Apple Health metrics › Walking Steadiness

Walking Steadiness on Apple Watch and iPhone

Apple's score for how steady you are on your feet and how likely you are to fall.

What it is

Walking Steadiness combines several gait measures into a single rating of fall risk, with Apple categories OK, Low and Very Low.

How Apple measures it

iPhone calculates it from walking speed, step length, double support time and asymmetry over several weeks. It needs the phone on your body and age 18 to 100.

What's a normal range?

OK means lower fall risk, Low means higher, Very Low means much higher. Apple sends a notification if you drop into Low or Very Low.

What moves it

• Strength and balance training (improves it)
• Age
• Injury
• Medication and fatigue
• Phone carried on you

See Walking Steadiness next to your other vitals

Apple Health keeps this number several taps deep. OnlyVitals puts the metrics you pick, including Walking Steadiness, on a single dashboard so you can read them at a glance. Everything stays on your device.

Frequently asked questions

What does Walking Steadiness mean?

It is Apple's estimate of fall risk in the next 12 months based on your gait. OK is good, Low and Very Low raise concern.

How can I improve walking steadiness?

Strength, balance and tai chi style training have good evidence. A physical therapist can set up a plan.

Related metrics

• Stand Hours
• Exercise Minutes
• Active Energy
• Body Weight
• Body Mass Index (BMI)
• Body Fat Percentage

This page is general information, not medical advice. Ranges vary by age, sex, fitness and device. Talk to a clinician about anything that worries you.