Evaluating Evidence-Based Content, Features of Exercise Instruction, and Expert Involvement in Physical Activity Apps for Pregnant Women: Systematic Search and Content Analysis.
Melanie J HaymanKristie-Lee AlfreyKim WatersSummer CannonGregore Iven MielkeShelley Elizabeth KeatingGabriela P MenaMichelle F MottolaKelly R EvensonMargie H DavenportS Ariel BarlowEmily Budzynski-SeymourNatalie R ComardelleMadison DickeyCheryce L HarrisonGeoff D C BallTrine MoholdtLisa J MoranTaniya S NagpalStephanie SchoeppeStephanie J AlleyWendy J BrownSusan L WilliamsLisa VinczePublished in: JMIR mHealth and uHealth (2022)
Few exercise apps designed for pregnancy aligned with current evidence-based physical activity guidelines. None of the apps screened users for contraindications to physical activity and exercise during pregnancy, and most lacked appropriate personalization features to account for an individual's characteristics. Few involved qualified experts during the development of the app. There is a need to improve the quality of apps that promote exercise in pregnancy to ensure that women are appropriately supported to engage in exercise and the potential risk of injury, complications, and adverse pregnancy outcomes for both mother and child is minimized. This could be done by providing expert guidance that aligns with current recommendations, introducing screening measures and features that enable personalization and tailoring to individual users, or by developing a recognized system for regulating apps.
Keyphrases