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Wearable Sensors for Human Health Monitoring in Clinical and Ecologic Scenarios

A special issue of Sensors (ISSN 1424-8220). This special issue belongs to the section "Wearables".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2025) | Viewed by 6018

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Luca Ascari

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
HENESIS S.r.l. and University of Parma, Parma, Italy
Interests: wearable sensors; brain–computer interfaces; affect decoding; embedded systems; microfabrication technologies
Dr. Marianna Capecci

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Politecnica delle Marche University, Ancona, Italy
Interests: remote monitoring; affect decoding; gait analysis; rehabilitation; movement disorders; prevention and assessment of chronic disabling disease
Dr. Virgilio Mattoli

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Center for Micro-BioRobotics, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34, Pontedera, 56025 Pisa, Italy
Interests: soft electronics; tattoo electronics; smart and bio-inspired materials; functional microfabrication; thin-film sensors; miniaturised acquisition systems
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Wearable devices utilize a variety of physical, chemical, and biological sensors to mine physiological (electrophysiological, biophysical and/or biochemical) information in a non-invasive or minimally invasive manner, providing alternative avenues for clinical diagnosis.

Modern wearable devices can perform high-quality measurements comparable to regulated medical instruments. The first generation of wearable devices, in the form of watches, shoes or headphones, focused primarily on biophysical monitoring by tracking an individual's physical activity, heart rate or body temperature. With the widespread adoption and success of these first-generation wearable devices, the focus has slowly shifted toward non- or minimally invasive biochemical and multimodal monitoring as the next step in truly personalized healthcare. These second-generation wearables come in the form of skin patches, tattoos, braces, contact lenses and textiles, as well as more invasive microneedle and injection devices. Wearable electrophysiological, biochemical and biophysical sensors have been proposed for the early diagnosis and treatment of diseases, for rehabilitation as well as for other health and wellness applications. As the field of wearable electronics continues to develop, the number of related articles published on wearable sensors and systems is also increasing. We look forward to the day when wearable electronics can move from the laboratory to everyday society, with both healthcare and wellbeing applications. In order for this to be achieved, these devices also need the ability to cope with other related challenges, such as specificity, resilience against artifacts and privacy.

We hope that this Special Issue, “Wearable Sensors for Human Health Monitoring in Clinical and Ecologic Scenarios”, will provide readers with valuable insights into the state of the art in this rapidly evolving field through original research works and reviews, and introduce some of the latest technologies developed.

Dr. Luca Ascari
Dr. Marianna Capecci
Dr. Virgilio Mattoli
Guest Editors

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sensors is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • wearable electrophysiological sensors
  • wearable biochemical sensors
  • wearable biophysical sensors
  • human health monitoring
  • home-based monitoring
  • ecologic conditions and real-life scenarios
  • clinical applications

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 4163 KB  
Article
Repeatability of Inertial Measurements of Spinal Posture in Daily Life
by Ryan Riddick, Mansour Abdullah Alshehri and Paul Hodges
Sensors 2025, 25(16), 5011; https://doi.org/10.3390/s25165011 - 13 Aug 2025
Viewed by 328
Abstract
Posture, physical activity, and sleep have been shown to be linked to many health issues but are difficult to assess in laboratories, especially in terms of long-term patterns. Worn on the body, inertial measurement units (IMUs) measure motion and have shown promise for [...] Read more.
Posture, physical activity, and sleep have been shown to be linked to many health issues but are difficult to assess in laboratories, especially in terms of long-term patterns. Worn on the body, inertial measurement units (IMUs) measure motion and have shown promise for longitudinal measurements of these phenomena, but the repeatability of their measurements in daily life has not been extensively characterized. This study assessed the repeatability of measures of spine posture and movement in a set of standardized tasks in the lab versus those performed at home using IMUs. We also evaluated issues that impact data quality for real-world measurements. The results showed moderate repeatability in the range of spinal motion assessed during the tasks (ICC = 0.67). In contrast, the absolute angles of the spine (such as the starting posture) were more variable and more difficult to estimate. The estimation of the reference posture was identified as a key factor. Five methods to estimate the reference posture were compared, and the use of a composite set of standardized tasks performed best (ICC = 0.72 ± 0.17). Additional studies and cross-validation with other sensors are needed to draw stronger conclusions about the optimal methodology. For measurements of daily life over 2 days, magnetic interference had a major impact on the data quality, affecting 43% of all data analyzed. Metrics were developed to assess data quality and strategies are proposed to improve repeatability in future work. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wearable Sensors for Human Health Monitoring in Clinical and Ecologic Scenarios)
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Review

