Are you likely to fall while walking? You might want to find out using the Walking Steadiness feature on your iPhone. Introduced with iOS 15, Walking Steadiness uses advanced motion sensors and algorithms to monitor your balance and predict fall risks.
But how exactly does it work? And how can you set it up and use it on your iPhone? Let’s get into it!
What is Walking Steadiness, and how does it work?
Walking Steadiness uses clinically verified algorithms to analyze your walking patterns by leveraging your iPhone’s built-in motion sensors.
It continuously tracks key metrics such as:
- Balance and stability
- Speed
- Step pace
- Gait cycle
- Gait asymmetry
After gathering a day’s worth of data, it classifies your steadiness into one of three categories:
- OK
- Low
- Very Low
This way, you get a simple yet powerful insight into your walking stability over time.
Why should you use Walking Steadiness?
Maintaining strong, stable walking patterns becomes harder with age, health conditions, or a sedentary lifestyle.
Walking Steadiness helps you:
- Detect early signs of instability
- Prevent fall-related injuries
- Track mobility trends over time
- Share mobility data with caregivers, trainers, or family through Health Sharing
It’s an essential tool for staying proactive about your physical health, regardless of age.
How to set up Walking Steadiness on iPhone
Getting started is quick. Here’s how:
- Open the Health app on your iPhone.
- In the Summary tab, scroll down and tap Walking Steadiness Notifications.
- Tap Set Up → Next.
- Fill in your personal information → tap Next.
- Tap Next again → select Turn On to receive notifications.
- (Optional) Tap Add to Favorites to pin Walking Steadiness to your Summary screen.
- Tap Done.
Note: If you don’t see Walking Steadiness in the Summary tab, you can set it up through Browse → Mobility → Walking Steadiness → Set Up.
How to use Walking Steadiness after setup
Once set up, using Walking Steadiness is simple:
- Carry your iPhone at waist height—in a pocket or purse—while walking.
- If you enabled notifications, your iPhone will alert you when your walking steadiness drops to Low or Very Low.
- You don’t need to manually start or stop it; it works passively in the background.
How to turn on Notifications later
If you skipped enabling notifications during setup, here’s how to activate them later:
- Open the Health app.
- Tap Browse → Mobility → Walking Steadiness Notifications.
- Tap Go to Health Checklist.
- Under Walking Steadiness Notifications, tap Enable.
- Tap Done.
Now, you’ll receive timely alerts whenever your steadiness declines.
How to check your Walking Steadiness status
Want to see how you’re doing? Here’s how to check your walking steadiness status anytime:
- Open the Health app.
- Tap Browse → Mobility → Walking Steadiness.
- Your current steadiness status will appear at the top left.
You’ll see a historical graph showing your trends over days, weeks, and months.
How to access Walking Steadiness Exercise Tips on iPhone
Apple’s Health app doesn’t just monitor—it also empowers you to improve. To access tips and exercises:
- Open the Health app.
- Tap Browse → Mobility → Walking Steadiness.
- Scroll down and select Exercises That May Improve Walking Steadiness.
You’ll find expert-curated exercise videos designed to enhance your balance, strength, and stability.
Monitor your walking stability
Apple’s Walking Steadiness feature is a powerful, easy-to-use tool to monitor and improve your mobility. It helps you stay proactive about your health, detect early issues, and possibly prevent dangerous falls in the future.
Along with Walking Steadiness, the Health app offers a variety of wellness features like Cycle Tracking, Heart Health, Mindfulness, and more—making it a one-stop platform for your fitness goals.
If you haven’t explored it yet, Walking Steadiness is a great place to start!
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