Currently submitted to: JMIR Rehabilitation and Assistive Technologies
Date Submitted: Apr 2, 2026
Open Peer Review Period: Apr 17, 2026 - Jun 12, 2026
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Wearable Technology Use in US Physical Therapy Practice: A National Cross-Sectional Survey
ABSTRACT
Background:
Wearable health technologies are increasingly adopted by consumers and are emerging as tools for digital health monitoring and behavior change. However, their integration into physical therapy practice remains unclear. Understanding clinician-level adoption patterns is necessary to guide implementation and education efforts.
Objective:
To determine the prevalence, patterns, and clinician characteristics associated with wearable use in US PT practice.
Methods:
A national cross-sectional online survey was distributed to licensed physical therapists (PTs) and physical therapist assistants (PTAs) from six US state board listservs. Descriptive statistics and bivariate analyses examined associations with wearable use. A multivariable logistic regression model identified independent predictors of adoption. Open responses were examined for additional insights into wearable use.
Results:
Among respondents, 34.4% reported using wearables with at least one patient. Users incorporated them with 34.5% of their caseload, yielding 11.9% of all patients being exposed to wearables at some point during rehabilitative care. 6.5% are estimated to receive regular (weekly or near-every-session) integration. Wrist-worn devices and smartphones were most common types used, with heart rate, exercise minutes, and step counts as the primary data used by clinicians, with in-session monitoring and patient education as the most cited purposes. In multivariable analyses, personal wearable use (OR 0.22 for non-users, 95% CI 0.16–0.31), frequent neurologic caseload (OR 1.62, 95% CI 1.27–2.06), APTA membership (OR 1.49, 95% CI 1.18–1.87), and primary practice setting were independently associated with adoption. Age, years of practice, rurality, and regional income were not associated.
Conclusions:
Wearable use in US PT practice is present but selectively applied, with routine integration occurring in a small fraction of patients. Adoption appears driven by personal familiarity and professional engagement rather than demographic factors, suggesting wearable implementation in rehabilitation remains in an early diffusion phase.
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