This review summarizes recent developments in wearable sensors and systems relevant to rehabilitation. The focus is on clinical applications of wearable technology currently undergoing assessment, rather than on the development of new sensors. Key enabling technologies, including sensor technology, communication technology, and data analysis techniques, are described. Major applications of wearable technology include health and wellness monitoring, safety monitoring, home rehabilitation, assessment of treatment efficacy, and early detection of disorders. The integration of wearable and ambient sensors is discussed in the context of achieving home monitoring of older adults and subjects with chronic conditions. Future work required to advance the field toward clinical deployment of wearable sensors and systems is also discussed. Wearable systems for remote monitoring consist of three main components: 1) sensing and data collection hardware to collect physiological and movement data, 2) communication hardware and software to relay data to a remote center, and 3) data analysis techniques to extract clinically relevant information from physiological and movement data. Recent advances in sensor technology, microelectronics, telecommunication, and data analysis techniques have enabled the development and deployment of wearable systems for remote monitoring. Researchers have relied upon advances in these fields to address shortcomings of ambulatory technologies. The miniaturization of sensors and electronic circuits based on microelectronics has played a key role in the development of wearable systems. Advances in microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) have enabled the development of miniaturized inertial sensors used in motor activity and health status monitoring systems. Advances in material science have enabled the development of e-textile based systems that integrate sensing capability into garments. Health monitoring applications of wearable systems often employ multiple sensors integrated into a sensor network. Recent developments in communication standards for low-power wireless communication have enabled the development of numerous communication standards for low-power wireless communication. Wearable sensors are often combined with ambient sensors when subjects are monitored in the home environment. The combination of wearable and ambient sensors is of great interest in several applications in the field of rehabilitation. For instance, when monitoring older adults while deploying interventions to improve balance control and reduce falls, one would be interested in using wearable sensors to track motion and vital signs. Specifically-designed data analysis procedures would then be used to detect falls via processing of motion and vital sign data. In this context, ambient sensors could be used in conjunction with wearable sensors to improve the accuracy of falls detection and, most importantly, to enable the detection of falls even at times when subjects do not wear the sensors. Biochemical sensors have recently gained a great deal of interest among researchers in the field of wearable technology. These types of sensors can be used to monitor the bio-chemistry as well as levels of chemical compounds in the atmosphere. From a design point of view, biochemical sensors are perhaps the most complex as they often require collection, analysis and disposal of body fluids. Advances in the field of wearable biochemical sensors have been slow, but research has recently picked up pace due to the development of micro and nano fabrication technologies. Ambient sensors are used in instrumented environmentsThis review summarizes recent developments in wearable sensors and systems relevant to rehabilitation. The focus is on clinical applications of wearable technology currently undergoing assessment, rather than on the development of new sensors. Key enabling technologies, including sensor technology, communication technology, and data analysis techniques, are described. Major applications of wearable technology include health and wellness monitoring, safety monitoring, home rehabilitation, assessment of treatment efficacy, and early detection of disorders. The integration of wearable and ambient sensors is discussed in the context of achieving home monitoring of older adults and subjects with chronic conditions. Future work required to advance the field toward clinical deployment of wearable sensors and systems is also discussed. Wearable systems for remote monitoring consist of three main components: 1) sensing and data collection hardware to collect physiological and movement data, 2) communication hardware and software to relay data to a remote center, and 3) data analysis techniques to extract clinically relevant information from physiological and movement data. Recent advances in sensor technology, microelectronics, telecommunication, and data analysis techniques have enabled the development and deployment of wearable systems for remote monitoring. Researchers have relied upon advances in these fields to address shortcomings of ambulatory technologies. The miniaturization of sensors and electronic circuits based on microelectronics has played a key role in the development of wearable systems. Advances in microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) have enabled the development of miniaturized inertial sensors used in motor activity and health status monitoring systems. Advances in material science have enabled the development of e-textile based systems that integrate sensing capability into garments. Health monitoring applications of wearable systems often employ multiple sensors integrated into a sensor network. Recent developments in communication standards for low-power wireless communication have enabled the development of numerous communication standards for low-power wireless communication. Wearable sensors are often combined with ambient sensors when subjects are monitored in the home environment. The combination of wearable and ambient sensors is of great interest in several applications in the field of rehabilitation. For instance, when monitoring older adults while deploying interventions to improve balance control and reduce falls, one would be interested in using wearable sensors to track motion and vital signs. Specifically-designed data analysis procedures would then be used to detect falls via processing of motion and vital sign data. In this context, ambient sensors could be used in conjunction with wearable sensors to improve the accuracy of falls detection and, most importantly, to enable the detection of falls even at times when subjects do not wear the sensors. Biochemical sensors have recently gained a great deal of interest among researchers in the field of wearable technology. These types of sensors can be used to monitor the bio-chemistry as well as levels of chemical compounds in the atmosphere. From a design point of view, biochemical sensors are perhaps the most complex as they often require collection, analysis and disposal of body fluids. Advances in the field of wearable biochemical sensors have been slow, but research has recently picked up pace due to the development of micro and nano fabrication technologies. Ambient sensors are used in instrumented environments