Bed Exercise Systems and Methods

Abstract

In an example, a bed exercise system is described. The bed exercise system includes a foot pad, a first elastic connector having a first end coupled to a first lateral side of the foot pad and a second end, and a second elastic connector having a first end coupled to a second lateral side of the foot pad and a second end. The bed exercise system also includes an anchor coupled to the second end of the first elastic connector and the second end of the second elastic connector. The anchor is configured to fasten, at a fixed position relative to a bed, the second end of the first elastic connector and the second end of the second elastic connector while (i) the foot pad is moved between a first position and a second position relative to a bed, and (ii) a tension on the first elastic connector and a tension on the second elastic connector increases as the foot pad moves from the first position to the second position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A bed exercise system, comprising:
 a foot pad;   a first elastic connector having a first end coupled to a first lateral side of the foot pad and a second end;   a second elastic connector having a first end coupled to a second lateral side of the foot pad and a second end; and   an anchor coupled to the second end of the first elastic connector and the second end of the second elastic connector,   wherein the anchor is configured to fasten, at a fixed position relative to a bed, the second end of the first elastic connector and the second end of the second elastic connector while (i) the foot pad is moved between a first position and a second position relative to a bed, and (ii) a tension on the first elastic connector and a tension on the second elastic connector increases as the foot pad moves from the first position to the second position.   
     
     
         2 . The bed exercise system of  claim 1 , wherein the fixed position is distal of a midpoint along a length of the bed. 
     
     
         3 . The bed exercise system of any one of  claims 1 - 2 , wherein the anchor comprises a mattress band that is configured to extend around a width and a thickness of a mattress of the bed. 
     
     
         4 . The bed exercise system of  claim 3 , wherein the mattress band comprises a high-friction portion that has a coefficient of friction greater than approximately 1.0. 
     
     
         5 . The bed exercise system of any one of  claims 3 - 4 , wherein the mattress band comprises one or more inelastic sections and one or more elastic sections. 
     
     
         6 . The bed exercise system of any one of  claims 3 - 5 , wherein the anchor further comprises a first connector that is configured to couple to the second end of the first elastic connector, and a second connector that is configured to couple to the second end of the second elastic connector. 
     
     
         7 . The bed exercise system of any one of  claims 1 - 2 , wherein the anchor comprises an elongated strip that is configured to couple to a bed frame of the bed between the bed frame and a mattress of the bed, and
 wherein the elongated strip comprises:
 a lower surface that is configured to couple to the bed frame, 
 an upper surface that is configured to engage the mattress, 
 a first end that is configured to be positioned adjacent to a first lateral surface of the mattress, and 
 a second end that is configured to be positioned adjacent to a second lateral surface of the mattress. 
   
     
     
         8 . The bed exercise system of  claim 7 , wherein the elongated strip has a length extending between the first end and the second end, and
 wherein the length of the elongated strip is greater than a width of the mattress such that a first end of the elongated strip and a second end of the elongated strip protrude outwardly from a first lateral surface of the mattress and a second lateral surface of the mattress, respectively.   
     
     
         9 . The bed exercise system of any one of  claims 7 - 8 , wherein the lower surface of the elongated strip comprises an adhesive that is configured to couple to the bed frame. 
     
     
         10 . The bed exercise system of any one of  claims 7 - 9 , wherein a lower surface of the elongated strip comprises a magnet that is configured to couple to the bed frame. 
     
     
         11 . The bed exercise system of any one of  claims 7 - 10 , wherein the upper surface of the elongated strip comprises a high-friction portion that has a coefficient of friction greater than approximately 1.0. 
     
     
         12 . The bed exercise system of any one of  claims 7 - 11 , wherein the elongated strip is formed from a fabric material. 
     
     
         13 . The bed exercise system of any one of  claims 7 - 11 , wherein the elongated strip is formed from a rigid material. 
     
     
         14 . The bed exercise system of  claim 13 , wherein the elongated strip has a non-planar shape corresponding to a non-planar shape of the bed frame. 
     
     
         15 . The bed exercise system of  claim 14 , wherein the non-planar shape includes the upper surface of the elongated strip having a concave portion and the lower surface of the elongated strip having a convex portion. 
     
     
         16 . The bed exercise system of any one of  claims 7 - 15 , wherein the anchor further comprises a first connector coupled to the first end of the elongated strip and a second connector coupled to the second end of the elongated strip,
 wherein the first connector is configured to couple to the second end of the first elastic connector, and   wherein the second connector is configured to couple to the second end of the second elastic connector.   
     
     
         17 . The bed exercise system of  claim 16 , wherein the first connector and the second connector each comprise a respective strap. 
     
     
         18 . The bed exercise system of  claim 16 , wherein the first connector and the second connector each comprise a respective aperture in the elongated strip. 
     
     
         19 . The bed exercise system of any one of  claims 1 - 2 , wherein the anchor comprises a first pad and a second pad that are each configured to couple to a bed frame of the bed between the bed frame and a mattress of the bed,
 wherein the first pad is configured to be positioned adjacent to a first lateral surface of the mattress,   wherein the second pad is configured to be positioned adjacent to a second lateral surface of the mattress,   wherein the first pad comprises a lower surface that is configured to couple to the bed frame and an upper surface that is configured to engage the mattress, and   wherein the second pad comprises a lower surface that is configured to couple to the bed frame and an upper surface that is configured to engage the mattress.   
     
