Accepted for/Published in: JMIR mHealth and uHealth
Date Submitted: May 5, 2019
Date Accepted: Oct 22, 2019
Smartphone apps versus supervised exercise: Effects on physical activity, cardiorespiratory fitness and body composition from a randomized controlled trial in young individuals with mobility disability
ABSTRACT
Background:
Background Adequate levels of physical activity (PA) and good cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) are associated with profound health benefits for individuals with mobility disability (MD). Despite the vast amount of research published in the field of PA interventions, little attention has been on individuals with MD.
Objective:
Objective The objective of the current trial was to examine the efficacy of an app-based vs. a supervised exercise and health coaching program to support adults with mobility disability to increase levels of physical activity (PA), cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and body composition.
Methods:
Methods Participants with self-perceived MD aged 18-45 years were included in this 12 weeks parallel group randomized controlled trial and allocated at random to an app-based intervention using commercially available apps (the Swedish Military training app (FMTK), the Acupedo walking app and the LogMyFood food photography app) or a supervised exercise and health coaching intervention including 1 weekly supervised exercise session and healthy lifestyle coaching. The primary outcome was level of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) measured with accelerometers, secondary outcomes include CRF measured by the sub-maximal test performed on a stationary bicycle, and body composition measured by bioelectrical impedance. All outcomes were measured at baseline, 6 months and 12 weeks. Linear Mixed Effect Models were used to assess the between group differences as well as the changes trough time in each treatment group.
Results:
Results A total of 110 participants with MD were randomized to an app-based intervention (n=55) or a supervised exercise and health intervention (n=55). The mean age of participants was 34.9 years (SD 6.1) and 82% were women. CRF increased significantly in both groups. However, there were no significant differences between the groups in MVPA or any of the secondary outcomes at 12 weeks.
Conclusions:
Conclusions Commercially available apps increased levels of CRF and improved body composition over 12 weeks to the same extent as supervised exercise sessions, showing that both are equally effective. However, neither the app-based intervention nor the supervised exercise intervention increased MVPA. Clinical Trial: Trial registration Trial registration number: ISRCTN22387524.
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