Fitness apps lead to postural damage

Test: Fitness apps pose health risks

04/10/2015

Fitness apps are practical, usually cheaper than a gym membership and immensely popular. „Computer picture“ has tested the five most popular mobile applications and came to a frightening result: fitness apps can cause bad posture and greatly overburden the user. As a result, health problems threaten. Anyone who has no experience, should therefore prefer to train for the bikini or swimwear figure under professional guidance.

Many fitness apps overwhelm newcomers to training
The thought of swimming in the summer summit puts many already in stress. Because the winter bacon persists on the hips and the bikini figure seems almost unattainable. There comes a fitness app just right. Why not train for a given program - conveniently via the smartphone, which you always have with you? The apps should remind the user of exercises and have a motivating effect by indicating the progress of the performance. In addition, they usually provide a complete training program that is customized for some digital applications. „Computer image“-Editor Thomas Vattrodt has tested the five most popular fitness apps with colleagues and health professionals. His conclusion: „The level of proposed workouts is sometimes much too high and does not take into account individual physical characteristics enough. "

The apps were checked „Virtuagym Pro ", „Freeletics ", „Daily Trainigs ", „7 minutes of training "and „7 minute workout ", which was selected based on the number of downloads, and in particular, testers complained that none of the mobile fitness assistants were asking about their health issues, such as back problems or joint problems, as most apps asked Weight, but derived no consequences for the training, as the editors said.Vattrodt also emphasizes that the predetermined training sessions for beginners are often too violent and overwhelmed, such as 20 pull-ups for a newcomer training. „Beginners should rather have the exercises shown by the experts before they reach for the app. Because some beginner plans could even bring real fitness professionals to their limits, "says the editor.

For advanced users, fitness apps can provide ideas for new exercises
The best cut in the test was the fitness app „Virtuagym Pro“ from. „For just 7 euros a month, the app offers extensive training plans and 400 exercises. Anyone who is already familiar with the test winner will find inspiration and new exercises, "says Vattrodts. „However, a few mistakes crept in here, which can lead to postural damage. "

In second place landed „Freeletics“, who scored points due to her comparatively good individual work-outs. However, this app offers only 35 exercises and it lacks a choice of muscle groups. In addition, there is a high subscription price of 35 euros. The editors and health experts, however, rated positively that the app provides the most detailed information about the health risks of overloading and poor posture.

The „7 minutes of training "and" 7 minutes of workout "were noticed because of the low number of exercises, the non-variable course and the lack of training alternatives.The health experts involved in the test classified some exercises, such as the back triceps pressing with the help of a chair, even as dangerous.

If you still want to lose a few kilos by the summer, you should opt for a professionally-managed work-out instead of a fitness app. Corresponding courses as well as strength and endurance training offer fitness clubs as well as sports clubs. (Ag)