Practical Use of Wearable Activity Measurement Devices in Orthopaedic Surgery: A Qualitative Analysis of...

Background/Objectives: Wearable activity monitors and sensor-based devices are increasingly used to quantify mobility, load, and recovery in orthopaedic patients, yet clinicians lack practical guidance on selection, implementation, and interpretation. This qualitative expert consensus study synthesized real-world experiences from leaders in orthopaedics, rehabilitation, biomechanics, and digital health who implemented wearables at scale. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 experts (64% response rate) recruited via hybrid purposive and snowball sampling. Participants included orthopaedic surgeons and research scientists with 124 cumulative years of wearable experience across over 9000 monitored patients. Interviews addressed device selection, clinical workflow, data management, and adoption barriers. Data were charted into a structured extraction matrix and analyzed using Inductive Thematic Analysis and a Framework Approach, reported per COREQ guidelines. Results: Experts utilized diverse sensor platforms across arthroplasty, trauma, spine, and sports medicine. Four key themes emerged: (1) device selection prioritized usability and patient compliance over technical sophistication; (2) workflow required defined team roles to manage data volume and avoid clinical burden; (3) patient engagement favored simplified, actionable feedback amid divergent views on data transparency; (4) future outlook anticipated AI-driven proactive risk prediction. Conclusions: No single wearable suits all orthopaedic practices; success hinges on aligning sensor placement with clinical questions, rigorous data quality checks, and integration into care plans. This study offers a practical checklist and roadmap for point-of-care adoption.