Free resistance training workouts will be provided to Hunter residents in a new app designed by University of Newcastle (UoN) researchers.
The mobile application, Ecofit, delivers sessions tailored to 16 outdoor gyms across Newcastle and Lake Macquarie, providing four levels of intensity catering to all abilities.
According to UoN Centre for Active Living and Learning Professor Ron Plotnikoff, adults in the Hunter are not meeting fitness requirements.
“Half the population meets aerobic guidelines but well under 20% would meet the resistance training guidelines,” he explained.
“That’s disappointing because council has built all these parks, but they’re not well-used.”
The average adult should complete at least two sessions of resistance training per week to maintain fitness and mobility, according to public health recommendations.
“Over the past few years, we’ve come to discover the importance of resistance training in adults, especially for those at risk of chronic illnesses like Type 2 Diabetes or mobility issues,” Professor Plotnikoff said.
Ecofit was developed through a decade-long collaborative research project between the Centre for Active Living and Learning, funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia.
It has also been supported by the City of Newcastle and Lake Macquarie City Council.
At-home workouts are provided through the app, too, for people who prefer to exercise in the comfort of their own loungeroom, giving suggestions for strength training exercises with everyday objects like food cans instead of traditional weights.
“We’ve made it user-friendly by reducing a lot of the barriers, including making it free, providing instructions and building up users’ confidence,” Professor Plotnikoff said.
“It has a lot of flexibility because I believe one size does fit all.”
Other features of the app include tracking systems, goal setting software and accessibility adjustments.
“We tried to take into account all ages and abilities, making it as applicable as possible to everyone,” he added.
In the future, as councils build more outdoor exercise facilities, its reach will expand, as well as providing free in-person fitness classes as introductory lessons.
Hunter residents can download the app across both Apple and Samsung devices.
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