The Story Behind the XCS Bed Bike and Adaptive Pedal
Five years ago I spent a couple of days in a hospital bed following surgery for a broken leg. By the time I got home just a few days later, I discovered a DVT blood clot. This ignited the journey to explore all the ways that Excy could be used to help those with limited mobility stay physically active. We went from prototyping a portable recumbent bike, to creating a high quality full-body cycling experience that not only included recumbent cycling, but also hand cycling, and pedaling lying down.
I didn’t know it at the time, but the ability to exercise lying down with Excy would become one of our most popular use cases in home, physical therapy, and hospital environments. Not only is it helpful for certain health conditions like MS, cancer, POTS disease and more, but also for lower back pain and to improve leg circulation and range of motion following certain injuries and surgeries. It’s also one heck of a glute, core, and leg workout for those seeking high intensity by simply dialing up resistance.
Advancing Our Bed Bike and Adaptive Capabilities
Our existing portable exercise bike solutions offer amazing supine cycling experiences while lying on the floor or in bed for cardio, strength training, and range of motion. However, we’ve learned that those who are bedridden in a hospital bed need more range of motion. We also discovered that it can be challenging for those who have lost leg strength to keep their feet on the pedals. This became even more clear during these challenging times with COVID-19 where we have seen an uptick by those with disabilities and underlying conditions buying Excy bikes as a reliable and safe in-home exercise alternative during stay-at-home policies. Specifically, a growing request to pedal in a hospital bed, while also eliminating the burden of bedridden patients struggling to keep their feet lifted in place with traditional pedals.
For example, a new customer Carrie had brain surgery to remove a tumor right as COVID-19 hit, which resulted in her being bedridden for weeks. She used Excy to pedal her legs in bed with her home physical therapists to avoid losing muscle mass, but also with her occupational therapist as part of her TBI recovery. But, keeping her feet on the pedals was hard, and she needed more range of motion.
Meet the XCS Bed Bike and Hang in There (HIT) Adaptive Pedal
I’m excited to announced the availability of the XCS Bed Bike, which is smaller and lighter than Excy’s current line of portable exercise bikes. It is also is uniquely designed to help people with limited mobility pedal in a hospital bed or on a therapy table while lying down flat or partially inclined. We also announced the Hang in There (HIT) Adaptive Pedal, which is compatible with any 9/16” crank arm, keeps a rider’s foot locked in place to prevent it from falling while pedaling or resting. Both solutions extend our ability to open up inclusive access to total body aerobic and anaerobic cycling exercise for every body type and age, regardless of injury, disability, or health condition.
Why a Supine Cycling Experience
Research demonstrates that supine motorized stationary bicycling affixed to a hospital bed, six days a week, as being safe for mechanically-ventilated patients early on in their ICU stay. Research also suggests that exercise therapy may hold promise as an effective means of improving immunity in bedridden patients and may contribute to preventing aspiration pneumonia and promoting spontaneous recovery. If exercise can play a similar role to help novel coronavirus COVID-19 patients, the Excy team believes the XCS Bed Bike and the HIT Adaptive Pedal could play a role in helping those needing therapeutic cycling protocols to avoid inactivity while bedridden. Further research is required to explore the patients who may most benefit from bed cycling intervention.
About Excy XCS Bed Bike
The new Excy XCS Bed Bike works like a conventional heavy-duty exercise bike, except the rider can pedal while lying down. The system weighs 12 pounds and has a smaller footprint while being used, yet gives riders 7 inches of additional leg extension to pedal lying down in bed. The device also can be pedaled as a recumbent bike while seated in a chair or as a tabletop upper body ergometer from a seated and standing position. Riders can pedal independently or with assistance from their physical therapist, occupational therapist, medical fitness trainer, or with their caretaker based on the direction of their doctor.
About the Excy HIT Adaptive Pedal
Our New HIT Adaptive Pdeal uses a wide foot platform with adjustable straps that allow the heel to hang freely with support while also holding the foot steady to pedal comfortably and properly. Offering a range of foot flexibility that is similar to traditional bike shoes, riders can engage in isometric pedaling, small back and forth pressing, or pedal in full rotations. Since Excy’s resistance range is bi-directional, riders can recruit more muscles vs. simply pedaling in inertia-assisted circles that someone would do on a flywheel or motorized bike. They can follow this motion in reverse to work opposing muscles. The pedal is easily adjustable for sizes ranging from children’s feet with shoes, to size 13 men’s feet without shoes.
Pricing and Availability
The XCS Bed Bike is $799 and includes one set of straps that will accommodate a hospital bed or therapy table. Larger bed straps are available on request. The system ships with Excy’s standard pedal that accommodates pedaling with your hands or feet. Any 9/16” foot or hand pedal can be used. The Excy HIT Adaptive Pedal is $75 for a single pedal or $150 per pair. It can be purchased and pre-installed on the XCS Bed Bike for shipping, but works on any bike.
We are excited to help open up access to the joy and health benefits of cycling to all those who need it!
Cheers,
Michele Mehl