Web/Mobile App Critique

 Oh no. Not another review post!

 

Fear not readers, this will not be a standard post on this blog. However, today I will be reviewing the RP Hypertrophy progressive web app (PWA). Firstly, for those unfamiliar with what a PWA is, it is a web app that can be saved on a mobile phone and functions like a native app in virtually every way. These are often used due to faster ability to develop and deploy them as code doesn't need to be written for multiple platforms.

What it is

RP Hypertrophy is an AI driven hypertrophy focused strength training app. It takes user feedback on metrics like joint pain, muscle soreness, and whether the workload was too high or not. This data is then used to adjust future workouts to be optimal for recovery and muscle growth (or hypertrophy). In the fitness space, there are several AI apps targeted at developing strength for powerlifting. This is the first dedicated more towards building muscle and bodybuilding though.

Usability

The interface is very straight forward and clean. It even features the ability to toggle a dark-mode, which is something many users these days appreciate in an app. It's broken down into "Current Workout", "Mesocycles", "Templates", "Custom exercises", and "Plan a new mesocycle" sections.
Custom workout takes you to the currently planned workout. Mesocycles takes you to previously created training blocks (a specially structured plan of progression taking place over multiple weeks). Templates lets you see pre-created Meso layouts (as seen to the right). Custom exercises lets you create any exercise variations not pre-included in the app (as seen below), and finally "plan a new mesocycle" lets you build a meso from scratch.

Function

The app works very well and largely like stated. It truly adjusts to user feedback from each workout, but when it doesn't adjust enough users can add or remove exercises and sets in the middle of each session. Exercises can be swapped out on the fly as well or adjusted in priority. Weight can also be adjusted. Each meso can be copied and recycled as many times as the user would like as well, and users can go back to see previously completed ones in order to see old personal bests on specific exercises.

Design

This has been touched on briefly, but the interface for the app is very straight forward and simplistic. It also features a dark theme that makes the application more easy on the eyes (as is showcased below).

 

Improvements

1. The application could stand to feature some trend charts to show previous records for old workouts that way users don't have to scour through old workouts individually to find personal bests for progress tracking.
2. "Down-sets" are a feature but it would be easier to simply allow users to adjust weight for each individual set rather than create a new exercise of the same name to adjust the weight. This makes feats like pyramiding very difficult and clunky.

 

Conclusion

In conclusion, this app is very well designed and intuitive. It is simplistic and does largely everything a user could need but the logic systems running behind it are very impressive. It could stand to have a few minor improvements but the app is still in beta phases currently. It is hands down the best beta software I have ever used though and pricing is far more affordable than hiring a coach while still generating better results than paying for a cookie cutter program (or worse, creating your own).