Pedometers are small devices that count the number of steps that you walk, jog or run. Both simple and high-performance pedometers can be worn on your wrist, arm or waistband as you exercise. The accuracy of any pedometer, whether it is the amount of steps you move or your speed, depends upon the proper calibration of the instrument. When you get your new pedometer, it is important to follow the manufacturers' instructions for proper calibration. You will need to calibrate your pedometer to determine accurately the distance you have gone during a specified amount of time.
Step 1
Program your pedometer. Using the instruction manual, program your pedometer so that all the requested physical information about yourself, including height and weight, are properly applied. Be sure that your pedometer also has a distance and timer functions since these two components are necessary to calculate speed.
Step 2
Measure your stride. Your pedometer will need to know the length of your stride before it can calculate the distance you have walked or run. From a starting point, take 10 normal steps and measure the distance from start to finish. Divide this distance by 10 to get the average length of your stride. Repeat this process several times for a more accurate estimation.
Step 3
Apply your information. Using the results obtained from your stride measurements, you can program your pedometer for your approximate stride length. When your pedometer counts a step, it will assume you have traveled the length of your stride, and it will add up these lengths to determine total distance.
Step 4
Test your pedometer. Determine a specified course with a premeasured distance to validate your pedometer. Reset your pedometer and start a stopwatch as you proceed along your preselected course. When you have finished your route, stop the stopwatch and examine the readings on your pedometer. If the amount of distance covered in the amount of time reflects what you have premeasured and timed independently, then you have successfully calibrated your pedometer to measure your speed accurately.
Tips and Warnings
- Repeated measurements of your stride will improve the accuracy of your pedometer when estimating distance over time. Measure your stride based on the pace of your exercise. For example, if you are going to be walking rather than running, measure your stride by walking.
- Inaccurate stride measurements will cause your pedometer to provide inaccurate speed estimations. Some pedometers do not automatically calculate your speed as you move. Instead, it may give you an average speed at the end of your walk or run.
Things You'll Need
- Pedometer
- Tape measure
- Calculator
- Stopwatch
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