Sleep Technology

In the United States, there are thousands of professional athletes, hundreds of thousands of college athletes and tens of millions of high school, club and individual athletes that participate in every sport imaginable. However, being active and in good physical shape does not make one immune from the same frailties seen across the nation’s entire population. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 32% of 18- to 24-year-olds and about 38% of those ages 25-34 sleep less than seven hours a night.

The use of wearable sleep technology (i.e., devices worn on the body to measure aspects of sleep such as sleep/wake cycles) is increasing among consumers. Benefits of wearable sleep technology are that it collects information about a person's sleep in their natural environment and can record information over an extended period of time, compared to having a polysomnographic study in which the “first night effect” and having incomplete data in a sleep diary can negatively impact results. However, little guidance exists regarding how to use these devices effectively in clinical and nonclinical settings (e.g., sleep research, consumer market). In addition, scientists have concerns regarding the devices’ validity, accuracy and reliability in measuring various sleep parameters (e.g., sleep stages, sleep/wake cycles).

Whether worn for function or fashion, wearables aren’t going away anytime soon. If anything, companies are investing in the long-term use of wearable technology and enhancing the user experience.