Step Counter Pedometer

For a step counter pedometer to measure distance, you must measure your average step length or average stride length. First, read the instructions on your step pedometer carefully. Most ask for the step length.

Step Length: The distance from the heel print of one foot to the heel print of the other foot. This is the distance traveled forward by a single leg.

Stride Length: This can mean the same thing as step length, or it can mean the distance traveled by the heel of one foot to the next time that same foot strikes down – in other words, two steps, since in that time the other foot has also touched down once. If you set your pedometer for your step length and discover it seems to be halving your distance, read the instructions again – it may want the stride length, which is two steps. Also, the reverse – if you at first thought the step counter pedometer needed the stride length but you seem to be getting double the distance, read again as they may have really wanted the step length.

The Wet Foot Walk
Rob Sweetgall of Creative Walking, Inc. touts this method of measuring step length to set your step pedometer. Create a puddle of water on a stretch of sidewalk or street where you can be walking your natural speed before and after you reach it. Start walking at your natural pace and walk through the water. Keep walking naturally for about 10 more steps.

Now measure the distance from the heel of your left footprint to the heel of your right footprint on several of the wet footprints and average them. If your pedometer is set in feet, divide the inches by 12 to get feet. Step length in inches/12 inches = Step length in feet.

Measured Distance Short Walk
Measure off a known distance – 20 feet or 50 feet. Then get up to speed in your natural walk and count the number of steps it takes to cover that distance. Divide the number of feet by the number of steps. Feet/steps = Step length in feet.

Measured Distance Long Walk
Use a football field, which is 300 feet from goal line to goal line. Count your steps. Divide 300 by the number of steps. Use a regulation track at the local high school. This is tricky because some are 1/4 mile = 440 yards = 1,320 feet, while others are 400 meters = 1,308 feet, so you may have to ask the coach. Walk in the inside lane only. Count your steps. Divide either 1,320 or 1,308 by the number of steps. This should be more accurate than the short walk because your stride will vary over the distance.

Ten Step Measure
Make a mark at the heel of your right foot and then walk 10 steps, marking where the heel sets down on your tenth step. Measure the distance. Divide that distance by 10. This method can be inaccurate because you start and end at a dead halt, which is not your normal stride.

Estimate by Height
These are rough estimates, but useful to check your results by the other methods:

Females: Your height x .413 equals your stride length
Males: Your height x .415 equals your stride length

Article Source: Wendy Bumgardner, About.com Guide

Technorati Tags: Step Counter Pedometer, Step Pedometer, Yamax Pedometer

One of the most popular brands of step counter pedometer in the market is the Yamax CW-701 Digiwalker pedometer. Most people find it different from other pedometers in terms of design, features and usability. The Yamax pedometer has been used in many medical studies as a standard pedometer due to its accuracy. It has also been featured in several articles for its achievement in starting the walking program to promote healthy living.

Many people find the Yamax pedometer is very different than any pedometer you may have used.

• It is more accurate, lighter weight and less obtrusive in comparison to other pedometers.

• One of the most obvious difference is that it has a hinged protective cover to hide the buttons, which helps prevent them from accidentally pressed.

• Made from the world famous Digiwalker pedometer engine, this step counter pedometer is claimed to be one of the most accurate pedometers in the industry for both reliability and accuracy.

• Its features include readings of steps, distance, calories, activity time, clock and two-week memory. This two-week memory allows you to keep track of the steps taken in total each day for a week, and compare it to the previous week to monitor your progress.

• The Yamax pedometer not only can be worn on your waistband, but it can also be put in your top pocket, trouser front pocket, in your purse, or even wear around the neck. All these methods will work just as good and produce an accurate step reading.

Independent studies concluded that the Yamax pedometer is the most accurate pedometer; as such it has been benchmarked as the gold standard pedometer. This step counter pedometer has been used in many medical studies, such as cancer, diabetes, smoking and overall health & wellness. The study undertaken by Ghent University in Belgium used the Yamax Digiwalker as the standard against which other models were evaluated. About 1,000 pedometers were tested, of the 973 pedometers, almost 3/4 either over or under estimated the total steps by 10% or more. In more of a 1/3 of cases, the error was found to be greater than 50%.

Researchers have concluded that many people have been misled by their step readings and this could actually lead to inaccuracy in calories consumption, distance walked and poor weight control. The above studies have been published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine (June 2006). The Yamax pedometer has also been featured in several articles on how the device has motivational factors for individuals starting a new walking program. Some articles have been written in Newsweek (May 2004), Prevention (July 2004), and the San Diego Times (August 2004).

Technorati Tags: Pedometer Steps, Step Counter Pedometer, step pedomter, Yamax Pedometer