# Review on Wearable Technology in Sports: Concepts, Challenges and Opportunities
## 8 Challenges and Opportunities
### Personalized, High Density and Novel WT  
The future prospects of WT within the realm of sports exhibit substantial potential due to advancements in personalization, heightened data density, and the seamless integration of novel sensors. Given that each athlete possesses unique anatomical and physiological attributes, the significance of tailored sizing and customized wearable designs cannot be overstated. To tackle this challenge, current viable solutions encompass the utilization of 3D printing or molding techniques for wearable fabrication, in addition to the incorporation of flexible textile materials. Augmenting data density entails the integration of a greater number of sensors or the incorporation of a broader spectrum of sensor types. Notably, encoders play an indispensable role in modeling alterations in body shape, particularly in the context of shape-based imaging devices such as Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT). Accurate measurement of alterations in WT form directly influences the quality of images derived from these WTs. One noteworthy technological innovation with profound implications for sports is the Triboelectric Nanogenerator (TENG) sensors. These sensors have the capacity to generate electricity through human bodily movements while concurrently collecting motion-related data. In the sports domain, TENG sensors hold the potential to monitor and enhance athletes' performance, safeguard their health, and optimize safety protocols. For instance, a shoe equipped with TENG sensors can systematically gauge a runner's step count, velocity, level of fatigue, foot pressure distribution, balance, and susceptibility to injury [185; 186]. Nevertheless, challenges persist concerning the stability, longevity, and scientific applicability of TENG technology. Factors such as material selection, design enhancements, and protective measures are of paramount importance in mitigating vulnerabilities to mechanical forces. Additionally, the establishment of standardized testing methodologies and calibration protocols is imperative to account for variances in energy and data generation predicated on patterns of bodily movement, intensity levels, and frequencies. TENG technology offers invaluable contributions by serving as an autonomous energy source for WTs, thereby obviating the necessity for athletes to frequently replace or recharge batteries. Furthermore, it facilitates real-time tracking of athletes' movements, thereby facilitating performance optimization, injury prevention, and health monitoring through data analysis. Looking ahead, TENG technology is poised to garner widespread and diverse applications within the realm of sports. In the foreseeable future, the introduction of wearable Electrode Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT) devices or infrared tomography devices holds the potential to yield substantial influence in the domains of sports rehabilitation and imaging [187; 188; 189]. EIT is a technology that utilizes the body's electrical conduction properties to produce EIT constitutes a technology that leverages the body's electrical conduction properties to generate imaging. EIT devices are adept at detecting muscle impairments or injuries by measuring electrical conduction characteristics within the body, thereby furnishing real-time insights to athletes and coaches alike. Conversely, infrared tomography engenders imagery predicated on the emission and absorption of infrared light in the targeted region. WTs featuring imaging technologies exhibit the capacity to monitor athletes' performance in real-time and proffer efficacious rehabilitation protocols in the event of injuries [190; 191]. By integrating these devices into sports rehabilitation procedures, it becomes possible to systematically monitor muscle recovery following injuries, identify muscle imbalances, and determine appropriate treatment modalities.