Once you start recovering after an injury, it’s normal to look for ways to more accurately monitor your progress. If you’re like most people, you’re tempted to try using a fitness tracker to monitor your progress and see where you’re growing and where you’re falling behind. While fitness trackers can be a useful tool when you’re rebuilding strength after undergoing physical therapy services in Gillette, WY, there are a few pros and cons you need to know about these devices. 

They Help You Stay Active

Fitness trackers can help you keep track of the amount of physical activity you participate in each day. They show you how many steps you take, how often you stand up during each hour, how far you walk, and can give you an estimate of how many calories you burn in your regular activities. This lets you better monitor your activity and can help you make sure you meet your daily exercise goals rather than putting them off.

They Can Get You Motivated Each Day

Many fitness trackers allow you to compete with others in different events or challenges. This can make exercising more fun and challenging. You’ll feel more motivated to push yourself further and burn more calories or get more active time in than your friends. The more motivated you are, the more fun exercise can feel.

They’re Not Always Accurate

If you’re planning on using a fitness tracker to monitor your activity, it’s important to remember that they’re not always accurate. Some trackers miscalculate distance. Others miscalculate calories burned. Still others fail to recognize certain periods of movement as exercise. This makes it hard to keep an accurate record of your exercise habits, recovery, and improvements in your physical well-being each day. If you choose to use a fitness tracker, don’t rely on it heavily. Instead, do what you can to prioritize a healthy lifestyle. This way, you’ll see consistent results even if the fitness tracker is less than accurate.

They’re Expensive

Even cheap fitness trackers can cost serious money. The more features they have, the more expensive they’ll get. If you’re tight on cash, using a fitness tracker may end up putting more stress on your shoulders than it solves. For those that can’t justify spending hundreds of dollars on a fitness tracker, don’t panic. Install a fitness tracking app on your phone and use it to log your activity. It might not be as detailed as the information you’d get from a fitness tracker, but it can still help you monitor your progress each day.

Staying Healthy Doesn’t Require Technology

Fitness trackers are a helpful tool in keeping track of your fitness and helping you achieve your goals, but they’re not the only option you have. All you need is a notebook and a pen. Write down the exercises you do each day or the active periods you schedule. Then, make note of how you feel after those periods. You can use this information when you schedule a follow-up appointment with your physical therapist.