Most people have now heard of the daily 10,000 steps goal. It is the baseline average set for most fitness trackers on the market these days. This seems to be a magic number, but there is actually no scientific evidence behind it. The actual science pushes for 30-45 minutes a day of aerobic conditioning, which is recommended by the American Heart Association. There are numerous studies supporting aerobic conditioning for cardiovascular health and overall positive well-being. The 10,000 step goal was actually was just a marketing scheme for a Japanese pedometer first made in 1965. The pedometer had a Japanese name that translated to 10,000 steps, and the advertising campaign pushed that concept.
Walking To Better Health
The reality of walking a certain amount does have some merit. Monitoring your step count and standing every hour has the incentive to increase your overall activity level. A normal person will walk somewhere between 3,000 and 6,000 steps in a day with routine activity such as work, shopping, and moving about the home. Adding in 30 minutes of aerobic activity hopefully adds another 3,000-4,000 steps or more and pushes a person over 10,000 steps. Therefore the push to about 10,000 steps helps most people to get their extra aerobic workout as recommended for good cardiovascular fitness.
The overall goal of tracking activity is to motivate you to maintain a higher level of fitness. Being able to check your step count is feedback and accountability for being active. Some people can maintain activity levels without tracking themselves and others do group activities so they are accountable to more than just themselves. Many people unfortunately just do not care and let their physical fitness slide. Keeping active and exercising is one of the best ways to stay healthy. It is easier to be lazy, but to feel more healthy, exercise along with eating right and sleeping is essential. If you want to improve your health, it may pay to start tracking your habits, including activity, eating and sleeping. Using a fitness tracking device and the associated computer or phone app may greatly improve your success.
The benefit of exercise cannot be forgotten for anyone who has chronic pain. Keeping the body fit reduces pain in a number of ways. A good program will include stretching of the body to help maintain proper muscle length and function. Strengthening keeps the muscles strong and permits us to continue activity. Lastly, aerobic conditioning provides the endurance to tolerate activity as well as increasing the body’s own endorphins, which help reduce pain.
Becoming consistent with exercise is the aim of using a fitness tracker. If you are self motivated to exercise and are consistent that is wonderful. Using any tracker, from the one that is in any smart phone to those tied to a phone app like a smartwatch or a Fitbit may also be helpful. Find out what works for you and get moving.