What is a good average step length?

An average person has a stride length of approximately 2.1 to 2.5 feet.


How long should my step length be?

For a pedometer to accurately measure the distance it is important to set the step length correctly. Step Length is the distance measured from the heel print of one foot to the heel print of the other foot. For walking the average is 2.2 feet for a woman and 2.5 feet for a man.

What is a good step length when walking?

What is the average step length and stride length? According to the University of Iowa, the average person's walking step length is 2.5 feet (30 inches), so the average stride length would be approximately 5 feet (60 inches). There are a number of factors that can impact stride length including: height.


What is a healthy step length for a woman?

According to the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, the average step length for women is approximately 26 inches, and the average stride length is 52 inches, whereas the average step length for men is approximately 31 inches, and the average stride length is 62 inches.

Is longer step length better?

Longer than natural strides tend to be more taxing on the feet and lower legs and can contribute to orthopedic problems like shin splints (straining the muscles on the front of the lower leg above the ankle).


Measuring Stride Length



Does step length decrease with age?

With age, gait speed becomes slower and step lengths shorter [10]. It is not clear whether these changes result from the aging process or from a fear of falling, or both [11].

What does step length indicate?

Step length is the distance between the point of initial contact of one foot and the point of initial contact of the opposite foot. In normal gait, right and left step lengths are similar. Stride length is the distance between successive points of initial contact of the same foot.

What is a good step length for a 5'2 woman?

Average Stride Length

The University of Wyoming reports that there are approximately 2,000 steps in one mile, so the average step length is 2.6 feet or about 31 inches. For shorter people, the "average" could be considerably less —as low as 18 inches for someone who is 5 feet, 2 inches tall.


Do shorter strides burn more calories?

Simple math: More strides equal more calories. Meaning, if you just take smaller steps but walk your usual distance in your usual time, you'll burn more calories. To burn even more, break up those little steps with occasional bursts of skipping.

Are longer or shorter strides better when walking?

To increase speed, take smaller, more frequent steps rather than fewer, longer steps. Increasing your number of steps per second will, of course, lead to a lot more steps per day to help you reach your walking and fitness goals.

What is a healthy step range?

Kraus said a range of 7,000 to 13,000 daily steps fits in with the federal guidelines, which say that to gain substantial health benefits, adults should do at least 150 to 300 minutes a week of moderate-intensity physical activity or 75 to 150 minutes a week of vigorous physical activity or an equivalent combination.


Is it better to take longer or shorter steps?

Shortening your stride can help you run faster and longer. When you're taking longer strides your legs have to cover more distance with each step and you end up landing inefficiently, explains Wight.

Why is my stride so short?

Research shows that runners with long legs can have a short stride, while shorter runners can have a long stride. There are a lot of variables that go into the equation, including your individual biometrics: your overall height, the length of your legs, and running biomechanics like your foot strike, says Sperl.

Do shorter people get more steps?

As a result, a short person will take more steps per minute than a tall person, but they may both be able to walk comfortably at the same speed, despite a difference in steps per minute.


How do I calculate my stride length?

How do I calculate a stride length? Calculating your stride length is extremely easy! You just need to divide the distance walked by the number of steps taken: stride length = distance / number of steps .

Is fitbit stride length accurate?

There is no way that any app, or tracker can accurately calculate your stride length. Step counts are probably inaccurate, distances are roughly calculated. To set your stride length you need to find a accurate distance you can walk.

Does weight affect stride length?

It is hypothesized that when speed increases, stride length will increase for all body weight support. Furthermore, as body weight is reduced to 40% and 30% of body weight, stride length with remain the same when compared to full body weight running while running at all speeds.


Does getting tired lower stride length?

Fatigue resulted in significant decreases in single-task gait velocity and stride length in young adults, and in significant increases in dual-task gait velocity and stride length in older adults.

How many steps a day to lose weight?

How many steps for weight loss? If dropping a few pounds is your overall goal, you'll want to aim for at least 10,000 steps in a day.

How many miles is 10000 steps for a short woman?

Taking 10,000 steps is equal to walking approximately 5 miles.


How many steps is a mile for a petite woman?

The Rough Answer : How Many Steps In a Mile Walking

On the high end, a 5′ woman walking at a leisurely 20 minutes per mile would cover somewhere around 2370 steps in their mile. On the low end, a 6′ man walking at a brisk 14 minutes per mile might cover around 1750 steps in a mile of walking.

Why does step length matter?

That's because stride length functions on a bell curve. “Research has repeatedly shown that overstriding—that is, running with the leading foot extended too far in front of the body and thus heel striking—is a prime factor for increased risk of injury,” says Sperl.

How many steps should you do at 70?

Many experts agree that the recommended steps per day for seniors is 7,000-10,000. People who live with a disability or chronic illness can still benefit from an active lifestyle, and depending on individual abilities may strive for 5,500 steps per day.


Why do seniors take small steps?

Gait velocity slows because older people take shorter steps at the same rate (cadence). The most likely reason for shortened step length (the distance from one heel strike to the next) is weakness of the calf muscles, which propel the body forward; calf muscle strength is substantially decreased in older adults.