General StepWatch™ Information and Care

The StepWatch™ Step Activity Monitor (US Patent # 5,485,402) is a research and clinical tool for long-term assessment of ambulatory function in the real world. It is an ankle-worn, microprocessor-controlled step counter which unobtrusively measures a person's walking throughout daily life. Step counts can be recorded every minute for up to two months between downloads (one month for the StepWatch2). The true maximal recording time depends on the activity of the individual subject so it can only be estimated.

The StepWatch detects steps for a wide variety of normal and abnormal gait styles and cadences ranging from a slow shuffle to a fast run. When properly used, accuracy typically exceeds 98%. You should expect accuracy at or near this level. Contact Cyma technical support if your accuracy is notably lower.

A body of published research demonstrates that functional differences in gait activity can be clearly and objectively measured with the StepWatch (formerly known as SAM or GAM) in a wide range of human and large animal populations (see the StepWatch/Bibliography on the Cyma web site).

The StepWatch has been cleared by the FDA as a class II device, and is a powerful tool for assessment and description of ambulatory activity and quantification of outcome.

CARE OF THE MONITOR: The StepWatch 3 is a very durable instrument, but should not be thrown against hard surfaces, torqued, crushed or punctured. The case is permanently sealed to prevent tampering and to ensure the instrument is waterproof. The anticipated battery life is at least 5-7 years with continuous use and longer with non-continuous use. The StepWatch 3 can be returned to Cyma to have the battery replaced. To preserve the integrity of the battery, the monitor should not be left in temperatures exceeding 110 F (43 C) or in temperatures below 0 F (-18 C).

You may clean the monitor with mild soap and water. Do not use any other solvents. Do not autoclave. The dock is not waterproof; to clean, wipe with a soft cloth moistened with mild soap and water.

The straps provided with the monitor may be dipped in alcohol and drip dried. The available cuffs may be immersed in alcohol or hand washed in cold water and drip dried.

THE DOCK: As with any USB computer peripheral, do not plug-in or unplug the dock while the application is running. This will usually make your computer unhappy and may crash the program or your computer.

There are three indicator lights on the dock that indicate its communications status.

  • A fading blue light - The dock is plugged into the computer and the USB port has power. The StepWatch application is not running. It is OK to unplug the dock when the light is like this but not during any other light condition.
  • Steady green and blue lights - The StepWatch program is running and the correct port is selected in the Stepwatch program preferences. If only the blue light becomes steady and the green light does not come on, the correct port has not been selected.
  • Steady red and blue lights - A monitor has been placed face-down on the dock and the program is communicating with the monitor. The monitor SHOULD NOT BE MOVED WHILE THE RED LIGHT IS ON as this will disrupt programming or download. The green light will come on again when it is OK to move the monitor.
  • Flashing red and blue lights indicate an error has occurred.


    WEARING THE MONITOR: The monitor MUST be worn with the rounded end UP. If it is upside-down, it will NOT COUNT STEPS. Be sure to emphasize this with the wearer.

    It should be worn at the ankle on the medial or lateral side of either leg. Choice of leg has no affect on the accuracy of monitoring most gait styles. With exremely gentle or geriatric gait accuracy MAY be slightly imporved by wearing the monitor on the left lateral or right medial positions.

    The StepWatch 3 is fully waterproof and may be worn during water activities. Having a second strap would allow transferring the monitor to a dry one after swimming.

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