College of Education and Human Development

Joel Martin, Faculty in the School of Kinesiology, Receives an Award to Study the Effectiveness of a Wearable Sensor in Measuring a Person’s Real-Time Hydration Status

Joel Martin, associate professor in the Kinesiology Program within the School of Kinesiology at George Mason University, has received an award in support of his project to evaluate the effectiveness of a wearable hydration sensor in monitoring a person’s hydration status in real-time. The funding received by Martin is part of a larger project funded by the Naval Office of Research focusing on developing wearable hydration monitoring technology. The results of Martin’s study could lead to important applications of wearable technology for individuals who work in high-stress environments such as firefighting, military operations, and emergency response where proper hydration is critical for both physical and cognitive performance. If validated, the wearable technology evaluated in Martin’s study could be used to optimize hydration strategies and prevent performance declines for individuals in these types of demanding occupations.

As Principal Investigator, Martin is leading a School of Kinesiology research team that includes Co-Principal Investigators Shane Caswell and Marcie Fyock-Martin, professor and associate professor, respectively, in George Mason’s Athletic Training Education Program.

Martin provided an overview of the study in which a group of young, healthy adults will wear a microneedle-based wearable hydration sensor designed to provide continuous, non-invasive monitoring of hydration levels. The sensors will assess biomarkers of hydration such as pH, sodium concentration, and water activity in interstitial fluid and provide real-time data via an optical readout system. This data will be collected while study participants undergo passive (heat chamber) and active (cycling in heat) dehydration protocols, thus allowing for a comparison of the readings from the device against established hydration measures under multiple test conditions.

Explaining the importance of this study, Martin stated, “For tactical athletes and others who work in high-stress environments, dehydration can impair aerobic capacity, reaction time, decision-making, and thermoregulation, thereby increasing the risk of heat-related illness. Currently, hydration assessment relies on delayed or impractical methods in operational settings like urine tests and body weight measurements. A real-time wearable hydration monitor could revolutionize hydration management, allowing personnel in military and emergency response roles to maintain peak performance and safety in demanding conditions.”

Martin adds that the benefits to be derived from using a wearable hydration monitoring device would not be limited to individuals working in high-stress operational occupations. Other populations such as older adults could benefit from the use of these sensor devices. He suggested that it is not unusual to find older adults, especially those who live alone, in dehydrated states which can pose serious health risks. Martin stated, “This type of technology could provide a means to remotely monitor hydration and mitigate any adverse events before they occur. I have an elderly neighbor who lives at home and recently had to be taken to the hospital by ambulance due to being dehydrated. This event made me think of how this type of technology could be used in the future to prevent such incidents.”

The current study is one of many that Martin has conducted during his career in which he has focused on human performance optimization, occupational health, and the use of wearable technology to enhance safety and readiness in high-risk populations. Martin points out that in all these areas, hydration plays a crucial role in thermoregulation, cognitive function, and physical performance, making it a key factor in military, firefighting, and sports performance. He stated, “This project aligns with my interest in developing practical, field-expedient solutions for monitoring physiological status, and it builds on my work in emergency responder health and precision medicine using wearable technology. Some of the non-hydration measures obtained from the study, namely physical and cognitive performance, will be used to help us understand how individuals respond to common occupational stressors.”

Martin noted that there is a high degree of variability among individuals in their responses to occupational stressors and this has prompted more studies as researchers seek to determine the reasons why. He commented, “The questions that are driving this work are primarily related to trying to understand who responds in a certain manner to stressors and what influences their response. Once we have a better understanding of this mechanism, actions can then be taken to mitigate or manage the adverse effects.”

“Recently,” Martin continued, “I have heard that the Department of Defense is accepting that stressors are unavoidable. As a result, there has been less emphasis on ‘mitigating’ and more on ‘managing’ responses. This is why I believe future research priorities should emphasize: 1) understanding who responds in certain ways to stressors and why they do, and 2) what can be done to mitigate and manage the adverse responses in operational settings.”

Martin emphasized, “Consideration of how any research findings can be applied in the field is something I try to incorporate into my work. Often there may be ‘solutions’ that would work in a lab setting but in the operational settings where emergency responders work, there are different challenges that need to be considered for ‘solutions’ to be effectively implemented. To that end bridging the science to application is critical.”

Concluding his remarks, Martin acknowledged the members of his research team, including the students who are working with him as he conducts this study. He stated, “This is another project that I probably would have never envisioned working on five years ago, but it has been a great learning experience for myself and the half dozen students here at George Mason at the BS, MS, and PhD levels who have been involved in the initiative. I am grateful for their help and support.”

Please join the College of Education and Human Development in congratulating Joel Martin on his selection for this award. The work performed by him and his team members on the effectiveness of a wearable hydration monitoring sensor is an example of the type of innovative and cutting-edge research that is conducted by our college faculty—research that has positive and lasting real-world impacts.