Journal article 111 views 9 downloads
Assessing and Enhancing Movement Quality Using Wearables and Consumer Technologies: Thematic Analysis of Expert Perspectives
Alex Swain,
Melitta McNarry 
,
Kelly Mackintosh
,
Kelly Mackintosh
JMIR Formative Research, Volume: 8, Start page: e56784
Swansea University Authors:
Alex Swain, Melitta McNarry , Kelly Mackintosh
-
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©T Alexander Swain, Melitta A McNarry, Kelly A Mackintosh. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License.
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DOI (Published version): 10.2196/56784
Abstract
Background:Improvements in movement quality (ie, how well an individual moves) facilitate increases in movement quantity, subsequently improving general health and quality of life. Wearable technology offers a convenient, affordable means of measuring and assessing movement quality for the general p...
| Published in: | JMIR Formative Research |
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| ISSN: | 2561-326X |
| Published: |
JMIR Publications Inc.
2024
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| Online Access: |
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| URI: | https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa66988 |
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| Abstract: |
Background:Improvements in movement quality (ie, how well an individual moves) facilitate increases in movement quantity, subsequently improving general health and quality of life. Wearable technology offers a convenient, affordable means of measuring and assessing movement quality for the general population, while technology more broadly can provide constructive feedback through various modalities. Considering the perspectives of professionals involved in the development and implementation of technology helps translate user needs into effective strategies for the optimal application of consumer technologies to enhance movement quality.Objective:This study aimed to obtain the opinions of wearable technology experts regarding the use of wearable devices to measure movement quality and provide feedback. A secondary objective was to determine potential strategies for integrating preferred assessment and feedback characteristics into a technology-based movement quality intervention for the general, recreationally active population.Methods:Semistructured interviews were conducted with 12 participants (age: mean 42, SD 9 years; 5 males) between August and September 2022 using a predetermined interview schedule. Participants were categorized based on their professional roles: commercial (n=4) and research and development (R&D; n=8). All participants had experience in the development or application of wearable technology for sports, exercise, and wellness. The verbatim interview transcripts were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis in QSR NVivo (release 1.7), resulting in the identification of overarching themes and subthemes.Results:Three main themes were generated as follows: (1) “Grab and Go,” (2) “Adjust and Adapt,” and (3) “Visualize and Feedback.” Participants emphasized the importance of convenience to enhance user engagement when using wearables to collect movement data. However, it was suggested that users would tolerate minor inconveniences if the benefits were perceived as valuable. Simple, easily interpretable feedback was recommended to accommodate diverse audiences and aid understanding of their movement quality, while avoiding excessive detail was advised to prevent overload, which could deter users. Adaptability was endorsed to accommodate progressions in user movement quality, and customizable systems were advocated to offer variety, thereby increasing user interest and engagement. The findings indicate that visual feedback representative of the user (ie, an avatar) should be used, supplemented with concise text or audible instructions to form a comprehensive, multimodal feedback system.Conclusions:The study provides insights from wearable technology experts on the use of consumer technologies for enhancing movement quality. The findings recommend the prioritization of user convenience and simplistic, multimodal feedback centered around visualizations, and an adaptable system suitable for a diverse audience. Emphasizing individualized feedback and user-centric design, this study provides valuable findings around the use of wearables and other consumer technologies to enhance movement quality among the general population. These findings, in conjunction with those of future research into user perspectives, should be applied in practical settings to evaluate their effectiveness in enhancing movement quality. |
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| Keywords: |
physical activity; exercise; wellness; qualitative; sensors; motor skill; motor learning; movement skills; skill development; movement assessment |
| College: |
Faculty of Science and Engineering |
| Funders: |
ES/V502200/1 |
| Start Page: |
e56784 |