Wheelchair User

[jtylee]

First time poster, long time reader... very excited about WatchOS3 updates.

So using 2.2.2 in a wheelchair I was burning 250 active calories on a normal day... I went out for a brisk "wheel" say 5mph for 30 minutes covering about 2miles, I'd burn another 100.

Now with WatchOS3, I'm burning 150 active calories per day INCLUDING that same "wheel."

Think this is accurate with the wheelchair settings enabled?

Are any able-bodied people seeing major differences with calories burnt?

Any other active wheelchair users here on this forum?​

Thanks! -James

 

[Spendlove]

Hi James, I am not wheelchair user but does the watch not have to have a short while calibrating over a period of activity and then it should be working to suit you?

I have not noticed any major changes on my activity, my heart rate is about the same.

 

[jtylee]

Hi James, I am not wheelchair user but does the watch not have to have a short while calibrating over a period of activity and then it should be working to suit you?

I have not noticed any major changes on my activity, my heart rate is about the same.

Good question, perhaps thats the case. I owned it for about 6 months previous, on watchOS2, would you know what "reset Calibration" entails? It's scary to think I'd lose too much.

and yes my heart rate has remained the same as well

 

[Spendlove]

Good question, perhaps thats the case. I owned it for about 6 months previous, on watchOS2, would you know what "reset Calibration" entails? It's scary to think I'd lose too much.

and yes my heart rate has remained the same as well

Sorry I thought you had got a brand new one. I would leave the calibration alone if you are worried about losing the info!

 

[teidon]

So using 2.2.2 in a wheelchair I was burning 250 active calories on a normal day... I went out for a brisk "wheel" say 5mph for 30 minutes covering about 2miles, I'd burn another 100.

Now with WatchOS3, I'm burning 150 active calories per day INCLUDING that same "wheel."

Also a wheelchair user and yes I noticed a drop in calories burned with wOS3. The reason is that in wOS2 the calories burned were counted assuming that you are standing/walking. When you walk, you use almost every muscle in your body. Your legs "carries" and moves every gram of your body's weight and for that very reason those muscles are kind of big. You also use other big muscles to balance yourself and to keep yourself in vertical orientation. It also tends to be a habit for many to move their arms when they walk. And you also use big muscles to keep your head in the orientation you want.

But when you sit (in wheelchair or non-wheel chair) the chair does a lot of that work for you and so you don't burn as much calories.

does the watch not have to have a short while calibrating over a period of activity and then it should be working to suit you?

The calibration is needed only for the watch to be able estimate how far you have walked (or "wheeled"). It happens automatically when you use walking workout and I believe it is continuous process. I don't think it affects any calories burned counting.

 

[jtylee]

Sorry I thought you had got a brand new one. I would leave the calibration alone if you are worried about losing the info!

I actually reset it last night. It was fine. Apparently resetting the calibration is not all that impactful.

2 miles of "wheelchair fast paced outdoor wheel netted me 80 calories active and 119 total and I did 2 miles in 30 minutes.

It's extremely hard to burn calories in a wheelchair and those numbers seem to align with older research studies.

 

[jtylee]

Also a wheelchair user and yes I noticed a drop in calories burned with wOS3. The reason is that in wOS2 the calories burned were counted assuming that you are standing/walking. When you walk, you use almost every muscle in your body. Your legs "carries" and moves every gram of your body's weight and for that very reason those muscles are kind of big. You also use other big muscles to balance yourself and to keep yourself in vertical orientation. It also tends to be a habit for many to move their arms when they walk. And you also use big muscles to keep your head in the orientation you want.

But when you sit (in wheelchair or non-wheel chair) the chair does a lot of that work for you and so you don't burn as much calories.



The calibration is needed only for the watch to be able estimate how far you have walked (or "wheeled"). It happens automatically when you use walking workout and I believe it is continuous process. I don't think it affects any calories burned counting.

So it's been a little while now. May I ask how many calories you're averaging a day?

