{"id":12341,"date":"2026-06-30T10:41:31","date_gmt":"2026-06-30T14:41:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ww2.georgiasouthern.edu\/news\/magazine\/?p=12341"},"modified":"2026-06-30T10:41:31","modified_gmt":"2026-06-30T14:41:31","slug":"georgia-southerngeorgia-tech-collaborateon-real-time-hydration-monitoring-for-athletes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ww2.georgiasouthern.edu\/news\/magazine\/2026\/06\/30\/georgia-southerngeorgia-tech-collaborateon-real-time-hydration-monitoring-for-athletes\/","title":{"rendered":"Georgia Southern,georgia Tech Collaborateon Real-Time Hydration Monitoring for Athletes\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Georgia Southern University is collaborating with the Georgia Institute of Technology to develop a hydration-monitoring device for athletes, as part of a broader effort to improve player safety and performance. Georgia currently ranks first nationally in preventing heat-related illness and death among athletes, and the two universities are working together to build on that success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Faculty from Georgia Southern\u2019s Waters College of Health Professions (WCHP) and Georgia Tech\u2019s George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering are partnering with the Georgia Southern football program to develop a soft, wearable patch that will measure players\u2019 hydration levels in real time. The device helps athletic trainers monitor health risks during games and practices more quickly than traditional methods. Using embedded sensors, the patch transmits physiological signals related to heat stress and metabolic rates via Bluetooth to the sideline. This gives athletic trainers immediate feedback. Because health risks from overheating leave no time for delay, immediate data can be critical.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First developed at Georgia Tech, the patch originated from the research of mechanical engineering Professor W. Hong Yeo, Ph.D. His work initially focused on collecting physiological signals outside of a hospital setting. As interest in digital health care grew, Yeo and his team adapted the device to monitor athlete health and performance. Needing test subjects, the Eagles football team stepped in to meet that need last fall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are always looking for ways to keep our athletes safe and able to perform at their best,\u201d said Nick Sparacio, Georgia Southern\u2019s head football athletic trainer. \u201cThis sensor can give us data about cardiac rhythm, sweat loss, temperature and physical movement. The adage, \u2018an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,\u2019 is especially true in athletics. With real-time data, we can intervene or provide additional resources to prevent adverse events.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At various points throughout the season, researchers tested the patch on players during practice. WCHP Associate Dean of Research and Clinical Sciences Vishakha Rawool, Ph.D., was charged with creating a usability survey for the patch and analyzing the results. Players complimented the patch\u2019s ease of use and sleek design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPutting the patch on took five minutes max,\u201d said freshman quarterback Weston Bryan. \u201cOnce I took the field, I completely forgot about it, and it didn\u2019t hinder me at all.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ultimately, researchers tracked real-time hydration metrics for eight players over a three-day period. While the patch isn\u2019t game-day ready, Yeo and his team are refining the technology. They hope to improve the reliability and accuracy of the data so that it is comparable to that collected in clinical settings. Additionally, researchers are working to make the patch even smaller to avoid its interference with equipment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are refining the design to suit athletes\u2019 needs better,\u201d said Taewoog Kang, Ph.D., a post-doctoral researcher in Yeo\u2019s group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rawool is hopeful about what the future holds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOverall, the usability of the patch is good,\u201d Rawool said. \u201cThere\u2019s work to do to ensure it is ready for use during athletic competition, but I view it more as an opportunity to improve rather than a barrier that can\u2019t be overcome. I think it has the potential to be a major step forward in athlete safety.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Mary Dillard<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are always looking for ways to keep our athletes safe and able to perform at their best.\u201d<\/p>Nick Sparacio, Georgia Southern\u2019s Head Football Athletic Trainer<\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n


Georgia Tech Postdoctoral Researcher Taewoog Kang, Ph.D., analyzes results from the patch during a Georgia Southern football practice in fall 2025.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Georgia Southern University is collaborating with the Georgia Institute of Technology to develop a hydration-monitoring device for athletes, as part of a broader effort to improve player safety and performance. Georgia currently ranks first nationally in preventing heat-related illness and death among athletes, and the two universities are working together to build on that success. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":17,"featured_media":9937,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[91,92],"class_list":["post-12341","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-research","tag-fall-2025","tag-spring-2026"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t