Accepted for/Published in: JMIR mHealth and uHealth
Date Submitted: Jun 25, 2020
Date Accepted: Mar 22, 2021
Smartphone and Tablet Software Applications to Collect Data in Sport and Exercise Settings: Cross-sectional International Survey
ABSTRACT
Background:
Advances in smartphone technology has facilitated an increase in the number of commercially available smartphone and tablet applications that allows the collection of physiological and biomechanical variables typically monitored in sport and exercise settings. Currently it is not fully understood if individuals are collecting data using mobile and tablet, independent of additional hardware, in their practice.
Objective:
The aim of this study was to explore the use of smartphone and tablet software applications to collect data by individuals working in various sport and exercise settings, such as sports coaching, strength and conditioning, and personal training.
Methods:
Three hundred and thirty-five practitioners completed an electronic questionnaire that surveyed their current training practices with a focus on two areas; 1) type of data collection and 2) perceptions of reliability and validity in relation to app use. An 18-item questionnaire, using a five-point likert scale, evaluated the perception of app usage.
Results:
Two hundred and four respondents reported to use apps to directly collect data, with the majority of participants (59% n= 196) collecting biomechanical data. One hundred and thirty-eight (41%) respondents reported to use at least one evidence-based app. A binomial general linear model determined that Evidence Accessibility (β= 0.35, 95% CI [0.04, 0.67], p = .027) significantly related to evidence-based app use. Age (β= -0.03, 95% CI [-0.06, -0.00], p = .032) had a significant negative effect on evidence-based app use.
Conclusions:
The results of this study demonstrate that practitioners show a greater preference towards using smartphone and tablet devices to collect biomechanical data such as sprint velocity and jump performance variables. When it easier to determine the quality of apps, this leads to increased adoption of evidence-based apps. App developers should seek to find independent research to validate their apps. Additionally, app developers should look to provide clear signposting to scientific support of their software in alternative ways.
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Copyright
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