Immersive Exercise Realities: integrating XR and Wearable technologies for Enhanced and personalised Sports and health applications

The field of sports science is rapidly evolving due to advances in immersive technologies, particularly with the integration of extended reality (XR), including virtual, augmented, and mixed reality (VR/AR/MR), and wearable devices. Recent years have seen a surge in research exploring how these technologies can be combined to simulate real-world athletic environments, offering opportunities for more tailored, interactive, and motivating exercise experiences. However, several important questions remain, including how best to synchronize multiple sensor inputs, how users interact with these digital environments, and what physiological and psychological outcomes are realized from such novel exercise modalities. While current efforts have demonstrated improved engagement and some enhancement in physical metrics, there is still limited understanding of the optimal configurations for sustained cognitive and physical benefits, and comprehensive frameworks for evaluating these immersive platforms are still in their infancy.In response to these gaps, the latest studies have tested multi-sensor wearable systems and VR training modules to gather rich, real-time biometrics and motion data, enabling the dynamic adaptation of exercise routines based on individual physiological, biomechanical, and cognitive profiles. Such personalization is increasingly relevant not only for sports performance and training optimization, but also for therapeutic exercise, rehabilitation, and preventive health interventions. These experimental platforms have showcased promising results in pilot rehabilitation protocols, skill acquisition, and exercise adherence. Moreover, researchers are beginning to explore how Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity and smart materials embedded in wearables can further enhance feedback and interactivity. Despite progress, challenges persist regarding motion tracking fidelity, user interface design, and validation of long-term health impacts. Industry and academia alike are calling for more rigorous, interdisciplinary investigations into both technological development and user outcomes.This Research Topic aims to critically examine and advance the integration of VR and wearable technologies in the realm of sports science. The primary objectives are to illuminate how immersive environments may transform both physical and therapeutic exercise routines, enable personalized training and rehabilitation strategies, explore frameworks for multi-modal sensor fusion, and assess short- and long-term implications for cognitive and physical health. We encourage the exploration of design principles, best practices for implementation, and the evaluation of sustainable and personalized exercise solutions. By fostering collaboration among engineers, sports scientists, and health practitioners, this Theme aspires to lay the groundwork for the next generation of smart exercise interventions and contribute innovative perspectives to sports engineering and health promotion.To gather further insights into immersive exercise experiences enabled by VR and wearables, we welcome articles covering conceptual, experimental, and applied research, with a focus on sports science and health outcomes. Articles may address, but are not limited to, the following themes:o Multi-sensor data fusion and adaptive algorithms for personalized exercise and rehabilitationo Design and implementation of XR (VR/AR/MR) systems integrated with wearable technologieso Personalization of physical and therapeutic exercise through real-time physiological and biomechanical feedbacko Cognitive, psychological, and motivational effects of immersive exercise environmentso Applications in sports training, rehabilitation, injury prevention, and health promotiono Validation frameworks, usability, and long-term effectiveness of immersive and wearable-based exercise interventions Topic editors: Pietro Picerno Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/78692/immersive-exercise-realities-integrating-xr-and-wearable-technologies-for-enhanced-and-personalised-sports-and-health-applications