Rastro: aplicativo fitness com elementos de gamificação para promover a saúde e o engajamento na academia

Abstract

Regular physical activity, especially strength training, is widely recognized for its benefits to physical and mental health. However, lack of motivation and difficulty in maintaining regular attendance at gyms still represent a significant challenge for a large portion of the population. In this context, gamification emerges as a promising strategy to increase engagement and adherence to healthy habits. This study presents the development of Rastro, a fitness mobile application that incorporates gamification elements with the aim of stimulating motivation and attendance among gym users. The research adopts an applied approach, including requirements elicitation through a questionnaire administered to strength training practitioners, as well as a theoretical foundation on gamification, software development, and the Octalysis framework. The application was designed following agile development practices and includes features such as workout logging, streak tracking, progress monitoring, and visual feedback to the user. The study indicates that the structured use of gamification elements has the potential to make the training experience more engaging, possibly encouraging continuity in physical exercise practice and contributing to the promotion of users’ health and well-being.