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23 pages, 5770 KB  
Review
Are Wearable ECG Devices Ready for Hospital at Home Application?
by Jorge Medina-Avelino, Ricardo Silva-Bustillos and Juan A. Holgado-Terriza
Sensors 2025, 25(10), 2982; https://doi.org/10.3390/s25102982 - 9 May 2025
Viewed by 3261
Abstract
The increasing focus on improving care for high-cost patients has highlighted the potential of Hospital at Home (HaH) and remote patient monitoring (RPM) programs to optimize patient outcomes while reducing healthcare costs. This paper examines the role of wearable devices with electrocardiogram (ECG) [...] Read more.
The increasing focus on improving care for high-cost patients has highlighted the potential of Hospital at Home (HaH) and remote patient monitoring (RPM) programs to optimize patient outcomes while reducing healthcare costs. This paper examines the role of wearable devices with electrocardiogram (ECG) capabilities for continuous cardiac monitoring, a crucial aspect for the timely detection and management of various cardiac conditions. The functionality of current wearable technology is scrutinized to determine its effectiveness in meeting clinical needs, employing a proposed ABCD guide (accuracy, benefit, compatibility, and data governance) for evaluation. While smartwatches show promise in detecting arrhythmias like atrial fibrillation, their broader diagnostic capabilities, including the potential for monitoring corrected QT (QTc) intervals during pharmacological interventions and approximating multi-lead ECG information for improved myocardial infarction detection, are also explored. Recent advancements in machine learning and deep learning for cardiac health monitoring are highlighted, alongside persistent challenges, particularly concerning signal quality and the need for further validation for widespread adoption in older adults and Hospital at Home settings. Ongoing improvements are necessary to overcome current limitations and fully realize the potential of wearable ECG technology in providing optimal care for high-risk patients. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wearable Sensors for Human Health Monitoring in Clinical and Ecologic Scenarios)
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Other

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22 pages, 1096 KB  
Systematic Review
Continuous Movement Monitoring at Home Through Wearable Devices: A Systematic Review
by Gianmatteo Farabolini, Nicolò Baldini, Alessandro Pagano, Elisa Andrenelli, Lucia Pepa, Giovanni Morone, Maria Gabriella Ceravolo and Marianna Capecci
Sensors 2025, 25(16), 4889; https://doi.org/10.3390/s25164889 - 8 Aug 2025
Viewed by 992
Abstract
Background: Wearable sensors are a promising tool for the remote, continuous monitoring of motor symptoms and physical activity, especially in individuals with neurological or chronic conditions. Despite many experimental trials, clinical adoption remains limited. A major barrier is the lack of awareness and [...] Read more.
Background: Wearable sensors are a promising tool for the remote, continuous monitoring of motor symptoms and physical activity, especially in individuals with neurological or chronic conditions. Despite many experimental trials, clinical adoption remains limited. A major barrier is the lack of awareness and confidence among healthcare professionals in these technologies. Methods: This systematic review analyzed the use of wearable sensors for continuous motor monitoring at home, focusing on their purpose, type, feasibility, and effectiveness in neurological, musculoskeletal, or rheumatologic conditions. This review followed PRISMA guidelines and included studies from PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. Results: Seventy-two studies with 7949 participants met inclusion criteria. Neurological disorders, particularly Parkinson’s disease, were the most frequently studied. Common sensors included inertial measurement units (IMUs), accelerometers, and gyroscopes, often integrated into medical devices, smartwatches, or smartphones. Monitoring periods ranged from 24 h to over two years. Feasibility studies showed high patient compliance (≥70%) and good acceptance, with strong agreement with clinical assessments. However, only half of the studies were controlled trials, and just 5.6% were randomized. Conclusions: Wearable sensors offer strong potential for real-world motor function monitoring. Yet, challenges persist, including ethical issues, data privacy, standardization, and healthcare access. Artificial intelligence integration may boost predictive accuracy and personalized care. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wearable Sensors for Human Health Monitoring in Clinical and Ecologic Scenarios)
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20 pages, 469 KB  
Systematic Review
The Effectiveness of Virtual Reality in Improving Balance and Gait in People with Parkinson’s Disease: A Systematic Review
by Sofia Fernandes, Bruna Oliveira, Sofia Sacadura, Cristina Rakasi, Isabel Furtado, João Paulo Figueiredo, Rui Soles Gonçalves and Anabela Correia Martins
Sensors 2025, 25(15), 4795; https://doi.org/10.3390/s25154795 - 4 Aug 2025
Viewed by 689
Abstract
Background: Virtual reality (VR), often used with motion sensors, provides interactive tools for physiotherapy aimed at enhancing motor functions. This systematic review examined the effects of VR-based interventions, alone or combined with conventional physiotherapy (PT), on balance and gait in individuals with Parkinson’s [...] Read more.
Background: Virtual reality (VR), often used with motion sensors, provides interactive tools for physiotherapy aimed at enhancing motor functions. This systematic review examined the effects of VR-based interventions, alone or combined with conventional physiotherapy (PT), on balance and gait in individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Methods: Following PRISMA guidelines, eight randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published between January 2019 and April 2025 were included. Interventions lasted between 5 and 12 weeks and were grouped as VR alone or VR combined with PT. Methodological quality was assessed using the PEDro Scale. Results: Of the 31 comparisons for balance and gait, 30 were favored by the experimental group, with 12 reaching statistical significance. Secondary outcomes (function, cognition, and quality of life) showed mixed results, with 6 comparisons favoring the experimental group (3 statistically significant) and 4 favoring the control group (1 statistically significant). Overall, the studies showed fair to good quality and a moderate risk of bias. Conclusions: VR-based interventions, particularly when combined with PT, show promise for improving balance and gait in PD. However, the evidence is limited by the small number of studies, heterogeneity of protocols, and methodological constraints. More rigorous, long-term trials are needed to clarify their therapeutic potential. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wearable Sensors for Human Health Monitoring in Clinical and Ecologic Scenarios)
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