Digital Orthopedics and Smart Rehabilitation: The Expanding Role of Wearable Technologies and Motion Analytics in Musculoskeletal Healthcare
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.64784/248Keywords:
Wearable Technology, Motion Analytics, Digital Orthopedics, Musculoskeletal Disorders, Gait Analysis, Rehabilitation Monitoring, Telemedicine, Remote Patient Monitoring, Artificial Intelligence, Precision Medicine, Orthopedic Rehabilitation, Digital HealthAbstract
Musculoskeletal disorders remain among the leading causes of disability and functional impairment worldwide, creating significant challenges for healthcare systems and rehabilitation services. Recent advances in wearable technologies, motion analytics, telemedicine, and artificial intelligence have introduced new opportunities for improving orthopedic assessment, rehabilitation monitoring, and long-term patient management. This review examines the current applications of wearable devices in musculoskeletal healthcare, with particular emphasis on gait analysis, postoperative monitoring, rehabilitation support, remote patient management, and predictive analytics. A structured review of scientific literature indexed in major biomedical and multidisciplinary databases was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness, benefits, and limitations of wearable technologies within orthopedic practice. The findings indicate that wearable systems provide continuous and objective measurements of biomechanical and functional parameters, enabling more personalized rehabilitation strategies and supporting data-driven clinical decision-making. Gait analysis and rehabilitation monitoring emerged as the most frequently reported applications, while artificial intelligence demonstrated growing potential for predictive modeling and outcome optimization. The review also identified important implementation challenges, including data privacy concerns, interoperability limitations, device standardization issues, regulatory barriers, and patient adherence factors. Despite these challenges, wearable technologies are increasingly contributing to the development of accessible, patient-centered, and precision-based orthopedic care. The evidence suggests that continued technological innovation and integration of digital health solutions will play a fundamental role in shaping the future of musculoskeletal healthcare worldwide.
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