How Step Count and Stride Length Are Calculated?

How Are Step Count and Stride Length Calculated?#

Your HLTH Band counts steps and estimates distance using a built-in motion sensor called an accelerometer, together with the details in your profile. Because the band doesn't have GPS, your profile information is what helps it turn steps into distance.

Check Your Profile First

If your step count or distance looks wrong, the most common cause is an incomplete or incorrect profile. In the QWatch Pro app, go to More > Profile & Settings and check that your:

• Height is correct
• Weight is correct
• Gender is selected

Your band uses these details to estimate the length of each step, so if any are missing or wrong, your distance won't be accurate.

How Your Band Counts Steps

The accelerometer detects your movement in three directions (up and down, side to side, and forwards and back). It uses these movement patterns to count your steps and estimate your distance and active calories.

How Step Length Is Estimated

Your band doesn't use one fixed step length for everyone. It starts with an estimate based on your profile [, typically around 76 cm for men and 67 cm for women], and adjusts it as you move:

• Cadence: how many steps you take per minute. Most people take longer steps as they speed up, so your band adjusts your estimated step length as your pace changes.
• Arm swing: stronger or faster arm movement usually means you're walking or running faster.

Step Length vs Stride Length

These terms are often used interchangeably, but they're slightly different:

• Step length is the distance from one foot landing to the other foot landing. This is one step.
• Stride length is the distance from one foot landing to the same foot landing again. One stride is about two steps.

Your band uses step length, multiplied by your number of steps, to estimate distance.

Why Your Steps Might Look Wrong

Your hands are still while you walk. If you're pushing a pram or shopping trolley, or holding treadmill handrails, your wrist doesn't move much, so some steps may not be counted. For these activities, you can wear your band on your ankle instead, with no extra strap needed. Or move the sensor into our Sport Knit Arm Band and wear it on your upper arm.

Your arms move without walking. Waving or swinging your arms while standing still can sometimes be counted as steps.

Steps doubled in Apple Health? Your iPhone may be counting steps as well as your band. In the Health app, go to Browse > Activity > Steps > Data Sources & Access, tap Edit, and drag QWatch Pro to the top of the list.

Sleep Tracking

The accelerometer also helps track your sleep. Your band combines movement with heart rate variability to identify light, deep and REM sleep, as well as time awake.

Tips for Accurate Step Tracking

• Keep your height, weight and gender up to date in the app
• Wear your band snugly and consistently
• Move naturally, without exaggerating your arm movements
• When your hands are still while walking, wear your band on your ankle or use the Sport Knit Arm Band

Still have questions? Email us at info@hlthtrack.com.