Check the unit first
Some research reports strides per minute, where a stride includes two steps. Ninety strides per minute corresponds to 180 steps per minute. Confusing the units can make two similar results appear completely different.
At a given speed, increasing step frequency generally means reducing distance per step. If speed also changes, the comparison becomes less straightforward.
Changing a measurement is not proving a health outcome
Cadence-retraining trials show that step rate and biomechanical measures can change. A change in impact loading or joint movement is not automatically proof that all runners will have fewer injuries. Injury outcomes require their own evidence and sufficient follow-up.
When the number is useful
Cadence can help describe a run or support an individually chosen technique experiment. Compare similar speeds and conditions. A lower cadence on an easy jog than during faster running is not inherently a problem.
If pain or recurrent injury is the reason for changing form, an individualized assessment can address more than the watch number. Forcing an unfamiliar rhythm solely to meet a popular target may distract from the actual task: running in a way that fits your capacity, comfort, and goals.
