Artificial Intelligence (AI) Mobile Application Versus Health Care Provider (HCP) for Bodyweight Squats: A Randomized, Blinded, Controlled Clinical Trial

Artificial intelligence (AI) is changing the way people can address their health needs. One such way related to physical exercise is AI-enabled exercise mobile application (digital coach), which uses motion tracking technology to monitor and provide real-time audio feedback on a person's exercise form. However, this AI technology has yet to be independently tested against an in-person evaluator (human coach) for its ability to improve exercise form. This study is a blinded randomized controlled trial comparing the ability of the digital coach (n=15) and a Physical Therapist (PT) human coach (n=15) to improve bodyweight squat form in 30 able-bodied volunteers age 20 - 35. Each volunteer performs 10 unassisted control squats, then 10 squats with assistive vocal feedback from either coach after each repetition, and finally 10 more unassisted test squats, all squats video-recorded. Three independent video evaluators count the number of correct squat repetitions completed by volunteers before and after intervention by the different coaches. This project is important to validate the digital coach compared to a PT human coach in a small population using a bodyweight squat for its wide applicability to daily movement patterns.