Wearables for Pediatric Rehabilitation: How to Optimally Design and Use Products to Meet the Needs of Users

TLDR

The article proposes a multidisciplinary design framework for pediatric rehabilitation wearables, arguing that clinicians and researchers must actively participate in their development to enhance assessment, intervention, and research outcomes. It outlines three wearable categories—inclusive clothing, supportive devices, and smart sensor‑based wearables—providing examples and applications for pediatric assessment and intervention, and explains how these devices can modify task demands and improve user abilities over time.

Abstract

This article will define "wearables" as objects that interface and move with users, spanning clothing through smart devices. A novel design approach merging information from across disciplines and considering users' broad needs will be presented as the optimal approach for designing wearables that maximize usage. Three categories of wearables applicable to rehabilitation and habilitation will be explored: (1) inclusive clothing (eg, altered fit, fasteners); (2) supportive wearables (eg, orthotics, exoskeletons); and (3) smart wearables (eg, with sensors for tracking activity or controlling external devices). For each category, we will provide examples of existing and emerging wearables and potential applications for assessment and intervention with a focus on pediatric populations. We will discuss how these wearables might change task requirements and assist users for immediate effects and how they might be used with intervention activities to change users' abilities across time. It is important for rehabilitation clinicians and researchers to be engaged with the design and use of wearables so they can advocate and create better wearables for their clients and determine how to most effectively use wearables to enhance their assessment, intervention, and research practices.