SEATTLE, June 8, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Excy (http://www.excy.com), the leader in quality portable full-body cycling equipment, today announced the XCS Bed Bike and the Hang in There (HIT) Adaptive Bike Pedal to combat the detrimental effects of being in bed without physical activity. The XCS Bed Bike is smaller and lighter than Excy's current line of portable exercise bikes, and 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. The 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.
Excy created the XCS Bed Bike and HIT Adaptive Pedal based on feedback from homebound riders, and its experience in hospitals and physical therapy clinics. The company has seen an increase in demand across all its product lines due to COVID-19 leading people to seek home exercise and strength training equipment, but without the large footprint of traditional equipment. People living with disabilities, health conditions or recovering from an injury or surgery often struggle with challenges like finding reliable and safe in-home care during normal situations, but COVID-19 has made it even harder for many, including their caretakers. A growing request to pedal in a hospital bed or on top of a therapy table at home helped speed up bringing the XCS Bed Bike to market now. The HIT Adaptive Pedal was designed to eliminate the burden of bedridden patients struggling to keep their feet lifted in place with traditional pedals designed only for recumbent or upright pedaling.
"I had brain surgery to have a tumor removed right as COVID-19 hit, which resulted in me being bedridden for weeks," said Excy customer Carrie. "With Excy, I was able to pedal my legs in bed with my home physical therapists to avoid losing muscle mass, but also with my occupational therapist as part of my TBI recovery. Now, I can independently pedal and focus on building up my endurance and getting stronger at my own pace, but from the safety and comfort of home."
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.
"We've worked really hard 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," said Michele Mehl, co-founder and CEO of Excy who had the idea for a full-body cycling approach for those with limited mobility after breaking her leg and getting a DVT blood clot. "COVID-19 has only strengthened our resolve to knock down the barriers of exercise for all and stay laser focused on making access to physical activity and muscle strengthening exercises easier for those with underlying conditions."
The XCS Bed Bike works like a conventional heavy-duty exercise bike, except the rider can pedal while lying down. The system is smaller than Excy's other portable exercise bike at only 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. Like in all Excy models, the XCS Bed Bike offers a unique non-motorized, non-flywheel centric design that requires constant rotational pedaling force throughout the entire 360-degree cycling stroke, which is optimized for building up endurance and strength. Bi-directional resistance easily adjusts from 1-50 pounds for light to heavy forces for cardio, strengthening, and range of motion exercises for pedaling in bed, but 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.
The Excy HIT Adaptive Pedal 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. XCS Bed Bike monthly rentals and rent-to-own programs are available. Excy's products are designed and manufactured in the USA.
About Excy
Excy is a Seattle-based company creating quality portable exercise equipment and on-demand training for those who want to safely and conveniently enjoy the benefits of full body cycling and resistance training without the barriers of big, expensive, and hard to access exercise equipment. Excy also provides a free mobile coaching application for Android and iOS with live, on-demand, and guided training from physical therapists. All Excy systems ship in recyclable packaging. For more information visit http://www.excy.com.
SOURCE Excy
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