- What is gait asymmetry and why does it matter?
- Gait asymmetry measures the percentage difference in loading or timing between your left and right stride. A value of 0–1.5% is considered normal in healthy adults; values above 3% may indicate compensatory movement patterns, fatigue, or injury risk. Walk Analytics reads this metric directly from Apple Watch motion sensors.
- How does Walk Analytics estimate VO₂max from walking?
- The app derives an aerobic fitness score from your walking pace, heart rate, and cadence across multiple sessions. No lab test or maximal effort is required — the estimate improves as more sessions accumulate and forms the basis for your personalised walking zones.
- What is double support time and what does it indicate?
- Double support time is the percentage of each step cycle when both feet are simultaneously in contact with the ground. It increases with age and fatigue. Reference values by age group: 18–22% (20–40 years), 20–25% (41–60 years), 24–30% (61+ years). Walk Analytics tracks this alongside asymmetry to detect changes early (Brach JS et al., Gait Posture 2008).
- Can I track improvement in my walking fitness over time?
- Yes. Walk Analytics generates weekly and monthly trend charts for every metric — gait asymmetry, VO₂max, double support time, and Health Score. An automatic anomaly detector flags sessions that deviate from your personal baseline so you can investigate causes.
- Is my walking data sent to any server?
- No. All calculations run locally on your iPhone. No data is uploaded to the cloud, and the app does not require an account. Your Apple Watch health data stays on your device.