Now i’m as much a sucker for an app that saves me time and money as the next person. However this weeks bad guy is the fitness app.
Strictly speaking the apps are often pretty good, illustrated and informative. The problem lies in that they can’t please everyone.
The example case this week is the lady who came to me with knee pain (both knees). Her new year’s res was to start running so she went off and bought nice new trainers from a good shop for £60 and spent £2.99 on a runners app for beginners.
Bear in mind that there had been no running for 20 years and she was carrying some weight as a consequence.
Two weeks later there was pain+ to both knees and a serious dent in her hopes and confidence.
On discussion she had no clear understanding of pre training mobility nor the need for post run stretch.
Thankfully I managed to put her on the right path before it was too late and she hasn’t broken her resolution yet. But you know maybe, just maybe a little investment to a proper fitness professional would have saved her some pain and got results a little quicker.
The point: Fitness apps are great and here to stay, but for those taking a big step they may be a false economy.