PEDOMETERS KEEPING TRACK OF YOUR STEPS WITH A PEDOMETER

The pedometer is a great fitness tool for those who are looking to motivate themselves throughout the day, or while completing a walking fitness routine. Some people choose to wear this device all day, as it adds motivation by seeing progress. Others wear it while they are going for their daily walk because it offers them the ability to see the stats of their exercise and increase their performance as needed. If you take part in walking as an exercise, and have never heard of the pedometer before, learning about this device could be beneficial for meeting your fitness goals.

How the Pedometer Works

The way that a pedometer works is by sensing the motion of your body and the footsteps that you take throughout the day or during your walking workout. This fitness tool becomes familiar with the typical stride you use when walking, and then takes the reading it gets to turn the motions into a distance reading. While all of the many types of pedometer devices work by counting your steps, there are different ways the devices complete the task.

The pedometer may be inaccurate if you are walking, jogging, or running uphill. Also, on a rock surface or challenging hill, you will likely take smaller steps, which may not register on the pedometer. Also pedometers are more accurate if worn by thin people than those who are overweight. This is because heavier people often walk slower and with a shorter stride. Also, they are unable to keep the pedometer from tilting, which will affect accuracy.

Types of Pedometers

The first pedometer that came out was somewhat difficult to use for an accurate reading because it required you to keep the device positioned upward in order for it to get a proper reading. Now these devices can measure the amount of steps you take no matter how they are placed, and some people are big fans of the pocket pedometer. This type of meter can go in any pocket, which allows you to carry it around easily and get a reading at the end of the day or upon completion of your workout.

A "wear anywhere" pedometer is a type of device that can be attached to anything on your body. Some people attach the device to their shoes, while others attach it to their belt or the lining of their pants. For those who carry a small fitness bag while walking, they can simply attach this device to the bag and get a reading that is precise and accurate.

Some people prefer the wrist pedometer because it allows them to monitor their progress while they complete a walking routine. This type of pedometer is worn just like your standard wrist watch. Some styles of wrist pedometers show you the data right on the face of the device, while others will transmit the information and send it to a smart phone or even your home computer.

Spring pedometers have a very thin spring that moves a tiny bar to count the steps someone takes. While it is the most economical pedometer, the spring can come loose with excessive use, and this can affect accuracy. Electric pedometers have no spring and are considered to be more accurate. With global positioning pedometers, you can get pinpoint accuracy on the traveled distance, but when walking among tall objects that can block the positioning system, they may not read correctly.

With advanced technology, some smart phone devices now have a pedometer built right into them, so you can track the amount of walking you do throughout the day without the need to carry around an additional device. Some people find this method to be convenient, while others would prefer having their device separate from their mobile device. When you use a smart phone as a pedometer, there are clips you can buy that are specially designed to attach the phone to you while walking, but it can also be carried in your pocket.