Smartphone apps, fitness trackers and wearable devices help people with heart disease get more physical activity in their daily lives, according to an analysis of previous research published today in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
Digital devices can set personalized daily step goals, generate reminders or motivational messages, give feedback on progress or link home-based rehabilitation programs to health care professionals to help guide and monitor treatment.
Some of the applications also included gamification (such as quizzes or rewards), coaching and goal review, allowing people to track their progress and adjust their activity goals.
The analysis found that compared to peers who did not use digital tools, people using smartphone apps or wearable technologies:
- walked nearly 1,100 more steps daily, and
- engaged in about 4 more minutes of moderate-to-vigorous movement per day.