The 10,000 Steps program aims to encourage everyone to use our website to track their activity, including those in wheelchairs. While 10,000 Steps is obviously based on logging steps there are several ways in which wheelchair users' activity can be recorded as steps.
Adding steps from an activity tracker
With the wide spread availability and use of wrist worn activity trackers, there might be many wheelchair users who already use these devices to track their physical activity. If this method is working for you to estimate your activity via a steps figure, you can sync your Fitbit or Garmin and it will automatically sync your daily steps. If your activity is converted to steps in Apple Health, these can be synced using our mobile application. If you use another activity tracker that uses steps, you can enter your daily steps in the Step Log.
Track the distance wheeled and convert to steps
An odometer, which can be purchased from a cycle or sports equipment store can be attached to the wheelchair and will monitor the distance covered each day. The distance can then be converted to steps by using the following equation: 1km = 1250 steps.
Enter minutes of moderate/vigorous activity for any exercise
The addition of the moderate and vigorous activity columns in the Step Log was designed to enter any activity in which a pedometer would not accurately record. You may enjoy activities such as swimming, the gym or wheelchair sports that you would like to enter. Entry of minutes into these columns converts time into an estimated step count which is added to the Step Total for the day:
- 10 minutes of moderate intensity activity = 1,000 steps
- 10 minutes of high intensity activity = 2,000 steps
