Medical Disclaimer

Please read this page before you start training with CritixFit, and again whenever your health changes. It is part of our Terms of Service.

CritixFit is a training app, not a medical service

CritixFit and its coaches give general fitness and training information for healthy adults. CritixFit is not a medical device. It does not diagnose, treat, cure, mitigate or prevent any disease or medical condition, and nothing in CritixFit is medical, physiotherapy, nutritional or psychological advice.

CritixFit is made for people who want help with walking, running, riding, swimming and lifting, from a first walk to race day. It builds a plan around your goal and your time. It does not know your medical history the way your own doctor does, and it cannot examine you.

Our coaches are AI, not people

Alex, Marcus, Sofia and Mia are AI coaches. They are not doctors, physiotherapists, dietitians or therapists, and they can make mistakes. Marcus can talk with you about aches and recovery, Sofia about food and fuelling, and Mia about motivation and race nerves, but none of them gives medical advice. When something sounds medical, they will send you to a real professional.

See a doctor before you start

Talk to a doctor before you start or change a training plan, especially if you have or had a heart condition, chest pain, high blood pressure, fainting or dizziness, diabetes, asthma, a recent injury or surgery, take regular medication, are pregnant or recently gave birth, are over 45 and not used to exercise, or have a history of disordered eating.

CritixFit asks you about some of these when you join, such as a heart condition, pregnancy, disordered eating and joint pain, so that your plan can stay gentler. Answering those questions does not replace a conversation with your doctor, and your plan is not a medical clearance.

If you are pregnant, young, older or living with a health condition

• Pregnancy and after birth: your doctor or midwife knows best what is right for you now. A CritixFit plan keeps things easy and steady if you tell us you are pregnant, but please check with them first and after any change.
• Under 18: CritixFit is for people aged 16 and over. If you are under 18, train with the knowledge of a parent or guardian and the advice of a doctor.
• Older adults and people who are new to exercise: start slowly, build up over weeks, and ask your doctor what is safe for you.
• Medication and conditions: some medicines and conditions change how your heart rate and your body react to effort. Your own numbers may not match what a plan expects. Ask your doctor.
• Injuries and pain: if you tell a coach that something hurts, the plan works around it. That is not a diagnosis, and it does not make it safe to train through pain. If it is sharp, growing or does not settle, see a professional.

Never delay medical help because of the app

Don't ignore, delay or replace professional medical advice because of something you read or heard in CritixFit. If you are unsure whether something is serious, treat it as serious and get it checked.

Stop if something feels wrong

Stop training at once and get medical help if you feel chest pain or pressure, unusual shortness of breath, dizziness or faintness, a racing or irregular heartbeat, or sharp or growing pain. Also stop if you feel nauseous, confused, or much weaker than normal, or if it is very hot or very cold and you feel unwell.

Harder sessions, such as intervals, long runs and long rides, ask more of your body. Warm up first, stay hydrated, and do not push through symptoms because a plan or a number says you should.

In an emergency, call your local emergency number

For example 112 in Europe, 911 in the US, 101 in Israel. CritixFit cannot call for help, and it is not watched in real time. If you or someone near you is in danger, call your local emergency number now. The AI safety page lists crisis lines for several countries.

Numbers are estimates

Heart rate, HRV, readiness, sleep, GPS distance and pace, calories, race predictions and training load come from your phone, your watch and other devices, and from estimates. They can be wrong. Use them as a training guide, never to judge your health. A score that looks low or high is a prompt to listen to your body, not a verdict about it.

Heart rate and HRV measured by the phone camera

Your phone's front camera and a soft red light on the screen read tiny colour changes in your fingertip with every heartbeat. From the gaps between beats we work out your HRV (RMSSD). Sit still and breathe normally for up to 60 seconds.

It works best at rest, in the same position, at the same time each morning. Movement, cold fingers, pressing too hard and bright light can make it less accurate. A chest strap is more precise.

CritixFit measures heart rate and HRV for training only. It does not measure blood pressure or blood oxygen, it does not check your heart rhythm, and it can't tell you anything about your heart health. If you're worried about your heart, see a doctor.

A training guide, not a health check. When a reading is quite different from your usual, rest, measure again tomorrow, and if you feel unwell or this keeps happening, it may help to talk to a doctor.

Wearables, GPS and data accuracy

Data from watches, phones and connected services (Garmin, Suunto, Polar, Strava, Apple Health, Google Health and others) can be missing, late or wrong, and we can't control those services. GPS can drift, especially among tall buildings, under trees and in tunnels. Heart rate from the wrist is less accurate than from a chest strap. Check that numbers look right before you rely on them.

You are responsible for your safety while recording or following a route: obey traffic rules, stay aware of your surroundings, and don't look at your phone where it isn't safe. Routes CritixFit suggests may cross roads, closed paths or unsafe areas. Always check a route yourself and use your own judgement.

Training outdoors and in the water

• Running and walking: face the traffic where there is no pavement, carry your phone and some identification, and tell someone where you are going. In the dark, wear something that drivers can see.
• Riding: wear a helmet, obey the road rules, keep your bike in good order, and do not use your phone while you ride.
• Swimming: a pool with a lifeguard is safer than open water. In open water, never swim alone, use a bright cap and a tow float, know the currents and the water temperature, and get out if you feel cold or unwell. A plan cannot see the conditions where you are.
• Heat, cold and air quality: the weather on a screen is a forecast. Drink before you are thirsty, dress for the weather, and shorten or skip a session when it is extreme or the air is poor.

Strength and mobility

The strength library shows each move in a short video. Start light, keep good form, and skip any move that hurts. Use a spotter or a safe set-up for heavy lifts. A video cannot see your form, so if you are unsure, ask a qualified instructor to show you in person.

Food and mind

Sofia gives general fuelling ideas. They are not a diet plan, and a registered dietitian can tailor advice to you. The coaches never suggest calorie deficits or weight targets. If you have a history of disordered eating, or if food and weight start to take over your thinking, please speak to a doctor or a registered dietitian.

Mia helps with race-day nerves and focus. She is not a therapist. If things feel heavy, talk to someone you trust or to a professional. If you might be in danger, call your local emergency number or a crisis line.

You decide

Your plan is a suggestion. You choose whether and how hard to train, on what route, in what weather and with what equipment, and you train at your own risk. You may change a session, skip it or stop at any time.

Questions

If something in CritixFit seems unsafe or wrong, tell us at [email protected].