Walking is a low-impact form of exercise that increases levels of fitness and health. Unlike some other forms of exercise, especially those that require the use of exercise machines, you can walk without any training and almost anyone can do it. It is also a form of exercise you can do as you age. It is a safe exercise, without the risk of injury that comes with contact sports. Pedometers can help make walking a productive form of exercise. Pedometers measure the distance walked, and if you use a pedometer, you can set distance goals for your exercise sessions. According to the Texas A&M Agrilife Extension, people who used a pedometer during a study increased their physical activity by 26.9 percent. To use a pedometer, you'll need to measure the length of your stride.
Step 1
Take a set number of steps, 10 or 20. The number of steps depends on the length of your tape measure. Generally, the more steps you take, the more accurately you'll be able to make your pedometer. Make sure you mark the starting line before you take the steps.
Step 2
Mark the end of your 10 or 20 steps. Take your steps in your normal stride.
Step 3
Measure the distance from the starting line to the end of the 10 or 20 steps. Multiply the number of feet by 12 to get the distance in inches. Record the distance if you want to keep it for your records.
Step 4
Divide the distance traveled in inches by the number of steps. For example, if you took 10 steps and you walked a distance of 240 inches, the average length of each step is 24 inches.
Step 5
Enter the step length into the pedometer according to the pedometer instructions.
Tips and Warnings
- Although pedometers measure the distance traveled, they do not measure the intensity of the movements. To achieve a moderate workout pace, try 100 steps per minute.
- Some pedometers can miss steps if you don't attach them on your hip correctly.
Things You'll Need
- Tape measure
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