Facilitating Bodily Insights Using Electromyography-Based Biofeedback during Physical Activity

Physical exercises can benefit our health, but avoiding improper form and overexertion is essential. Facilitating bodily insights can encourage learning about exercise form, allowing users to gain a deeper understanding of their physiology. To investigate this, we conducted a lab experiment where amateur users performed bicep curls, and interviews with sports coaches. Participants were provided with FitBack—a system that monitors muscle activity during exercises via electromyography (EMG) and offers real-time biofeedback. Amateurs reported that they were successful in improving their exercise form and could acquire deeper bodily insights. Coaches reflected on how understanding muscle activity through EMG could be effectively used for increasing body awareness during coaching, highlighting that EMG-based biofeedback is beneficial for a diverse set of users. Our work contributes insights into using bodily sensing to help users understand their bodies. We contribute guidelines for designing systems that use EMG biofeedback effectively in physical activity.