Wearables, Smart Textiles & AI Biomechanics in Sports: A Narrative Review

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Abstract
Traditional biomechanics research has long relied on lab-based systems, bulky, expensive, and often inaccessible to everyday athletes and coaches. This has limited its real-world impact, particularly in fast-paced and dynamic sports environments. However, the landscape is rapidly changing. Recent innovations in wearable technology, including smart textiles, graphene-printed sensors, and compact edge-AI chips, are bringing high-resolution motion analysis directly to the field. These systems can now track and analyse athletic movement in real-time, offering insights that were once only available in specialised labs. This review highlights key developments in sensor fusion, textile-integrated inertial measurement units (IMUs), and AI-driven form recognition. Together, these tools enable more precise monitoring of biomechanics during both training and rehabilitation. With multimodal data streams and machine learning algorithms, wearables can now provide individualised feedback on technique, workload, and recovery, without interrupting performance. The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and smart fabrics represents a shift toward continuous and scalable biomechanical assessment. For coaches, physiotherapists, and athletes alike, these technologies present new opportunities for injury prevention, skill development, and personalized performance optimisation. As validation studies transition into real-world deployment, AI-powered wearables are poised to advance our ability to analyze and improve human movement in sport.

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