The effectiveness of encouraging habilitation in adults with wearable activity trackers

In a world ruled by technology, devices are becoming more popular to use in all aspects of daily life. From classrooms, restaurants, stores, and cars, technology is changing and growing every day. Wearable activity trackers such as Fitbit and Jawbone are examples of two fitness products that have increased in popularity over the last several years. These wearable technologies have given users the ability to monitor health statistics to reach daily recommendations for physical activity and nutrition. In the field of healthcare, specifically physical therapy, the advancement of technology has provided more information about medicine, diseases, and rehabilitation techniques while also impacting health and fitness. In physical therapy today, a patient’s adherence to a home exercise program is a problem. If patients do not adhere to prescribed exercises from their therapist to do outside the clinic, their desire of living pain free can decrease. To overcome this problem, the use of wearable activity trackers as tools to promote habilitation, habit forming activities, was assessed. The research conducted will help determine the effectiveness of wearable activity trackers in encouraging habilitation in adults by evaluating the application of the self-determination theory and behavior change techniques present in wearable activity trackers