In this Article

• What are the benefits of stepping out with pedometers?
• What's a pedometer used for?
• How do pedometers work?
• Are pedometers accurate?
• Which type of pedometer is best for me: piezoelectric or spring-levered?
• Are pedometers accurate for measuring distance and calories?
• How many steps should I take?
• Which pedometer is accurate?
• How do I position my pedometer on my body?
• How do I know if my pedometer is accurate?
• How do I go about getting started with my first pedometer?
• How far am I walking? How many steps are there in a mile?
• How do I increase my daily steps?
• How do I keep track of my progress?
• Where can I purchase a pedometer?
• Pedometers Index

Where can I purchase a pedometer?

Pedometers are available online, at sporting-goods stores, and large retail outlets. Look for pedometers that were reviewed in the study I presented in this article, but keep in mind that some vendors sell the same brands under a different name. For instance, the Accusplit Eagle 120XL, although not reviewed in the study, is the same as the Yamax Digi-Walker. Ask the vendor for details, and make sure that you can return it if it's not accurate, no matter which one you buy.

Some pedometers have a safety strap or leash that loops around a belt or belt loop so if your pedometer pops off you won't lose it. These are good to have because it's not uncommon to hear stories about pedometers falling off and breaking or even popping into the toilet! Also make sure that your pedometer has a cover (most do). This will prevent you from accidentally hitting the reset button in the middle of the day. It's frustrating to hit the button and reset your pedometer to zero when you've worked so hard to accumulate 5,000 steps!

Below are two reliable vendors that sell pedometers online, but you can find others if you search.

• http://www.accusplit.com



• http://www.digiwalker.com

Go for it!

Don't expect a pedometer to zap you into walking like crazy the moment you put one on, but they do provide objective, accurate, and reliable data to help you assess how many steps you're taking. My experience is that individuals are shocked when they see how few steps they take and that the feedback from the pedometer is a motivator to increase steps during the day. Most Americans don't take close to 10,000 steps per day, and so if this device gives you a little oomph to move more, then it's worth the investment! Go for it!

References: Lichtman SW et al. Discrepancy between self-reported and actual caloric intake and exercise in obese subjects. N Engl J Med. 1992 Dec 31;327(27):1893-8.

Melanson EL, et al Commercially available pedometers: considerations for accurate step counting. Prev Med. 2004 Aug;39(2):361-8.

Melanson EL, et al Commercially available pedometers: considerations for accurate step counting. Prev Med. 2004 Aug;39(2):361-8.

Crouter SE, Schneider PL, Karabulut M, Bassett DR Jr. Validity of 10 electronic pedometers for measuring steps, distance, and energy cost. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2003 Aug;35(8):1455-60.

Crouter SE, Schneider PL, Karabulut M, Bassett DR Jr. Validity of 10 electronic pedometers for measuring steps, distance, and energy cost. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2003 Aug;35(8):1455-60.

Tudor-Locke C, Bassett DR Jr,. How many steps/day are enough? Preliminary pedometer indices for public health. Sports Med. 2004;34(1):1-8.

Le Masurier GC, Sidman CL, Corbin CB. Accumulating 10,000 steps: does this meet current physical activity guidelines? Res Q Exerc Sport. 2003 Dec;74(4):389-94.

Crouter SE, Schneider PL, Karabulut M, Bassett DR Jr. Validity of 10 electronic pedometers for measuring steps, distance, and energy cost. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2003 Aug;35(8):1455-60.

Croteau KA. Strategies used to increase lifestyle physical activity in a pedometer-based intervention. J Allied Health. 2004 Winter;33(4):278-81