AI Exercise Launches in December

Over the past quarter-century, over 100,000 research studies have highlighted exercise as the most effective medicine available.

The World Health Organization (WHO), in their 2019 Guidelines on Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior, pointed out:

Regular physical activity is a known protective factor for preventing and managing noncommunicable diseases like cardiovascular disease, type-2 diabetes, and cancers of the breast and colon.

Despite this understanding, a comprehensive solution compiling existing health research for the general public is still missing.

Crafting an exercise prescription requires consideration of numerous health parameters, such as exercise type, intensity, fitness level, and risk, which is a calculation beyond human capacity.

Motivated by her role as a board member at NextStep Robotics—a tech company committed to developing rehabilitation tools for stroke recovery—Maggie Deng founded Ginkgo Health.

Through her work in NextStep, she observed that neurologists and physiotherapists consistently emphasized that prevention through task-oriented exercise plans must begin before severe physical impairments occur.

Introducing the First AI Software for Exercise Prescription

Instead of relying on books, social media influencers, or personal trainers, Ginkgo Active users receive personalized exercise plans created by Ginkgo's advanced AI system.

These prescriptions, informed by over 170,000 health data points, ensure comprehensive training across all muscle groups, fostering movement literacy while reducing exercise risks.

"A personalized approach is crucial to achieving the best outcomes," says Amanda Leonard, Program Director for the Neurologic Physical Therapy Residency Program at the University of Maryland Medical System.

She emphasizes that individualized plans are essential for optimal recovery.

Ginkgo Active can make precise adjustments to training plans in real-time. It automatically updates daily workouts to consider factors like limited equipment during travel, daily energy levels, and current exercises.

Every month, users undergo a health reassessment to receive an updated exercise plan.

"Collaborating with Ginkgo to create a launch-ready version of Ginkgo Active was an amazing experience," states Jose Hernandez, CEO of TTT Studios.

"Their goal of making preventive health accessible to all resonated deeply with us. We’re excited to contribute to its availability so that people can benefit from it immediately."

Since October 2023, Ginkgo Active has undergone extensive user testing, refining the app for optimal performance.

The underlying algorithm has been validated against more than a million simulated user profiles using statistically representative data on common chronic illnesses in North America.

To date, seven business groups have joined group benefit plans, offering Ginkgo Active to employees and their families.

"The concept of 'movement literacy,' which I learned from Ginkgo, is vital for preventing injuries," says Anna Chin, founder of a chain of early childhood education centers.

She aims to reduce injuries from tasks such as lifting children or rearranging classrooms and plans to discuss potential reduced insurance rates if claims decrease.

A Product With No Compromise

"We couldn't find any existing technology capable of guiding billions of people in performing billions of different training regimens simultaneously," remarks Deng.

"We understand why some products resort to pre-recorded videos and wearable tech to encourage activity."

"Inspired by gaming technology, where millions can play simultaneously and experience their unique narratives, we envisioned a digital twin for individualized daily training guidance."

From the start, Ginkgo collaborated with partners in the gaming and film industries to adapt technologies previously unused in health applications.

To ensure easy adoption for users of all ages, the app features a fully gamified storyline that mirrors real experiences and fosters motivation and habit formation.

"We often heard recommendations to start with a basic solution, but we couldn’t accept a simple tool as a fix for a complex issue," explains Deng.

"Today's complex health conditions demand smarter, user-friendly solutions, reflecting the vision shared by NextStep and Ginkgo," notes Brad Hennessie, CEO of NextStep Robotics.

With backing from clinical partners and medical experts from Maryland University and Johns Hopkins, their preventative solution gains strong support.

According to the WHO, if physical inactivity levels are not reduced, the global healthcare cost by 2030 is anticipated to be around $300 billion.

Source: finance

The opinions shared in the GymNation blog articles are solely those of the respective authors and may not represent the perspectives of GymNation or any member of the GymNation team.