Ann Rehabil Med.  2024 Feb;48(1):75-85. 10.5535/arm.230023.

Feasibility of Mobile Health App-Based Home Aerobic Exercise for Physical Performance in Healthy Young Adults

• Nam JS
• Kim HA
• Kwak TJ
• Cho KH
• Jung IY
• Moon CW

• KMID: 2553164
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5535/arm.230023

Abstract

Objective
To investigate the feasibility and effects of a mobile app-based home cycling exercise program compared to home cycling exercise without additional monitoring system. Compared with fitness facilities or outdoor exercise, home-based exercise programs effectively improve physical performance in an indwelling community. However, a flexible, informal environment may decrease motivation and impair adherence to physical exercise. Mobile devices for aerobic exercise and mobile applications provide real-time monitoring, immediate feedback, and encouragement to increase motivation and promote physical performance. We investigated the feasibility and effects of a mobile app-based home exercise program on body composition, muscular strength, and cardiopulmonary function.
Methods
Between February and May 2023, 20 participants were randomly allocated to the intervention (mobile application with a tablet) and control groups, and they performed aerobic exercise using a stationary bicycle for ≥150 minutes per week for 6 weeks (≤30-minute exercise session, with 3-minute warm-up and 3-minute cool-down). Karvonen formula-based heartrate defined the weekly increase in exercise intensity. Outcome measures included body-composition parameters, isokinetic knee flexor and extensor strength tests, cardiopulmonary exercise test results, and rate of target heart rate (HR) achievement. Participants were assessed at baseline and after the intervention.
Results
Unrelated personal events led two participants to drop out. The intervention and control groups had similar baseline characteristics. Compared with the control group, in the post-intervention isokinetic strength test, bilateral knee flexor and extensor power, and time to target HR achievement significantly increased each week in the intervention group.
Conclusion
Home-based exercise to achieve long-term cardiovascular fitness with portable electronic/mobile devices facilitates individualized exercise using real-time feedback to improve motivation and adherence.

Keyword

Physical activity; Mobile applications; Physical performance; Self-management; Bicycling

Figure

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  Fig. 1. Flow chart of the participants selection.

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  Fig. 2. Home-based exercise program using tablet and wireless heartrate tracker. (A) Setting for the intervention with a heartrate sensor placed on the participant’s right forearm. (B) Screenshot of the game screen delivered to the participants that is displayed while exercising on a bike. Box a: (above) Range of the target HR (yellow line) and current HR (asterisk). Box b: (left) Bar graph showing the relative amount of time elapsed in the game. Screenshot of the game screen showing the lyrics displayed as encouragement when the participants did not reach the target HR range. Summary of training sessions showing the achievement rate of the target HR and the total and actual exercise time on the screen. HR, heart rate.

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  Fig. 3. Achieved target heart rate percentage stratified by each study group for 6 weeks. HR, heart rate.

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