Using a Pedometer to Increase Fitness Levels

A pedometer is a small digital contraption that counts the number you take when walking. Pedometers can serve as great motivators in helping to improve your fitness and health. Research has shown that individuals who use pedometers regularly increase their activity levels by as much as 25%.

What type of pedometer should I purchase?

There are two basic types of pedometers, piezoelectric, and spring-levered

Spring-levered pedometers utilise a spring-suspended horizontal arm that moves up and down in response to your walking or running movement. Spring-levered pedometers must be positioned in a horizontal plane in order for them to work. They will not function otherwise.

Piezoelectric pedometers utilise a piezoelectric material. A piezoelectric material produces an electric charge when deformed. A piezoelectric pedometer contains a piezoelectric material attached to a weight which produces a voltage when subjected to movement.

Pedometers are most accurate when used at speeds above 3mph. Piezoelectric pedometers are more accurate than spring-levered ones due to their better sensitivity. For spring-levered pedometers the orientation of the device is critical.

To use a pedometer correctly it is best to wear it all day long. Initially, you can use it to test how many steps you take during your daily activities. This way you can set reasonable goals in how to increase the number of steps that you are taking daily. Lots of research has shown that one of the best ways to facilitate weight loss is by taking 10,000 steps per day. 10,000 steps per day is roughly equivalent to a distance of 5 miles depending on your stride length. This may seem like a long distance, but if you start with a small increase every day by, say, an extra 100 steps, you will reach your final goal quicker than you think.

If you believe that you will be never be able to achieve this number of steps per day, perhaps due to age or infirmity, then simply lower your expectations. Any increase in the number of steps you take per day will increase your health and fitness levels.

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