Recommendations for the development, implementation, and evaluation of technology-assisted physical activity interventions to support healthy aging: insights from PhysAgeNet
9 affiliations
- 1Department of Psychology and Human Movement Science, Institute for Sport and Movement Science, University of Stuttgart , ,
- 2Faculty of Physical Culture, Palacký University Olomouc , ,
- 3Rehabilitation Engineering Laboratory, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich , ,
- 4COMETE U1075, Université de Caen Normandie, INSERM, CYCERON , ,
- 5Department of Nutrition and Movement Sciences, Institute of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism (NUTRIM), Maastricht University , ,
- 6Department of Movement Science, Institute of Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Münster , ,
- 7Nursing Research Innovation and Development Centre of Lisbon (CIDNUR), School of Nursing of the University of Lisbon (ESEUL) , ,
- 8Faculty of Medicine, University “Fehmi Agani” in Gjakova , ,
- 9Rehabilitation Research Group, Department of Physiotherapy, Human Physiology and Anatomy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel , ,
Abstract
Digital health technologies offer substantial potential to support physical activity among older adults, yet their development and implementation often remain driven by technological possibilities rather than clinical evidence and user needs. This position paper, developed within the PhysAgeNet COST Action, synthesizes current evidence and expert consensus to provide recommendations for designing, evaluating, and implementing technology-assisted physical activity interventions for older adults. We first outline key technology categories and functions relevant to physical activity promotion, including wearables, exergames, mobile applications, telehealth platforms, and smart environments, and highlight critical technical requirements such as accuracy, reliability, connectivity, interoperability, and data security. We then emphasize the need to align digital interventions with established clinical guidelines for physical activity, falls prevention, frailty, and sarcopenia, including explicit specification of exercise dose according to FITT-VP principles and robust monitoring of dual adherence to both physical activity and technology use. Building on technology acceptance models and behavior change theories, we describe how user-centered and co-creative design processes can translate theoretical constructs into concrete digital features that enhance motivation, enjoyment, and long-term engagement. Finally, we propose stakeholder-specific guidance for developers, researchers, and clinicians, including recommendations on user assessment, recruitment of vulnerable groups, implementation frameworks, and clinically grounded evaluation of outcomes and usability. Together, these recommendations provide a pragmatic roadmap for moving from a technology-push paradigm toward evidence-based, acceptable, and equitable technology-assisted physical activity interventions that can be sustainably integrated into routine practice for older adults.
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BibTeX
@article{schott2026recommendations,
title = {{Recommendations for the development, implementation, and evaluation of technology-assisted physical activity interventions to support healthy aging: insights from PhysAgeNet}},
author = {Nadja Schott and Jana Pelclová and Eleftheria Giannouli and Antoine Langeard and Christopher McCrum and Rosemary Dubbeldam and Rafael A. Bernardes and Arben Boshnjaku and David Beckwée},
journal = {Frontiers in digital health},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.3389/fdgth.2026.1913687},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13655530},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Recommendations for the development, implementation, and evaluation of technology-assisted physical activity interventions to support healthy aging: insights from PhysAgeNet
AU - Nadja Schott
AU - Jana Pelclová
AU - Eleftheria Giannouli
AU - Antoine Langeard
AU - Christopher McCrum
AU - Rosemary Dubbeldam
AU - Rafael A. Bernardes
AU - Arben Boshnjaku
AU - David Beckwée
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/28
JO - Frontiers in digital health
DO - 10.3389/fdgth.2026.1913687
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13655530
AB - Digital health technologies offer substantial potential to support physical activity among older adults, yet their development and implementation often remain driven by technological possibilities rather than clinical evidence and user needs. This position paper, developed within the PhysAgeNet COST Action, synthesizes current evidence and expert consensus to provide recommendations for designing, evaluating, and implementing technology-assisted physical activity interventions for older adults. We first outline key technology categories and functions relevant to physical activity promotion, including wearables, exergames, mobile applications, telehealth platforms, and smart environments, and highlight critical technical requirements such as accuracy, reliability, connectivity, interoperability, and data security. We then emphasize the need to align digital interventions with established clinical guidelines for physical activity, falls prevention, frailty, and sarcopenia, including explicit specification of exercise dose according to FITT-VP principles and robust monitoring of dual adherence to both physical activity and technology use. Building on technology acceptance models and behavior change theories, we describe how user-centered and co-creative design processes can translate theoretical constructs into concrete digital features that enhance motivation, enjoyment, and long-term engagement. Finally, we propose stakeholder-specific guidance for developers, researchers, and clinicians, including recommendations on user assessment, recruitment of vulnerable groups, implementation frameworks, and clinically grounded evaluation of outcomes and usability. Together, these recommendations provide a pragmatic roadmap for moving from a technology-push paradigm toward evidence-based, acceptable, and equitable technology-assisted physical activity interventions that can be sustainably integrated into routine practice for older adults.
SN - 2673-253X
ER -