A recent study found that older adults who wore fitness trackers spent more time exercising than those who did not. Advances in wearable fitness tracking technology are making access to exercise and health data easier than before, going beyond counting steps to track resting heart rate, sleep metrics, stress levels and recovery rates.1
In certain instances, activity trackers, smartwatches and other health-related wearables, available now or coming soon, even provide U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved medical-grade features for people with diabetes, hypertension and other conditions.2
Some fitness trackers monitor blood glucose levels and blood pressure. There are machine-washable socks that allow a medical team to monitor the wearer’s foot temperature and have been shown to reduce diabetic foot ulcers by up to 87.5%.3
In the works are devices like automated 24/7 wrist-worn blood pressure monitors, and “biowearables” designed to continuously track signals in the body for glucose, ketones, lactate and eventually alcohol levels. There are even plans for non-invasive glucometer wristbands that can sense glucose in the bloodstream without a needle stick.4
Why should seniors consider using an activity tracker?
- Motivation: Fitness trackers have been shown to motivate seniors to get more exercise during the day.5
- Accountability: Fitness trackers may allow wearers to create networks of friends who wear the same device and can hold each other accountable for meeting exercise goals.6
- Heart rate monitoring: Some trackers now include electrocardiogram features to detect atrial fibrillation (A-fib)—an irregular heart rhythm that is a common cause of stroke—or to monitor blood oxygen levels that can indicate early signs of circulatory, heart or lung function issues such as anemia, neurological problems or sleep disorders.7
- Sleep tracking: Some trackers provide information about sleep duration and sleep quality, particularly useful for seniors with sleep apnea.8
- Tracking other sports: Fitness trackers first became popular to count steps or track running distance, but some devices can also track activities like swimming or cycling.9
What to consider when choosing a fitness tracker for older adults
The most reliable devices will generally be FDA-approved and prescribed or recommended by a doctor. Consider investigating the clinical studies and peer reviews associated with a variety of fitness trackers before making a purchase decision.10
- Functionality: Consider what activities are important to measure and what metrics provide useful information to the wearer and their doctor. Then select a device that can measure those activities and provide the desired data.11
- Use: Consider ease of use, including issues of comfort and durability. Does the device need to be water resistant? Does it have a bright screen or large-print options for those with visual impairments? It can be useful to find a store with a variety of fitness trackers to assess comfort and ease of use.12
- Monitoring: How intuitive is the user interface? How steep is the learning curve? Read reviews and try to “test-drive” a variety of options.13
5 ways seniors can get the most out of fitness trackers
- Choose the right fitness device. There are a wide range of devices to choose from, but most include the basic tracking features that many people are looking for, like step counting and activity tracking. More expensive models may include heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking, GPS and additional health metric tracking functions as well as integrated functionality with other devices.14
- Set a goal and start gradually. Consider spending at least a week just wearing the tracker, learning to use it and gathering the data necessary to establish a realistic starting point. Based on that information, choose 1-2 metrics and set easily achievable goals. Behavioral scientists stress that it’s important for seniors to set themselves up for success with these devices. Set goals that can easily and quickly be reached and then increase those goals steadily to reach longer-term, lifestyle levels of activity.15
- Check in regularly: It’s important to remember to interact with the device throughout the day. This may be as simple as a regular habit of glancing at the screen, with a quick 1 or 2-minute check of the information captured by the device’s associated app at the end of the day. Create a good routine for keeping the battery charged, for example, charging it overnight once a week, or charging when taking a shower.16
- Make it social. Many trackers offer a variety of ways to connect with and be motivated by others, from friendly competition with those in a shared user network to community forums where people share encouragement and tips with those with similar interests, locations or life circumstances.17
- Expect the unexpected. Routines and plans may be adversely affected, from time to time, by life circumstances. Fitness trackers show users when they’re doing well, but also highlight lapses of intention. Don’t let perfectionism get in the way of steady, incremental progress. Experts advise seniors to recognize when they’ve gotten off track, forgive themselves, and get back on plan as soon as health or circumstances permit.18
While no fitness tracker measures all activities with 100% accuracy, research has shown that most popular fitness trackers do a good enough job of measuring steps and activity to be helpful for most users. Feedback about activity levels and encouraging wearers to set and update goals—the things fitness trackers are designed to do—may help individuals wanting to adopt healthy lifestyle habits.19
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Sources:
1Edward C. Baig, “Health-Related Wearables Can Track Data for Your Doctor,” AARP, last accessed September 26, 2022,
2Baig, “Health-Related Wearables Can Track Data for Your Doctors.”
3Baig, “Health-Related Wearables Can Track Data for Your Doctors.”
4Baig, “Health-Related Wearables Can Track Data for Your Doctors.”
5Zac Martin, “3 Best Fitbits for Seniors (and 5 alternatives) – 2022,” elderGURU, last accessed September 1, 2022,
6Martin, “3 Best Fitbits for Seniors (and 5 alternatives) – 2022.”
7Orem, “Health-Related Wearables Can Track Data for Your Doctors.”
8“A Guide to Fitness Trackers for Seniors,” Consumer Reports, last accessed September 1, 2022,
9“A Guide to Fitness Trackers for Seniors.”
10“A Guide to Fitness Trackers for Seniors.”
11Bill Gibson, “10 Things to Look for in a Fitness Tracker,” AARP, last accessed September 26, 2022,
12Gibson, “10 Things to Look for in a Fitness Tracker.”
13Gibson, “10 Things to Look for in a Fitness Tracker.”
14Lisa Cadmus-Bertram, “How to Get the Most out of Your Fitness Tracker,” Society of Behavioral Medicine, last accessed September 1, 2022,
15“How to Get the Most out of Your Fitness Tracker.”
16“How to Get the Most out of Your Fitness Tracker.”
17“How to Get the Most out of Your Fitness Tracker.”
18“How to Get the Most out of Your Fitness Tracker.”
19“How to Get the Most out of Your Fitness Tracker.”
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