Gamifying Resistance Training with Wearable Sensors

Gamification has been extensively applied to aerobic and cardiovascular training, but its adoption in resistance training remains limited. Unlike traditional strength training, which often relies on intrinsic motivation and discipline, gamification introduces extrinsic incentives and real-time feedback that improves engagement and adherence, affecting overall training outcomes. In this work, we develop a gamified resistance training program using wearable sensors to explore the potential benefits of interactive and data-driven exercise experiences. By leveraging real-time feedback and performance tracking, our system provides participants feedback to properly control key training variables such as form and tempo, essential factors for muscle hypertrophy and strength development. To evaluate the effectiveness of our approach, we conducted a short-term comparative study in which participants were assigned to either a gamified training group or a conventional resistance training control group. Over a four-week period, we assessed volitional adherence to prescribed tempo and repetition schemes, along with strength adaptations in the biceps and triceps. Our findings indicate that gamified resistance training significantly enhances adherence to tempo and repetition targets while fostering better adaptation to the workout regime. Participants in the gamified group exhibited measurable improvements in upper body strength compared to the control group. These results suggest that gamification when integrated with wearable sensor technology, can be a powerful tool for optimising resistance training effectiveness and motivation.