Research
Our team studies how passively collected smartphone mobility data – step count, walking speed, step length, walking asymmetry, and double support time – can measure recovery after orthopaedic injury. The peer-reviewed papers below describe that work. Each is available to download, along with a link to the published version.
Preinjury Smartphone-Derived Mobility Metrics Are Associated With Discharge Location After Lower Extremity Fracture
JBJS Open Access. 2026;11:e26.00214. doi:10.2106/JBJS.OA.26.00214
In 249 adults with lower extremity fractures, preinjury step count, walking speed, and walking asymmetry recorded by Apple Health independently predicted whether patients went home or to a facility after hospital discharge. Objective preinjury mobility may improve risk stratification and discharge planning.
Open access article published under a CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 license.
Impact of Weight-Bearing Status on Patient Gait During Fracture Recovery
Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. 2026;34(5):e692–e699. doi:10.5435/JAAOS-D-25-00075
Among 74 surgically treated lower extremity fracture patients, those allowed early weight-bearing took about 1,050 more steps per day in the first 12 weeks than those with delayed weight-bearing, and by 26 weeks walked faster with less asymmetry. Smartphone data can measure the effect of weight-bearing protocols continuously and remotely.
Author manuscript (accepted version). The final edited version is available from the journal.
The Future Is Mobile: Pilot Validation Study of Apple Health Metrics in Orthopaedic Trauma
The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. 2025;107(16):1825–1832. doi:10.2106/JBJS.24.00842
In 107 patients after lower extremity fracture surgery, iPhone gait metrics captured a 93% drop in daily steps at injury, partial recovery by six months, moderate correlation with PROMIS physical function, and a slower step count recovery in patients who developed nonunion. These “digital biomarkers” show promise as objective, real-world outcome measures.
Author manuscript (accepted version). The final edited version is available from the journal.
Predicting Post-Fracture Recovery with Smartphone Mobility Data: A Proof-of-Concept Study
The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. 2025;107(11):e57. doi:10.2106/JBJS.24.01305
Combining preinjury iPhone mobility data with demographic and injury characteristics produced well-calibrated models of post-fracture mobility over six months. Preinjury function strongly predicted recovery, and individualized recovery projections could support patient counseling and clinical decision-making.
Author manuscript (accepted version). The final edited version is available from the journal.