Evaluation of Smartphone Pelvic Floor Exercise Applications Using Standardized Scoring System.

Area of Science:

• Digital Health
• Mobile Applications
• Pelvic Floor Health

Background:

• Pelvic floor muscle exercises, including Kegel exercises, are crucial for various health conditions.
• The proliferation of smartphone applications offers new avenues for accessing and performing these exercises.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and evaluate smartphone applications for Kegel and pelvic floor exercises.
• To assess the functionality, features, and accuracy of available apps.
• To compare the quality and value of paid versus free applications.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive search of iTunes and Google Play stores was conducted using relevant keywords.
• A modified APPLICATIONS scoring system was employed to evaluate the identified apps.
• Apps were systematically excluded based on predefined criteria, including relevance, availability, and functionality.

Main Results:

• Out of 120 initial apps, 32 unique applications (15 paid, 17 free) met the inclusion criteria.
• Paid apps demonstrated higher rates of privacy features, use of visuals, and literature citation.
• Despite differences in features, the overall scores for paid and free apps were nearly identical, with Kegel Trainer and Kegel Trainer Pro achieving the highest ratings.

Conclusions:

• The quality of smartphone Kegel and pelvic floor exercise apps is highly variable.
• Both paid and free applications offer similar overall quality and value when assessed using the APPLICATIONS scoring system.