Dr Paul Grimshaw, an associate professor at Hamad Bin Khalifa University part of Qatar Foundation notes that AI has and will continue to revolutionise to measure and enhance athlete performance, and wearable technology.

“Equipped with sensors and AI, wearable devices track key metrics like heart rate, movement, and recovery in real time. As these devices become more advanced, they are seamlessly integrated with AI systems to offer personalised feedback, making them an indispensable tool for both individual athletes and entire teams,” said Dr Grimshaw.

“The wearables are getting better, smaller, more powerful, and more accurate, as they are combined with artificial intelligence, which is also getting better by the day,” said Dr Grimshaw, an expert in sports performance and technology.

For example, wearables for runners have come a long way in recent years. Not long ago, they simply tracked steps and distance. Now, they capture sophisticated metrics like cadence, step length, and foot strike. By analysing this data in real-time, these devices can detect patterns, offer immediate feedback, and provide actionable insights that help prevent injuries.

Additionally, the real-time data from wearables doesn’t just enhance performance, it also plays a crucial role in protecting athletes from injuries.

“It analyses biometric and biomechanical data and detects anomalies – things like the force being exerted by a particular movement can lead to injury or fatigue after a specific period of time,” Dr Grimshaw explained. “This tells the athlete to either adjust their technique or schedule rest time. It can also predict optimal recovery strategies and provide personalised rehabilitation plans.”

“While wearables have come a long way, a certain degree of error will always be present,” Dr Grimshaw explained. “Users need to be particularly careful when using them to diagnose issues like fatigue or injury prevention. Wearables should complement, not replace, a well-rounded injury prevention strategy.”

He explained that the accuracy of data collected by wearables can vary depending on the device and its placement.

“While data is valuable, it only works if it can be understood and applied,” says Dr Grimshaw. “Athletes and coaches don’t have the time to process thousands of data sets, which is where machine learning comes in.”

Machine learning, a form of AI, analyses patterns in data and improves its predictions over time. In sports, this means it can help detect early signs of fatigue or predict an athlete’s performance trends.

“It takes all the raw data, analyses it, and, most importantly, presents it in a simple, actionable format that’s easy to understand and use. This is invaluable – this is what makes real-time feedback possible,” said, Dr Grimshaw.