Wearing Fitbit Inspire HR in the swimming pool

[David80]

My husband has Parkinsons and can no longer swim so he walks in the swimming pool but for some reason it doesn’t register his steps properly he does approximately 80 lengths walking but it only shows in the region of 1400 steps it does record normally when out of the pool any suggestions why 

Moderator edit: updated subject for clarity.

[NellyG · Accepted solution]

Hi @David80 Unfortunately because you move differently in water the tracker doesnt get the same signals so it can count each step accurately. The two things trackers use to count steps are your arm swing and the vibration when your foot hits the ground. In water the arm swing is different from walking on land and the water tends to cushion the vibration of the foot striking the ground. I would suggest your husband tries wearing it on his ankle when water walking and see if he gets more accurate step count then.

[David80]

Many thanks for your reply that makes sense

Sent from my iPhone

[SunsetRunner]

An indicator in having Parkinson’s for me was the lack of arm swing… and in later stages, shuffling of feet ( no longer a “step, heel- to-toe motion)….