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We don't hear much about pedometers and it is not even hard to believe that many who have heard of it don't know what it does, how it works or what it is used for. The pedometer, also sometimes known as a stepometer, is just a device that can measure the distance traveled by the person wearing it while they walk or run. The pedometer is able to calculate the distance by monitoring the movements made by the wearer's hips. However, information regarding the individual's stride length has to be entered and this is usually around 2.5' for men and 2.2' for women.

We don't hear much about pedometers and it is not even hard to believe that many who have heard of it don't know what it does, how it works or what it is used for. The pedometer, also sometimes known as a stepometer, is just a device that can measure the distance traveled by the person wearing it while they walk or run. The pedometer is able to calculate the distance by monitoring the movements made by the wearer's hips. However, information regarding the individual's stride length has to be entered and this is usually around 2.5' for men and 2.2' for women.

Pedometers are portable and only have to be attached to the waistband of the wearer in order to be used for the entire day. Since the necessary calibrations are already entered into the pedometer, the distance traveled can easily be calculated using the number of steps taken during the day. The good thing about pedometers is that they don't have to actively be monitored while worn and that makes them hassle free.

Pedometers have been around for a long time and similar devices were even used by Roman soldiers to see how far they have traveled. The first modern pedometer was inventing by Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States. Since he didn't patent the device, it is not for certain if he invented it or just made it popular. Originally pedometers worked like a pendulum, were attached to the waist and steps were counted as the wearer would walk or run. Modern pedometers are much more accurate, though.

There are many groups that can use a pedometer and one of them is doctors. This device lets doctors collect data on patients and that makes it easy to see how much effort a patient is putting into their required exercise program. For patients that need the daily exercise for health reasons, this information for doctors becomes even more important. Some of the pedometers available now can even post the collected data directly to a server where the doctor can directly access and monitor the patient's progress.

A pedometer can also just be used by those wanting to exercise and who want to make their routing more effective. Using this device enables the person to keep track of the exercise program. Knowing about it lets the person to set goals that are realistic and which are based on personal thresholds.

Another way that pedometers are used is for research purposes. Since they are now part of many GPS or GPRS enabled equipment, any data collected by the pedometer can be posted online right away. Some medical research firms actually use pedometers for voluntary programs on people to study human behavior and routines.