Best Free IOS Fitness Apps According to Sports Scientists
The iOS App Store is full of free fitness apps that promise to deliver the ultimate science-based workout. However, a recent investigation shows that most of these supplements do not meet the guidelines of the American College of Sports Medicine . Here are the ones that come closest.
You’ve probably heard of the 7 Minute Science Workout . This training program is based on research from the American College of Sports Medicine and is designed with the three essential ingredients for staying fit and healthy: aerobics, strength training, and resistance and flexibility training. Hundreds and hundreds of free – usually ad-supported – apps on the App Store claim to provide this, but recent research from the University of Florida suggests otherwise. Research led by François Modave, Ph.D. and Jiang Bian, Ph.D., suggests that very few of these supplements come anywhere close to meeting the actual ACSM guidelines; only one application has shown good results. Here are the top three:
- Personal Trainer Sworkit Lite : Top scorer in all categories and is considered the best in the group. Also available on Android .
- 7 Minute Workout – Workout : Provides aerobic and resistance training, but very little flexibility. No fitness or progress elements.
- StrongLifts 5×5 : Provides progress in the fitness program, but mainly focuses on strength training only. Also available on Android .
Despite these findings, the most important thing is at least some form of activity. Regardless, some exercise is better than no exercise, so do whatever you feel like doing. However, you can also pick whichever will benefit you the most with the free download. You can read the study and find out more at the link below. If these apps don’t do it for you, you can always use them .
The Poor Quality of Free Coach Apps as Recommended by the American College of Sports Medicine: An Overview of Modern Mobile Apps | University of Florida via Tech Insider