Blaze counting arm movement not steps

[Lovethyneighbor]

Hello. My Fitbit Blaze is counting my arm movement (or lack there of) instead of my actual steps. When I am at home doing chores or just general walking through the house I tend to not move my arms due to slower walking speed, pacing while on the phone,  and/or carrying items. Therefor my Blaze is not counting steps, only arm movement. I wear it on my non-dominant and have it set as such. My days activities do not change often. I have went from an average step goal reached to 4,000 steps less within the past couple of months. Can anyone help?

[Julia_G]

Hi, @Lovethyneighbor, it is certainly true that if you wave your arms around a lot you will get extra steps from your Blaze, but this does not mean that your Blaze is counting arm movements and not steps.  You can prove this to yourself by putting your Blaze in your pocket and going for a walk outside.  It will still count your steps.  Try it and see!

Like other Fitbits the Blaze works with a 3 axis accelerometer to determine step like movements.  I don't know the full details, but as well as detecting forward and side to side motion, for a wrist worn tracker it also needs the vibrations from your feet to move through your body and along your arms.

This is pretty easy outside when you are pounding the pavements, but it is a lot trickier inside.  If your steps are not firm enough -- if you step very gently, or walk on soft carpet that absorbs the vibrations from your steps, there won't be enough energy to detect once the vibrations reach your arms.  If you are carrying something, or holding on to a cart etc., the item you are carrying or holding on to will absorb some of the vibrations

What this boils down to is you will probably get less step "credit" if your steps are mainly puttering around the house -- but those steps also probably contribute less to your fitness too than the same number of steps taken even in a very short, brisk walk outdoors.  

[jppb05]

I understand, I got the blaze for Christmas and gave my son my charge.  He woke up 2 hours after me and spend most of afternoon in his Xbox, while I was no stop around the house all day- he had 1000 more steps then me at the end of the day.  I am averaging about 2000-3000 steps less a day with the blaze then the charge 😞