Wearable devices are important contributors to our pursuit of health, wellbeing, and sustainable high performance. They should be used with intentionality.
Dr. Darin Davidson partners with Learner+, a CME/CE reflective learning platform for healthcare providers. For the opportunity to reflect on this article and earn CME/CE credits, Launch here. Check out all past articles which are also eligible for reflections and CME/CE credits.
For downloadable, actionable strategies and tactics to leverage biology in the pursuit of health, wellbeing, and sustainable high performance, visit the resource store, Launch here. Chapters are arranged by topic so those of interest can be selected and each are also eligible for reflections and CME/CE credits through Learner+.
There has been progressive usage of wearable technology devices in the pursuit of health, wellbeing, and sustainable high performance. Currently, there is discussion of widespread distribution of these devices to help increase health amongst the general population. These devices are important contributors in our pursuit of health, wellbeing, and sustainable high performance. In fact, they are an important element within the Practices of the Healthcare Athlete. It is important that they are used deliberately and the potential downsides are understood and managed.
Prior to further discussing this important topic, it is important to delineate what type of wearable devices are under consideration in this article. While there are many such devices, the two main categories which will be further considered are those that measure physiological parameters and those that help contribute towards recovery and restoration. There are many devices in both categories. Specific brands and types of devices will not be discussed in detail, although within each category there are many similarities amongst the various devices.
The devices that primarily emphasize measurement of physiological parameters are devices that are either worn on a continuous basis or for a more focused length of time on a semi-regular basis. Typically, these devices will measure physiological metrics such as heart rate, heart rate variability, stress, movement and physical activity, sleep, and recovery. Amongst those devices which are worn continuously, we are able to get daily and even throughout the day analyses regarding our current physiology. This information can be used to understand the impact of our activities and to adjust our practices to reflect our current physiology.
The devices which promote recovery are those which are worn at specific times during the day and in some instances can be worn throughout the day and night. These devices are used primarily to increase nervous system regulation, such as through vagus nerve stimulation or vibration, in order to provide additional recovery and restoration to our biology. Typically, these devices are used in conjunction with other mind-based and body-based practices to provide an overall synergistic and holistic approach to optimizing recovery.
By utilizing these devices, in particular the measurement devices, we are able to develop and obtain greater insights into our biology, as well as our physiological responses to any changes in our lifestyle, environment, or daily routines and habits. From this perspective, it is evident how these can contribute towards our pursuit of health, wellbeing, and sustainable high performance. The recovery devices are also advantageous for use in particular to assist our ability to recover both throughout the day as well as at night and during sleep. This can lead to an overall greater degree of restoration and recovery, which Is essential to improve health, wellbeing, and sustainable high performance.
While the devices within both categories have distinct advantages, as described above, there are also potential downsides, which are important to consider. Firstly, it is entirely possible that we become overly dependent upon these devices, both in order to provide information regarding our current biological state and degree recovery, as well as to provide recovery and restoration practices in and of themselves. This is a sub optimal situation as it is not always the case that we will have access to these devices. Ultimately it is preferred that we develop our ability to increase our awareness and attention of our biological state so that we can readily identify it without any physiological metrics or parameters. In addition, it is optimal for us to develop the necessary mind-based and body-based skills in order to promote restoration and recovery without a reliance on external devices.
Specifically with respect to the measurement devices, it is possible that the information we obtain can lead to shifts in our biological state. This is particularly possible when we observe suboptimal metrics and analyses. In such circumstances, it is important that we not become overly reliant or dependent upon the information provided by these devices. Rather, it is preferred that these devices are used as a piece of information which we can then incorporate within our overall practice.
It is especially important that if the physiological metrics indicate areas for concern that this not lead to shifts in biological state towards activated, attacking, anxious, overwhelmed, and shutdown states. It should not be underestimiated how readily this can occur. For instance, if we check in with our measurable device first thing in the morning and receive information that we have had suboptimal and interrupted sleep and have a low recovery level, it is possible that this information will become a cue leading to a shift into activated and attacking states. It is important, however, that we not allow the information provided by these devices to exert too strong an influence on our overall biology. As stated above, it is preferred that we utilize this information as a data point in our overall self-assessment of our physiological parameters.
Specifically with respect to the recovery devices, it is important that we also develop the necessary mind-based and body-based skills to promote restoration and recovery on our own. While the recovery devices can provide important contributions to our overall recovery routine, it is important that we not become overly reliant on these devices in order to recover following exposure to high demand situations or as part of a regular routine. It is not always the case that we all have access to these devices. Should we become overly reliant upon them when we are not able to access these devices, we can experience a reduced ability to recover and restore our biology if we have not developed the self sustaining skills to do so.
As can be readily appreciated from the above discussion, there are important contributions that wearable devices can provide to our pursuit of health, wellbeing, and sustainable high performance. In fact, many of these devices are core components of the Practices of the Healthcare Athlete, including both measurement devices and recovery devices. While it is recommended that these devices become incorporated within our daily routines, it is also important that we not become overly dependent, reliant upon, or reactive to these devices for the reasons described above. In order to optimally pursue health, wellbeing, and sustainable high performance, the integration of these devices is useful. Ultimately the ability to become aware of our biological state and implement recovery and restoration practices on our own is essential.
To learn more, including about polyvagal informed coaching for healthcare professionals and others in high demand domains, please visit www.darindavidson.com.
Dr. Darin Davidson partners with Learner+, a CME/CE reflective learning platform for healthcare providers. For the opportunity to reflect on this article and earn CME/CE credits, Launch here. Check out all past articles which are also eligible for reflections and CME/CE credits.
For downloadable, actionable strategies and tactics to leverage biology in the pursuit of health, wellbeing, and sustainable high performance, visit the resource store, Launch here. Chapters are arranged by topic so those of interest can be selected and each are also eligible for reflections and CME/CE credits through Learner+.