Runners’ Perspectives on ‘Smart’ Wearable Technology and Its Use for Preventing Injury

ABSTRACT

Understanding the user experience between runners and wearable technology is crucial for designing personalized and effective wearable technology features for injury prevention. Therefore, the overall objective of this study was to understand the attitudes and beliefs for competitive and recreational runners towards wearable technology as well as its potential use for preventing injury. Survey data were drawn from 663 respondents. Competitive runners preferred GPS running watches and were interested in tracking personalized data to optimize running efficiency, whereas recreational runners used mobile phones/apps and wristband activity trackers to increase motivation. All runners believed that basic metrics found in wearable technology were most important for injury prevention; however, more advanced metrics had little importance. This paper illustrates the importance of understanding different user experiences for recreational and competitive runners in relation to wearable technology, and encourages the human-computer interaction research community to identify methods in personalizing complex running-related wearable technology data.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Postgraduate Scholarship, and the Alberta Innovates: Technology Futures Graduate Studentship. As well, funding was provided, in part, a Strategic Operating grant from the University of Calgary Vice-President (Research) and a seed grant from the Faculty of Kinesiology at the University of Calgary.

Notes on contributors

Christian A. Clermont

Christian A. Clermont is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Kinesiology at the University of. Calgary. His research interests include the use of wearable technology and pattern recognition methods to better understand the effects of fatigue and injury on running mechanics in competitive and recreational runners.

Linda Duffett-Leger

Linda Duffett-Leger is an assistant professor in the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Calgary. A user experience designer, she uses participatory design methods in her research focused on the development of consumer-driven, health promotion technologies that address the evolving needs of target populations and optimizes health outcomes.

Blayne A. Hettinga

Blayne A. Hettinga completed his PhD of Biomechanics in Kinesiology at the University of Calgary. He was Director Research and Development at the Running Injury Clinic and Adjunct Assistant Professor Faculty of Kinesiology at the University of Calgary before moving into his current role as Director Sport Science at adidas.

Reed Ferber

Reed Ferber is a Professor with joint appointments across the Faculties of Kinesiology, Nursing, and the Cumming School of Medicine at the University of Calgary. He is the director of the Running Injury Clinic and internationally recognized for biomechanics research using wearable technology for the prevention of musculoskeletal injuries.