Can a smartwatch outperform standard tools in tracking recovery after surgery?

NCT ID NCT06605066

Diagnosis Sponsor: Alp Ozel Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Sep 09, 2026 · Last updated Sep 10, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

Researchers are studying whether wearable devices can measure physical activity more accurately than traditional methods in patients recovering from heart or chest surgery. The trial enrolls 99 adults who have had general anesthesia and are recovering in the hospital. Participants wear the ADI Study Watch 4.5, the Axivity AX6, and an Apple Watch on different body locations while researchers collect movement, heart rate, skin temperature, and other body signals. The goal is to see if these devices track activity reliably and whether that tracking relates to recovery speed or hospital stay length.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: wearable physical activity monitoring devices (ADI Study Watch 4.5, Axivity AX6, and Apple Watch)
What this could lead to: If the devices track movement accurately, hospitals could use wearables to spot slow recovery early and tailor rehabilitation after heart or chest surgery.
What could go wrong: This is a small observational study of 99 patients in one hospital setting. The devices may not work as well outside controlled conditions, and better activity tracking does not guarantee faster recovery or shorter hospital stays.

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Study facts

What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.

Participants

99 people

The number who actually took part.

Started

Oct 2024

Finished

Jul 2025

Lead sponsor

Other sponsor

The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.

Who can take part

This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.

Who is studied

Individuals who meet the inclusion criteria and have undergone Cardiovascular or Thoracic surgery at Izzet Baysal Training and Research Hospital will be included in the study. Individuals will be included in the study according to the simple random sampling method.

Ages

18 years and older

Sex

Anyone

Healthy volunteers

Not accepted

This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.

Show the full entry requirements

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: * Age ≥ 18, male or female * ASA Score II - III * Patients booked for a surgical procedure requiring general anesthesia care * The subject has had a surgical procedure ≤3 days prior to data collection * Expected duration of general anesthesia to be \> 1 hour * Expected to be transferred to the PACU from the operating room * Patients with an expected duration in the PACU ≥ 45 minutes * Expected to be transferred from the PACU to an in-patient setting * Must be able to understand and provide written consent * Must be willing and able to comply with study procedures and duration Exclusion Criteria: * The subject is unable or unwilling to provide written consent * The subject is unable or unwilling to comply with the study and duration * The subject has not yet recovered from the effects of anesthesia * The subject requires the use of a wheel chair * The subject has been diagnosed with a movement disorder such as Parkinson's disease, ataxia, dystonia, etc. * The subject has not yet recovered from knee or hip surgery * The subject has undergone orthopedic surgery within the last 2 years * The subject has an injury, deformity, or abnormality at the sensor site that in the opinion of the investigators would interfere with the sensors' function * The subject has any other condition, which in the opinion of the investigator would make them unsuitable for the study * The subject is pregnant, lactating, or trying to get pregnant. * Subjects with a history of severe contact allergies that may cause a reaction to standard adhesive materials found medical tape.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Motor Activity

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Algorithms Cardiac surgery Physical activity Postoperative period Thoracic surgery Wearable electronic devices

Can a smartwatch outperform standard tools in tracking recovery after surgery?

What the study statuses mean