There seems to be progress with mine as if it's slowly learning my body. I went from having 75-100 calorie days without workouts to now hitting about 200 (say average day in the office and just living)

A fast paced 2 mile wheelchair wheel in 30 mins nets me 80 active and 120 total calories burned

 

[AlliFlowers]

Ugh. Things that should be making life easier are complicating things. I'm not a wheeler, but use crutches, or a single crutch. This plays havoc with my standing as well as am swinging movement. It's just not picking up my steps accurately at all anymore. Maybe I also need a recalibration?

 

[jtylee]

Ugh. Things that should be making life easier are complicating things. I'm not a wheeler, but use crutches, or a single crutch. This plays havoc with my standing as well as am swinging movement. It's just not picking up my steps accurately at all anymore. Maybe I also need a recalibration?

Are you saying 2.2.2 was accurate and has since changed ?

They described using three types of arm movement for pushing a chair and also calories burnt with lack of using legs.

Maybe try switching to wheelchair, resetting calibration, and try a 20 min walk at your normal pace. Interesting to say the least

 

[AlliFlowers]

Are you saying 2.2.2 was accurate and has since changed ?

They described using three types of arm movement for pushing a chair and also calories burnt with lack of using legs.

Maybe try switching to wheelchair, resetting calibration, and try a 20 min walk at your normal pace. Interesting to say the least

Yes, exactly! My steps were fairly accurate before, but now they are nowhere near close.

I walk the same halls regularly (I'm a teacher), and at one point counted the number of steps between my classroom and the main office, so I have a pretty good notion of how many steps I've taken after walking around the building a few times during the day. With watch os3, I may as well have stayed in my car in the parking lot!

 

[997440]

Does the output differ depending upon whether you choose either "Outdoor Wheelchair Walk Pace" or "Outdoor Wheelchair Run Pace"? EDIT: Or the "Other" option?
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204523

(I have no experience with the watch. I'm doing some research and came across this thread.)

 

[jtylee]

Yes, exactly! My steps were fairly accurate before, but now they are nowhere near close.

I walk the same halls regularly (I'm a teacher), and at one point counted the number of steps between my classroom and the main office, so I have a pretty good notion of how many steps I've taken after walking around the building a few times during the day. With watch os3, I may as well have stayed in my car in the parking lot!

Maybe reset first before switching to wheelchair.

Resetting calibration (they say requires a 20 min walk after) learns pace and speed and stride. You have to have the iPhone on you as you do it as well

 

[teidon]

So it's been a little while now. May I ask how many calories you're averaging a day?

Most of the days I wheel to university and back, which is about 3km and takes me about 30mins. Going there seems to be pretty accurately little over 100 active calories and back is little over 130. There's more uphill when I come back. Total calories (the red ring) for such days is about 340. Lazy days, as in stay home and do absolutely nothing seems to be about 80 total calories.

 

[jtylee]

Most of the days I wheel to university and back, which is about 3km and takes me about 30mins. Going there seems to be pretty accurately little over 100 active calories and back is little over 130. There's more uphill when I come back. Total calories (the red ring) for such days is about 340. Lazy days, as in stay home and do absolutely nothing seems to be about 80 total calories.

I would say you and I are on point.

 

[jtylee]

Does the output differ depending upon whether you choose either "Outdoor Wheelchair Walk Pace" or "Outdoor Wheelchair Run Pace"? EDIT: Or the "Other" option?
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204523

(I have no experience with the watch. I'm doing some research and came across this thread.)

Sorry I missed this post earlier. I have used both and didn't see much of a difference.

But I'm starting to think calibration takes a LOT longer than a 20 min walk.

 

[997440]

Sorry I missed this post earlier. I have used both and didn't see much of a difference.

But I'm starting to think calibration takes a LOT longer than a 20 min walk.

No worries. In hindsight, I should've quoted you. You say you've tried both. Did you try the "Other" workout type option?
Thanks for posting about your calibration experience. It'll help.

 

[jtylee]

No worries. In hindsight, I should've quoted you. You say you've tried both. Did you try the "Other" workout type option?
Thanks for posting about your calibration experience. It'll help.

No. but that's a good idea. I'll see what options are available later today after work.