JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Thousands of mobile apps available for download are geared towards health and fitness, yet limited research has evaluated the real-world effectiveness of such apps. The movr app is designed to enhance physical functioning by prescribing functional movement training based on individualized movement assessments. movr’s influence on functional movement and physical fitness (flexibility, strength, and cardiovascular fitness) has not yet been established empirically.

Objective:

To examine the real-world impact of movr on functional movement, flexibility, strength, and cardiovascular fitness (V̇O2max).

Methods:

Forty-eight healthy adults (24 women, 24 men; 24 ± 5 years) completed an 8-week pilot pragmatic randomized control trial whereby they were randomly assigned to either 8 weeks of use of the movr app (n = 24) or 8 weeks waitlist control (n = 24). Measures of functional movement, strength, flexibility, and V̇O2max were collected at baseline and 8-week follow-up.

Results:

Repeated-measures ANOVAs revealed significant group by time interactions for the 100-point Functional Movement Screen (FMS), shoulder flexibility, active straight-leg raise, half-kneeling dorsiflexion, and push-up tests (Ps < .05), such that pre- to post-intervention improvements were found in the movr group (Ps < .05), but not in the control group (Ps > .05). There were no changes in the sit and reach or handgrip strength test scores for either group Ps > .05). A significant main effect of time was found for countermovement jump (P = .02), such that scores decreased pre- to post-intervention in the control group (P = .02), but not in the movr group (P = .38). Finally, a significant group by time interaction was found for V̇O2max (P = .001), revealing that scores decreased pre- to post-intervention in the control group (P < .001), but not in the movr group (P = .54).

Conclusions:

The movr app holds potential for improving functional movement and physical fitness among healthy adults.