Do you use a fitness tracker during your workouts? While it’s not a must-have, fitness trackers offer numerous benefits that can elevate your exercise routine and overall health. Dr. Devin Trachman, PT, DPT, MTC, OCS, Clinic Director of our West Edmond Clinic, recently shared insights on fitness trackers with Yahoo!
What are Fitness Trackers?
Fitness trackers like Fitbit, Apple Watch, and Garmin are wearable devices that monitor various health and activity metrics. These devices provide a wealth of information, from tracking steps, heart rate, and calories burned to monitoring sleep quality.
“Fitness trackers use real-time monitoring and can track different types of activities ranging from walking, jogging, cycling and even sleeping. Fitness trackers can increase motivation and can provide more knowledge regarding overall health,” explains Dr. Trachman.
How do Fitness Trackers Work?
“Fitness trackers use sensors to detect movements and measure the intensity of the activities being performed,” says Dr. Trachman “They use accelerometers to measure movements, heart rate monitors to collect intensities, and gyroscopes to measure positional orientation of the body. All information collected from these sensors is processed by a smartphone app or internal chip to give data to the user in some form,”
She adds, “Fitness trackers can motivate users to hit a certain step count, burn a specific number of calories, or maintain a targeted heart rate for a period of time. Fitness trackers can provide motivation for increasing daily activity involving taking more steps which leads to improved cardiovascular health as well as weight management.”
Benefits of Fitness Trackers
“Fitness trackers can positively impact long-term health and wellness outcomes. Fitness trackers can provide motivation for increasing daily activity by taking more steps, leading to improved cardiovascular health and weight management,” notes Dr. Trachman. “Fitness trackers can also cause changes in behavior, including the adoption of healthier lifestyle changes by prioritizing sleep and increasing exercise. There’s a social aspect that increases accountability because there’s a sense of pride and excitement around showing or telling others about your tracked fitness accomplishments.”
Physical Therapy Services Near Oklahoma City, OK
At Physical Therapy Central, our experienced therapists are here to help you achieve your health and fitness goals. Whether recovering from an injury or looking to manage pain, early intervention can lead to faster progress and long-lasting results. Take the first step toward improved mobility and wellness. Schedule your appointment today and take the first step toward improved mobility and health.
