Trendy fitness apps may give you an INJURY, warns personal trainer to stars like Jennifer Lawrence
Trendy fitness apps could increase the risk of injury, a top trainer claims.
London-based PT Dalton Wong, whose clients include Jennifer Lawrence, Kit Harington and Olivia Colman warned that people are often overly focused on getting a “stupid score that doesn’t mean anything in real life.”
As a result, he said users can easily hurt themselves by pushing too far.
Proponents of AI fitness apps, such as Whoop and Freeletics, say they make healthy lifestyles more accessible by letting people track their progress at home.
Many integrate motion capture technology to assess movement and exercise form, providing immediate feedback and corrections. Others use predictive analytics to predict and set fitness goals by analyzing past performance data.
London-based PT Dalton Wong (pictured) warned that people are often overly focused on getting a ‘stupid score that doesn’t mean anything in real life’. As a result, he said users can easily hurt themselves by pushing too far
Some AI-powered apps even allow users to earn points or coins for completing workouts and rank their performance on leaderboards, giving them the chance to rise to different leagues. They often track body data, including heart rate, blood oxygen levels and calories burned. Mr Wong, including Jennifer Lawrence (pictured), criticized the ‘gamification of fitness’
He told The Times: ‘It’s just training. There’s nothing personal about it. When you are tired, other problems happen in your body that AI cannot and does not want to pick up.’ Pictured is Jennifer Lawrence, a PT client of Mr. Wong
Some even allow users to earn points or coins for completing workouts and rank their performance on leaderboards, giving them the chance to rise to different leagues.
They often track body data, including heart rate, blood oxygen levels and calories burned.
However, Mr Wong criticized the “gamification of fitness”.
He told The times: ‘I train at a level I need to complete the gamification of my app, sacrificing my health.
‘Your pain might be a ten, but the app says keep pushing through it, you’re fine – then you could hurt yourself.
“If you’re talking to me and I see you straining, I say, ‘Okay, maybe we should calm down.’
He added: “It’s just training. There’s nothing personal about it. When you are tired, other problems happen in your body that AI cannot and does not want to pick up.’
Research has long shown that excessive exercise can cause muscle breakdown, increase the risk of bone fractures or even cause potentially fatal heart problems.
Mr Wong advised Brits with known ailments to first consult a physio or osteopath to find out which exercises to avoid on such apps. Pictured right with activewear CEO Anjhe Mules and chef Jason Marcus in 2018
A report from BCC Research estimated that the global fitness app market was worth $15 billion (£11.8 billion) in 2022, and is expected to rise to $34.3 billion (£26.9 billion) by 2027. Pictured is Kit Harington, a PT client of Mr. Wong
Research has long shown that excessive exercise can cause muscle breakdown, increase the risk of bone fractures or even cause potentially fatal heart problems. Pictured is Olivia Colman, a PT client of Mr. Wong
Excessive exercise also puts you at risk of weight gain levels of cortisol, the body’s primary stress hormone.
Mr Wong advised Brits with known ailments to first consult a physio or osteopath to find out which exercises to avoid on such apps.
According to a report from BCC Research, the global fitness app market is expected to be worth $15 billion by 2022 and is expected to rise to $34.3 billion by 2027.
Apps that use AI, including Aaptiv, FitnessAI, Fitbod, Freeletics, VI Trainer and Whoop, track training movements and provide instant feedback and suggestions.
They often track body data, including heart rate, blood oxygen levels and calories burned.
London-based AI fitness software company Magic AI reported this month that it was inundated with orders.
The Magic Mirror, a touchscreen mirror that plays videos of an AI-powered trainer guiding users through workouts, won’t ship to new customers until March due to demand.
Experts have suggested that an increasing number of people are asking for the popular AI chatbot ChatGPT to devise training for them.