Nick Bolton, CEO, discusses how the future of mobility healthcare could be transformed through the widespread use of motion measurement technology and data

In Western economies, healthcare systems are having to treat an increasing amount of mobility issues as populations age - and are facing overwhelming backlogs exacerbated by the pandemic. There is an opportunity here for the quality of care and efficiencies to be enhanced through the widespread adoption of motion measurement technology and data. 

Data is already being sensed, and collection is already happening. More and more people are tracking data on their health as part of their daily lives. 29% of British people currently own and use a wearable device, such as a smartwatch or fitness band, compared with 19% in July 2019ⁱ.

Everyday monitoring is evolving. We are becoming a more health-conscious society, armed with a wealth of highly personalised data. Just as doctors might recommend that a patient wear a Holter monitor for 24 hours to detect and record irregular heartbeats, so too can other wearable devices be used in the detection, treatment, and prevention of illnesses and injuries – including for musculoskeletal health.

This is exciting as it has the potential to improve mobility for millions of people. For example, in the UK, over 20 million people live with a musculoskeletal condition, such as arthritis, with pain and other symptoms having a significant negative impact on their daily lives, both mental and physical healthⁱⁱ. Whilst musculoskeletal conditions, like Rheumatoid Arthritis, may be biologically reversible if treated at early onset, there is a lag time between initial symptoms and diagnosis, with the result that treatment is often too late to be effectiveⁱⁱⁱ.

With the adoption of motion measurement technology and the increased use of wearable devices, it is possible to accurately capture motion data more precisely than ever before, anytime anywhere, 24/7...

With the adoption of motion measurement technology and the increased use of wearable devices, it is possible to accurately capture motion data more precisely than ever before, anytime anywhere, 24/7. Progress in a patient’s recovery, how effectively rehabilitation exercises are being undertaken, and the deterioration of their mobility no longer needs to be estimated based on what a doctor or physiotherapist can see with their eyes in a 15-minute appointment. Medical professionals can harness this data to identify symptoms of musculoskeletal conditions and mobility issues sooner, prescribe the appropriate treatments earlier, and give their patients a better chance of avoiding the irreversible development of painful lifelong conditions.

We are in a new digital health era, armed with unprecedented levels of data to assist healthcare, from detection and diagnosis, to treatment, management, and recovery. The technology is ready, the data is already being sensed. Now, individuals and medical professionals alike need to analyse and apply the data to harness its full potential and ultimately go some way towards reducing the number of advanced mobility issues and alleviating pain for people living with musculoskeletal conditions.

_{i YouGov, Brits use of wearable devices (e.g. a smartwatch or wearable fitness band), [accessed February 2023]
ii Versus Arthritis, The State of Musculoskeletal Health 2021
iii PubMed, National Library of Medicine, The lag time between onset of symptoms and diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis}