Are “Movement Snacks”? How To Try This Trending Fitness Hack

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What Are “Movement Snacks”? How To Try This Trending Fitness Hack

The World Health Organization says the average adult is supposed to get 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity five days a week, which sounds somewhat doable until it’s 9 p.m., your kids are finally in bed, and you just want to fall onto the couch and dissociate. But more and more people online are talking about “movement snacks” — little bite-sized amounts of exercise you can do throughout your day to meet your 60-minute goal without having to make special time for one big workout. Because yes, we all want to be our healthiest, but sometimes a HIIT class at the gym is just not in the schedule.

We asked personal trainers and fitness coaches for their favorite movement snacks you can do in the office, around the house, and on busy weekends when everyone’s home.

How much exercise is a person really supposed to get?

While the WHO recommends 60 minutes a day, the CDC is a little more lax, recommending at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity a week, or about 30 minutes a day, five days a week. While it may feel like you’re the only one struggling to fit a workout into your daily routine, you’re far from alone. In fact, it’s always been hard for most Americans. So, while movement snacks may be a cute new term we’re all hearing for the first time, fitness pros have been promoting bite-sized exercise forever.

“I work with busy professionals, so I’ve been integrating micro workouts of two to 10 minutes into my clients’ lifestyles for almost 20 years,” says Andrea Marcellus, certified personal trainer and CEO of AND/life.

The most important thing for your health isn’t getting all your daily movement done in one big, perfectly curated workout — it’s about being consistent, Marcellus says. Movement snacks can help you stay consistent because you don’t have to budget a big chunk of time; instead, you can fit something simple into your day when you have three minutes to spare. Hell, you don’t even have to change clothes or go anywhere.

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“Most people think movement only counts if it’s a workout. That mindset is what keeps people sedentary. In reality, your body doesn’t care if steps come from a hike, a gym session, or pacing when you’re on a call,” says Lindy Royer, physical therapist and balanced body educator. “This is where you win the game — by stacking movement into things you’re already doing.”

Movement Snacks To Try Throughout Your Day

  • Set an alarm on your phone to chime every hour — that’s what women’s fitness coach Allison Kalsched tells her clients. When it goes off, stand up and do 10 bodyweight squats. Then go back to work. When you get tired of squats, mix in walking lunges, push-ups (it’s fine if they’re modified!), or dead bugs. Throw on 30 seconds of jumping jacks or high knees for bone-building benefits, which is important for women in menopause, she adds.
  • Take a micro walk. “Five minutes or 500 steps is my absolute favorite,” says Dr. Milica McDowell, doctor of physical therapy, author of the forthcoming book Walk, and exercise physiologist at US Physical Therapy. “It changes mood, lowers blood pressure, boosts mental clarity, and can help you get your cumulative steps in.”
  • Dance to your new favorite song with your kids or all by yourself. “Dance party was big with my kids after dinner,” Marcellus says. “It takes four to 10 mins and helps kids burn off dinner energy, while also giving parents a metabolic boost.”
  • Stop and do 60 reps of any full-body exercise, like squats, lunges, or jumping jacks — this usually takes about two minutes, no matter which one you choose, Marcellus says. Or, hold a plank for one to two minutes.
  • Pair walking with habits that already exist to get your steps in, like marching in place while brushing your teeth or doing a lap inside the house while your food is in the microwave. “This means you’re not adding time — you are upgrading your time,” says Royer.
  • Count your housework. Sweeping, mopping, vacuuming, general domestic labor — these things totally contribute to your total exercise time each day, says Royer.
  • If you go up or down the stairs at home, just… do it two or three times. That little extra here and there adds up, according to Royer.

The best advice is to focus not on “how can I move right now?” but “how can I do something that isn’t sitting right now?” Royer says. “The real truth that most people ignore is that sedentary time is the real enemy, not a lack of workouts. Focus on breaking up your sitting time. Build in frequent movement snacks. You’re not looking for perfection, just something more than nothing. You don’t need more time; you actually just need more conscious efforts to move.”

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