Comparison Of Two Assessments Of Exercise Technique: Visual Observations And Automated Feedback

PURPOSE: Visual assessment is a valid method to assess movement quality and is frequently used in both research and clinical settings. Automated feedback provided by a smart trainer could reduce time and labor of exercise technique assessment by automatically detecting errors in movement quality. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare visual observations of exercise technique by an expert physical therapist (PT) to automated feedback from a smart trainer device during five lower extremity resistance training exercises. METHODS: Thirty healthy adults (50% female) were recruited for this cross-sectional study. Participants completed the Bulgarian split squat, Neutral grip deadlift, Racked reverse lunge, Racked front squat, and Resisted step up in a randomized order using a smart trainer that utilizes electromagnetic force that resembles a standard cable machine. Exercise technique was visually assessed by an expert physical therapist in the sagittal and frontal planes using an observation tool (correct/incorrect). Automated feedback was provided by the smart trainer device based on the analysis of the cable movements (e.g. pace, symmetry). Participants were blinded to the visual observations and the automated feedback. RESULTS: A total of 13 participants (43%) triggered automated feedback. Automated feedback was compared to the expert physical therapist visual observation by calculating the proportions of those who were marked with incorrect technique base on visual observations (Table 1). CONCLUSIONS: Best comparison between visual observations and automated smart trainer feedback was observed for balance in the Resisted step-up. Both the smart trainer and the PT identified similar technique errors, however, the PT observed a greater quantity of errors compared to the smart trainer. The results of this study should be interpreted with caution due to limited sample size and lack of statistical analysis of between-group differences.Supported by: This study was funded through the Tonal Strength Institute Research Award. The funding agency did not have any role in the collection, analysis or interpretation of the data.