Steps
Steps is a count of walking and running steps detected throughout the day. The metric represents the number of individual footfalls identified by the device's accelerometer. Steps is one of the most commonly tracked activity metrics, serving as a proxy for daily ambulatory movement.
Typical Adult Ranges
steps per dayBased on population studies. Individual needs vary by age and health status.
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Key Takeaways
Represents count of walking and running steps detected.
Quantifies ambulatory movement volume.
Does not capture non-walking activities.
Wide variation exists in population and individual patterns.
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How It's Measured
Oura detects steps using its three-axis accelerometer.
Common Influences
Occupation: Active jobs produce higher counts than sedentary desk work.
Deep Dive
Steps represents the volume of walking and running activity. It quantifies how much ambulatory movement occurred during the measurement period.
A useful framing is that step count measures a specific type of movement. Walking and running are fundamental human activities, and step counts capture their volume. However, steps do not measure all physical activity (cycling, swimming, weight training) and do not assess movement quality, intensity, or cardiovascular benefit.
Walking is the most common form of physical activity across populations. Step accumulation throughout the day reflects ambulatory movement patterns—commuting, errands, intentional walks, and incidental movement between locations.
Research associates higher daily step counts with favorable health outcomes in observational studies. The relationship between steps and health appears dose-dependent, with benefits accruing across a range of activity levels. However, step count is a behavioral measure, not a direct assessment of physiological fitness or health.