Artificial intelligence investigation into physical health activity during COVID-19 lockdown

Abstract

This Artificial Intelligence (AI) assisted, case study type investigation consisted of a review of Fitbit and Inner Balance application (app) records before and during the initial five-week South African COVID 19 lockdown period. Physical health activity consisted of various stillness and movement forms, ranging from subtle energetic, soft styles such as yoga, Pilates, Chi Gung and Tai Chi, through hard style resistance training with and without weights, to vigorous running and swimming. These were typically followed by HeartMath Inner Balance meditation sessions of 5 to 10 minutes in duration, which yielded quantitative coherence and achievement data as well as qualitative experiential descriptions of exercise and meditation. In general, the Covid-19 lockdown appeared to have been associated with improved physical health specifically concerning improved activity, sleep, coherence, resistance and resilience. The AI devices assisted in providing objective evaluations into such perennial ethical healing exhortations as self-knowledge and healing. Findings and implications are discussed.