Orthometria: Metric Fixation in Digital Health and a Framework for Responsible Use in High-Performance Sport

Abstract

The proliferation of consumer-grade digital health technologies has expanded physiological data collection beyond clinical and laboratory settings. In high-performance sport, these devices offer genuine utility for monitoring sleep, cardiac activity, and recovery. However, their widespread adoption has outpaced frameworks for responsible implementation. This perspective introduces orthometria, derived from ortho- (correct) and -metria (to measure), to describe the counterproductive fixation on digital health metrics collected via commercially available health technology. Orthometria is not proposed as a clinical phenomenon but as a behavioural descriptor for when the collection and review of any physiological metric obtained using a digital health device creates anxiety or has a negative effect on well-being or performance. The construct is introduced not to sensationalise potential risks or deter technology use, but to facilitate clearer discussion, monitoring, and responsible, effective implementation. Drawing on Kolb's Experiential Learning Theory, a five-stage framework is proposed for the responsible implementation of digital health technology in high-performance sport. Future research should explore framework efficacy, validate an orthometria-specific psychometric scale, and examine which metric types most influence athlete behaviour.