Physical Activity Apps
The Benefits
Physical activity apps can be incredibly useful to help you achieve your physical activity goals. They can help in variety of ways, particularly when it comes to improving health, staying motivated, and tracking progress. Some of the common benefits of these apps include:
- Goal Setting and Tracking: Set personalised fitness goals and track progress, helping foster a sense of achievement.
- Accountability: Receive reminders and alerts to stay consistent with workouts and meet goals.
- Personalised Plans: Get customisable workout plans tailored to your fitness level and objectives.
- Variety of Activities: Track different exercises, from walking to strength training, depending on preference.
- Motivation: Engage in fitness challenges, share progress, and earn rewards to stay motivated.
- Health Insights: Gain detailed analytics on calories burned, heart rate, sleep, and recovery.
- Convenience: Access your fitness routines and track progress anytime, anywhere.
- Connecting to Wearable Devices: Sync with fitness trackers and smartwatches for accurate activity data.
- Cost-Effective: Most apps are free or affordable compared to personal trainers or fitness classes.
- Track Long-Term Progress: Monitor your improvements over time, staying motivated to reach new milestones.
Finding the right app
Given all these benefits, it's clear why you might want to use a physical activity app. However, choosing the right app for your needs and ensuring it's trustworthy can be challenging. To help you navigate the many options and make an informed decision, we've created an App Self-Assessment Tool.
We offer both a comprehensive tool as well as a light touch version, depending on how thoroughly you want to evaluate an app. You don't need to be an expert to use these tools, but they're designed to guide you in ensuring the app meets your needs, uses personal data responsibly, has professional assurances, is suitably accessible, and offers good usability.
Click below to access App Self-Assessment Tools:
If you're unable to assess apps yourself, we have compiled a list of physical activity apps that have undergone a quality assurance process conducted by ORCHA. You can learn more about ORCHA's process and explore the reviewed apps on our Reviewed Apps Page.
Examples of Apps
Below are apps you may wish to consider. By sharing these apps, we are not endorsing their use, but simply providing examples of available physical activity apps. We encourage you to use the Self-Assessment Tool to assess whether they are suitable for your needs.
We Are Undefeatable
A free app offering customisable activities that can be completed anywhere, anytime. Designed help find what feels good for you and your health condition.
My Fitness Pal
An app to easily track your health and fitness. You can log workouts, set training plans, and monitor nutrition all in one place.
Nike Run Club
The Nike Run Club app motivates you to run consistently, featuring a supportive community to keep you connected and make running more enjoyable.
NHS Active 10
NHS Active 10 Walking Tracker is an app that counts your steps and tracks every minute you walk fast. NHS Active 10 Walking Tracker is suitable for adults and children over 13 years old.
Couch to 5K
NHS Couch to 5K is a running programme for absolute beginners. The app's programme can be completed in as little as 9 weeks, or longer if you want to go at your own pace.
Map My Fitness
An app to easily track physical activities (such as cycling, walking, hiking, running), where you can see extensive analysis of each workout and set personal goals.
FitOn
FitOn Health is a leading digital wellness platform that offers a wide range of workout classes, from cardio and strength training to yoga and pilates.
ESCAPE-pain
The ESCAPE-pain app provides free digital support tools to help those experiencing pain to exercise safely at home.
Street Tag
A gamified healthy lifestyle app that promotes and enhances community-wide participation in physical activities (walking, cycling and running).