Project Description:

Hospital acquired deconditioning and muscle atrophy are significant issues, estimated to affect between 33% to 66% of all admitted patients in the United States^1. The care team works with numerous patients on a daily basis. However, high patient loads lead to less individualized attention healthcare providers can spend on each patient. Hospital policies, staffing shortages, and the risk of patient falls often result in patients remaining bed-bound during their stay.

Despite the high incidence of hospital acquired physical deconditioning due to hospitalization, there are currently no products or policies in place to mitigate these burdens for patients. Patients oftentimes are confined to their beds due to hospital policies requiring staff assistance for movement. This practice contributes to deconditioning, with patients typically getting out of bed very infrequently. By reducing the complications associated with immobility in the hospital, this initiative can ultimately save time, money, and hardship for hospitals, insurance companies, and, most importantly, patients^2,3,4,5.

Our Device, Crank That, is an in-bed rehabilitation device designed to preserve strength, encourage movement, and promote dignity in recovery.

Crank That allows patients to engage both upper and lower body muscles through four easy exercises we call the “row the boat,” “stir the pot,” “wheelchair”, and “pedal.” This prototype features attachments for cycling arms and legs, an adjustable body to activate different muscle groups, and an attachment that fits securely to any bed rail.

This device will help to maintain muscle strength and provide patients with an engaging activity, reducing the risk of hospital-acquired muscle atrophy.

Crank That isn’t just a device; it represents a proactive approach that empowers patients with the strength and confidence to reclaim their lives.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10299512/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6037578/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9303382/
https://journals.lww.com/md-journal/fulltext/2023/01130/medical_and_economic_burden_of_delirium_on.24.aspx#:~:text=Our%20study%20showed%20that%20delirium,in%20hospitalization%20costs%2C%20Figure%202.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0196655316002856