Smartphone applications can be a real boost to motivate yourself to exercise or simply better support a session. Just who are these apps for? You may have already downloaded one of these, like Nike Training Club from the equipment giant, the running specialist Runtastic or Freeletics which offers fitness sessions with a virtual coach. While we know that regular physical activity is a source of benefits for older people, can they also take advantage of apps to train at home or elevate your usual session ? Catalan researchers have looked into the subject by analyzing several mobile applications dedicated to physical exercise.
15 sports apps scrutinized
Realized by scientists from the Open University of Catalonia (UOC), thestudy was led by Luis Soto, a physiotherapist who works at Parc Sanitari Pere Virgili, a health establishment in the city of Barcelona. The researchers, experts in digital health, have reviewed 15 of the more than 8,000 fitness apps available on the Apple App Store and Play Store from Google. Each application had to have been downloaded more than 10,000 times, be intended for older people, have been updated in the last three years, be available in English and not be limited to a specific discipline.
After observing the specifics of the 15 applications, the scientists revealed no no application adapted to the cognitive needs of users. According to them, an application intended for elderly people must be simple, intuitive and focused on their needs. “We found a limited variety of apps for this user profile, and we believe those available might be better suited to the needs of vulnerable older people, in terms of exercise prescription and ease of usewhich would make them more autonomous in the process“, commented lead researcher Luis Soto.
Include seniors in application development
Thus, scientists believe that users should be directly included in the process of creating mobile applications. Furthermore, they emphasize that, not only elderly people, but above all older people from different backgrounds and different levels of technical skillsmust participate in the development of applications.
Additionally, the researchers found thatonly one of the applications was based on scientific evidence. “Technology can help us, but it needs to be examined quantitatively and qualitatively. The objective of the study was to obtain a qualitative perspective (while taking into account scientific evidence) of the applications that professionals could use to prescribe exercises for frail elderly people“added Luis Soto.
Sources :
- Exercise apps do not meet older people’s needs – Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC)
- Mobile applications to prescribe physical exercise in frail older adults: review of the available tools in app stores – Age and Ageing
