Enhancing Your Daily Activity: The Benefits of Using a Pedometer

A pedometer is a device that estimates and records the number of steps taken by detecting movement and motion. Pedometers offer an inexpensive and accurate way to track and measure ambulatory activities such as walking, running, and climbing stairs. A pedometer is typically worn on the wrist, hip, pants pocket, ankle, or shoe. Pedometers come in several forms, such as watches and clip-ons. Most smartphones are also equipped with a built-in pedometer. 

Using a pedometer to measure movement can be beneficial in many ways. The advantages to using a pedometer include:

• Capturing increases in physical activity.
• Motivation to work towards a specific step goal. 
• Monitoring physical activity during the entire day versus during set periods of dedicated exercise. 

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But can using a pedometer help you get more physical activity? The short answer is yes. Researchers analyzed the data from several studies studying the impact of pedometer use on step count versus participants who did not use pedometers. On average, participants using pedometers increased their physical activity by over 2000 steps from baseline!¹

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Using a pedometer can help you set a specific step goal for the day. Bringing this specificity to any goal increases the chances of success. Looking for ideas for step goals? How does one of these sound? 

• 2,000 steps before lunch
• 4,000 steps by mid-afternoon
• 6,000 steps by the end of the workday.
• 10-12,000 steps per day on the weekend 

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Movement can be fun, and tracking that movement with a pedometer can show insight into overall health and well-being, progress toward physical fitness goals, and provide real-time feedback on activity levels. Send your Care Team a message to let them know if you use a pedometer, how you plan to reach your daily movement goals or if you’d like to explore using one in the days ahead!

*References available with PDF download