The increasing demand for personalized healthcare, particularly among individuals requiring continuous health monitoring, has driven significant advancements in sensor technology. Wearable, non-continuous monitoring, and non-contact sensors are leading this innovation, providing novel methods for monitoring vital signs and physiological data in both clinical and home settings. However, there is a lack of comprehensive comparative studies assessing the overall functionality of these technologies. This paper aims to address this gap by presenting a detailed comparative analysis of selected wearable, non-continuous monitoring, and non-contact sensors used for health monitoring. To achieve this, we conducted a comprehensive evaluation of various sensors available on the market, utilizing key indicators such as sensor performance, usability, associated platforms functionality, data management, battery efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. Our findings highlight the strengths and limitations of each sensor type, thus offering valuable insights for the selection of the most appropriate technology based on specific healthcare needs. This study has the potential to serve as a valuable resource for researchers, healthcare providers, and policymakers, contributing to a deeper understanding of existing user-centered health monitoring solutions.

Background/Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a six-week integrated resisted sprint training (IRST) program on sprint performance and vertical jump height in a sample of U-14 male football players. This study also explored the potential benefits of incorporating variable resistive loads during pre-peak height velocity (pre-PHV) developmental stages, a period often overlooked in the training of young athletes. The IRST program alternated between heavy and light resistive sled loads to enhance sprint and jump capabilities, which are critical components of athletic performance in football. Methods: Nineteen healthy male football players (age: 13 ± 0.63 years) were divided into an experimental group (E, n = 10) and a control group (C, n = 9). The experimental group followed the IRST protocol, involving sled sprints with varying resistive loads (10–115% of the body mass) over specific distances, while the control group engaged in traditional unresisted sprint training. The sprint performance was assessed using 30 m sprint times, and the vertical jump height was measured using countermovement jump (CMJ) data collected via a force platform. Anthropometric measures and peak height velocity (aPHV) estimates were also recorded pre- and post-intervention. Results: The experimental group demonstrated significant improvements in 30 m sprint times (mean difference: −0.29 s; p < 0.01). Additionally, CMJ data revealed a positive trend in the take-off velocity and maximum concentric power, with an increase in jump height (mean difference: +0.44 cm). These results suggest enhanced sprint and explosive power capabilities following the IRST intervention. Conclusions: The findings suggest that the IRST program is an effective training method for enhancing sprint performance and maintaining jump capabilities in young football players. This approach highlights the importance of integrating variable resistance training in pre-PHV athletes to promote athletic development while ensuring safety and effectiveness.

Heart rate variability (HRV) analysis has emerged as a simple and non-invasive technique to indirectly evaluate the autonomic nervous system (ANS), and it is considered a sensible and advanced index of health status. Pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs) are widely used in clinical settings for improving the health status of individuals with chronic musculoskeletal pain. The aim of the present single-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled parallel pilot study was to investigate the acute effect of a single session of PEMFs stimulation by a PAP ion magnetic induction (PAPIMI) device on ANS activity, as measured by HRV, in patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain, and compare such effect with that induced by a sham (control) PAPIMI inductor. Thirty-two patients were randomized into two groups: PAPIMI intervention (PAP) (n = 17) and sham PAPIMI intervention (SHAM-PAP) (n = 15). HRV was assessed before and following the interventions. The PAP group showed a significant increase in all values of the time-domain parameters (SDNN, RMSSD, NN50, and pNN50) and the HF component of HRV, suggesting a parasympathetic effect. In contrast, the SHAM-PAP group showed no significant differences in all HRV indices following the intervention. Preliminary findings suggested that PAPIMI inductor could influence ANS activity and provided initial evidence of the potential physiological response induced by the PAPIMI device.

This study lays the foundation for a multidimensional framework aimed at facilitating the effective integration of Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) technologies into real-world health management systems. It critically examines the technological, organizational, and societal barriers that hinder this transition and identifies key enabling conditions, such as interoperability, user co-design, and ethical design principles, that promote sustainability, inclusiveness, and trust. By proposing a structured approach to integration, this paper aims to bridge the gap between innovation and long-term, reliable adoption across diverse healthcare contexts.

This paper presents a co-designed solution aimed at improving community healthcare assistance management. To enhance patients’ self-awareness of their health status, encouraging active participation in care process, and to support nurses in delivering patient-centered care, we have developed an innovative platform with a highly customized app. This platform was designed using a multi-disciplinary, bottom-up approach. Patient data collection and processing facilitate the automation of care timeline planning, based on real-time patients’ needs and the available resources. To achieve this goal, different components have been considered: real-time health data collection and processing, patient care planning, decision support for nurses, secure communication for data transmission, and user-friendly interfaces to ensure easy access to platform functionalities.

Background: Emerging evidence highlights the role of physical exercise as a non-pharmacological intervention for reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression. While most research has focused on aerobic modalities and chronic training programs, the acute psychological impact of resistance training (RT)—particularly in healthy, active individuals—remains underexplored. This study addresses this gap by evaluating the immediate effects of a single RT session on anxiety and depression in healthy, active individuals. Methods: Fifty-six healthy, physically active participants (43 males, 13 females; M age = 24.41 ± 4.41 years) were randomly assigned to an experimental group (RT, n = 30) or a control group (stretching/mobility, n = 26). The RT session included multi-joint exercises performed at 70–75% 1RM, while the control session consisted of non-load-based mobility and flexibility exercises. Psychological responses were measured immediately before and five minutes after the session using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), which includes subscales for anxiety (HADS-A) and depression (HADS-D). Results: Non-parametric within-group analysis (Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test) revealed a significant reduction in anxiety scores in the RT group (Z = −3.3, p < 0.001, r = −0.7), and a moderate but significant decrease in depression (Z = −2.8, p = 0.005, r = −0.6). No significant changes were observed in the control group for either variable. Between-group comparisons (Mann–Whitney U) showed significantly greater reductions in anxiety in the RT group (p = 0.021), while differences in depression deltas were not significant. A Quade ANCOVA confirmed that group assignment is significantly predictive for post-intervention anxiety levels (F(1, 54) = 8.46, p = 0.005), controlling for baseline values. Conclusions: A single session of moderate-to-high-intensity resistance training can acutely reduce anxiety symptoms in healthy physically active individuals. The effect on depressive symptoms appears more modest and variable, suggesting differential sensitivity to acute exercise stimuli. These findings support the use of RT not only for long-term psychological health but also as a feasible short-term intervention for emotional regulation in healthy active populations.