Pushing a cart - how to track movment

[YurTechie]

I work IT support for major retailers.  I push my tools/supplies in a cart throughout the stores. Being that my hand/wrist is steady on the cart while pushing my FitBit does not acknowledge my walking.  I found that if I stick the FitBit in my pants pocket then it will track, but then I do not feel the notification vibrations nor does it track heart-rate. 

I am sure others run into this like when pushing a stroller, walker or wheelchair... so, what setting can we use so it will track steps when the arm is not swinging?

[JohnnyRow]

I saw someone say they got steps counted by using an underhand grip.  I don't know why that would work and might not be comfortable but might be worth a try.

Otherwise, my guess is you will just have to decide which features are more critical to you, notifications+heart rate or steps.  One thing to note, though, is that if you wear on wrist and don't get steps, by still getting heart rate you will still get calories and active minutes counted.

I've seen many posts about this issue, but never saw or thought about the notifications issue before.

[NJlaw]

So what I read here is that the Fitbit will not recognize pushing a cart, pushing a stroller. As MANY individuals get a lot of steps/workout in this manner that seems to be a “defect” of the tracker. Is that something Fitbit will correct/update?

[JohnnyRow]

It's not clear what you mean by "recognizing" those activities, whether you mean getting credit for an exercise session, or getting credit for the steps.

If you mean recognized as exercise sessions, they will not be auto-recognized, but you can easily track them as exercise sessions using the Exercise App.

If you mean recognizing the step count, Fitbit, and I expect all wrist-worn trackers, detect steps from the normal swinging of the arms while walking.  When the arm is not swinging and the wrist is held steady, steps probably will not be detected.  There is no way for something on your wrist to directly know what your legs are doing.  However, that will not affect calorie burn determined from heart rate.  If steps are more important to you, you can probably get better step count putting the device in a pocket, but losing heart rate data.

[NJlaw]

I’m confused. Then how is elliptical recorded? Your arm does not swing.

[JohnnyRow]

First, it depends on how you mean "recorded".  If talking about the Exercise App (preferred by me), you give it the name you want to call it before you start.  If you are talking about being auto-recognized, that will not happen without arm movement.

I believer most elliptical machines have arm components for pushing arm front and back with each leg movement.  They might have an option to be able to ignore that and rest the hands in place, in which case, steps are likely not detected.

Look at arms in picture below.  Arms do not have to be actually swinging at sides to detect steps, just a continuous back and forth motion.

[Rilla16]

How is it then that the Fitbit one has no problems counting steps while pushing a cart or stroller or holding onto the rails of a treadmill? Surely that same technology could be implemented in a watch.

[JohnnyRow]

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@Rilla16 wrote:

How is it then that the Fitbit one has no problems counting steps while pushing a cart or stroller or holding onto the rails of a treadmill? Surely that same technology could be implemented in a watch.

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For the One, it is worn on a clip, probably on a belt on the hip where it detects the step motion.  You could put any recent fitbit model in your pocket, or a few that can be attacked to clips and worn like the One, and detect steps just as well.  But then you do not get the heart rate detection which is a big benefit of the more recent trackers.  If steps are you only concern, keep it in your pocket or on a clip and you are all set.  I think it is the Inspire 2 comes with an optional clip and a setting for clip mode.  And another one, maybe Charge 5, I think now has an option clip to fit it.  Just beware with the clip, although getting steps, you lose some of the other stats.  Like so much, it is a trade-off.

[JayKay123]

This is probably for ladies: put the tracker in your bra. It counts steps and heart rate 👍🏻