A method and apparatus for creating a cantilever accelerometer beam by mechanically forming an accelerometer from a piezoelectric substrate. The inherent structure of the accelerometer provides a means for employing surface mount technology (SMT), or a protective package may be utilized to couple the accelerometer to the hybrid circuit within an implantable pacemaker. The sensor's structure is defined by three members. The first and second members are used to couple the sensor to the hybrid circuit and the third member defines the cantilever accelerometer beam, which generates an electrical output signal indicative of patient's activity.