Advanced technological trends in exercise psychology

The use of exercise-related technology has increased over the past decade (Chadwick, 2006). A recent survey by Motorola in the United States indicated that 85% of exercisers and recreational athletes use some sort of technology when exercising or playing sports (Hautanen, 2007). Additional accounts have also noted that exercisers of all ages use an array of technologies, including smartphones, music devices, and heart rate monitors (Grassi, Preziosa, Villani, & Riva, 2007), and are involved with a variety of video games to keep active (Russell & Newton, 2008). Athletes and exercisers are known to use advanced global positioning systems (GPS) to evaluate their physical workload (Aughey, 2011), signal processing technology to monitor their physiological reactions (e.g., electrocardiogram and electroencephalogram; see Reinecke et al., 2011), aerodynamic swimming suits to serve as radial accelerometers (Stamm, James, & Thiel, 2013), and sports wheelchairs (Burton, Fuss, & Subic, 2011). Consistent with these developments, DNA testing, along with a genetic-based training profile, has become increasingly popular in exercise practice (Wagner & Royal, 2012).