An apparatus for the assisted performance of a fitness exercise, equipped with a fitness tool configured to interact with the user to enable the user to perform a movement along a preset path overcoming the force of a resistant load, comprises: sensing means set up to provide a signal representing the movement of the user; feedback means for transmitting a signal to the user during performance of the exercise; a processor connected to the sensing means and to the feedback means to provide the user with feedback in real time on the correctness of performance of the exercise, based on a comparison between the signal representing the movement of the user and a predetermined reference pattern representing an ideal pattern for the movement of the user corresponding to the exercise performed correctly.