MovementTech: Tech that Enables Healthy Movement

In this post we discuss tech-enabled movement, or MovementTech. Digital tech is increasingly capable of helping us to avoid the hazards of sedentary lifestyles. Dr. James Levine of The Mayo Clinic has suggested that sitting more than 4 to 6 hours daily may be the equivalent of smoking a pack of cigarettes. The performance of knowledge workers, who sit for hours, and digital tech use that encourages screen-focused (physical) immobility is working against us. We see more and more research that links immobility and several chronic and mental illnesses. On the converse, we also research that links mobility to wellness as we age. My physical therapist recently intrigued me by educating me on the Sit-to-Stand Test, which correlates range of motion to healthy aging. Note: I have work to do here. If we are going to be well we must keep moving. Many do not realize that the U.S. government has established a healthy movement recommendation of 150 minutes of moderate activity per week.

Keeping up the 5 Pillars of Health theme, movement contributes to improved sleep, moderate appetite, relaxation, and good relationships when healthy competition and cooperation are involved. Note, I intentionally use the term "movement", and not "exercise", to broaden our conception of movement options that range from walking to sports to calisthenics or yoga to dancing.?

What is MovementTech, or Tech-enabled Movement (TeM)?

MovementTech are those digital technologies are designed to support our education, practice, community, and measurement when it comes to healthy movement. These techs exist in forms that range from:?

• movement content which can be found on blogs, video virtual reality, etc., to?
• movement-oriented channels like social media, digital games, podcasts, YouTube, mobile apps, etc. to
• devices, that deliver movement content and channels, like TVs, laptops/tablets, smartphones, smartwatches, and virtual reality lenses.

In my TeM practice, I favor:?

• Insight Timer which holds my movement timers for squats, planks, etc.,?
• FitBit Watch and GoogleFit (and Paced Walking, in particular) which help me keep track of my steps, calorie burn, and Heart Points
• YouTube channels related to Yoga, Animal Flow, QiGong, TaiChi, etc.
• Quest VR Lenses and games, like SuperNatural,
• Wii Video Game console,?
• NatureDose app which helps me to keep track of the amount of time I spend in nature (moving), and?
• my Movement Journal which I keep in a Google Docs spreadsheet to help me keep track of my daily physical therapy practice.

What are the Risks involved with TeM?

Now, as with all tech use, we have to consider the risks we need to protect ourselves from. With TeM, these include a) avoiding overwork so we move within a healthy volume, frequency, and range, and b) data security, whereby we understand what device, and channel suppliers are doing with the movement data they collect from us.

What is eEvidence of TeM's Effectiveness?

When we look at the evidence supporting TeM, we see a broad representation that both affirms and moderates our view, of TeM’s effectiveness. Examples include:?

• wearable & home monitoring devices studies that show fitness trackers and smartwatches can increase physical activity levels, improve exercise adherence, and enhance overall health outcomes,?
• mobile apps like Nike Training Club and MyFitnessPal have been found to increase physical activity, improve diet, and support weight loss, and
• exergaming that combines exercise with video games, has been found to improve physical activity levels, balance, and cognitive function in older adults.

So as you continue to use these posts to construct your own tech-enabled wellness portfolio, do experiment with these options, or newly acknowledge you are doing this already and keep it up while also modeling for those you influence.

Thanks again for reading our newsletter and spreading the word on The StressTech Insights Newsletter, The Digital Mental Health Project, and our newly released online course, StressTech Literacy. By the way, thanks for taking a look at the course and providing your ratings and recommendations. We are actively looking for audiences, organizations, and collaboration partners who can benefit from greater digital health literacy.

PS: I acknowledge I used Meta AI and Google Gemini in research for this post.