The method can determine physical properties of the ground stepped upon by a user wearing a footwear incorporating an accelerometer, and includes: receiving a raw signal from the accelerometer during at least one step being taken by the user on the ground； identifying, in the received raw signal, at least one characteristic signature； associating the at least one characteristic signature to physical properties of the ground； and generating a signal indicating the physical properties based on said association. The generated signal can further be used to advise a user of a risk of falling based on at least the physical properties of the ground.