     
         20 . The bed exercise system of  claim 19 , wherein the lower surface of the first pad and the lower surface of the second pad each comprises an adhesive that is configured to couple to the bed frame. 
     
     
         21 . The bed exercise system of any one of  claims 19 - 20 , wherein the lower surface of the first pad and the lower surface of the second pad each comprises a magnet that is configured to couple to the bed frame. 
     
     
         22 . The bed exercise system of any one of  claims 19 - 21 , wherein the upper surface of the first pad and the upper surface of the second pad each comprises a high-friction portion that has a coefficient of friction greater than approximately 1.0. 
     
     
         23 . The bed exercise system of any one of  claims 19 - 22 , wherein the anchor further comprises a first connector coupled to the first pad and a second connector coupled to the second pad,
 wherein the first connector is configured to couple to the second end of the first elastic connector, and   wherein the second connector is configured to couple to the second end of the second elastic connector.   
     
     
         24 . The bed exercise system of  claim 23 , wherein the first connector and the second connector each comprise a respective strap. 
     
     
         25 . The bed exercise system of  claim 23 , wherein the first connector and the second connector each comprise a respective aperture in the first pad and the second pad. 
     
     
         26 . The bed exercise system of any one of  claims 1 - 2 , wherein the anchor comprises:
 a first loop of material that is configured to couple the second end of the first elastic connector to a first restraint hook of a bed frame of the bed, and   a second loop of material that is configured to couple the second end of the second elastic connector to a first restraint hook of a bed frame of the bed.   
     
     
         27 . The bed exercise system of any one of  claims 1 - 2 , wherein the anchor comprises:
 an anchor board that is configured to be positioned on an upper surface of a mattress of the bed,   a first connector that is configured to couple the second end of the first elastic connector to the anchor board, and   a second connector that is configured to couple the second end of the second elastic connector to the anchor board.   
     
     
         28 . The bed exercise system of  claim 27 , wherein the anchor board comprises:
 a lower board surface that is configured to engage the upper surface of the mattress,   an upper board surface that is configured to face the foot pad,   a first lateral board side configured to face a first lateral surface of the mattress,   a second lateral board side configured to face a second lateral surface of the mattress,   a distal board side configured to face a foot end of the mattress, and   a proximal board side configured face a head end of the mattress,   wherein the lower board surface and the upper board surface each extend between the first lateral board side, the second lateral board side, the distal board side, and the proximal board side of the anchor board.   
     
     
         29 . The bed exercise system of  claim 28 , wherein the anchor further comprises one or more anchor straps that are configured to couple the anchor board to the mattress by extending around a first lateral surface of the mattress, a lower surface of the mattress, and a second lateral surface of the mattress. 
     
     
         30 . The bed exercise system of  claim 29 , wherein each anchor strap comprises a first end coupled to the anchor board at or adjacent to the first lateral board side and a second end coupled to the anchor board at or adjacent to the second lateral board side. 
     
     
         31 . The bed exercise system of any one of  claims 29 - 30 , wherein each anchor strap comprises an adjustment mechanism that is configured to adjust a length of the anchor strap. 
     
     
         32 . The bed exercise system of any one of  claims 27 - 31 , wherein the lower board surface comprises a high-friction portion that has a coefficient of friction greater than approximately 1.0. 
     
     
         33 . The bed exercise system of any one of  claims 27 - 32 , wherein the anchor board has a weight of at least d10 pounds. 
     
     
         34 . The bed exercise system of  claim 33 , wherein the anchor board is formed from a metal. 
     
     
         35 . The bed exercise system of any one of  claims 27 - 34 , wherein the anchor board is configured to be folded to transition the anchor board from a deployed configuration to a storage configuration. 
     
     
         36 . The bed exercise system of any one of  claims 27 - 35 , wherein the foot pad comprises a first portion and a second portion,
 wherein the first portion includes a rigid support member, and   wherein the second portion of the foot pad extends from a lower side of the first portion of the foot pad.   
     
     
         37 . The bed exercise system of  claim 36 , wherein the second portion of the foot pad comprises a tube having an interior surface and an exterior surface, and
 wherein a first portion of the interior surface is configured to contact a second portion of the tube when the foot pad is moved between the first position and the second position.   
     
     
         38 . The bed exercise system of  claim 37 , wherein the exterior surface of the tube is coupled to the upper board surface of the anchor board. 
     
     
         39 . The bed exercise system of any one of  claims 27 - 38 , further comprising a leg support member extending from a lower side of the foot pad, wherein the leg support member comprises a leg cushion. 
     
     
         40 . The bed exercise system of any one of  claims 1 - 35 , wherein the foot pad comprises a first portion and a second portion,
 wherein the first portion includes a rigid support member, and   wherein the second portion of the foot pad extends from a lower side of the first portion of the foot pad.   
     
     
         41 . The bed exercise system of  claim 40 , wherein the second portion of the foot pad comprises a tube having an interior surface and an exterior surface, and
 wherein a first portion of the interior surface is configured to contact a second portion of the tube when the foot pad is moved between the first position and the second position.   
     
     
         42 . The bed exercise system of  claim 41 , wherein the exterior surface of the tube has a first coefficient of friction,
 wherein the interior surface of the tube has a second coefficient of friction, and   wherein the first coefficient of friction is greater than the second coefficient of friction.   
     
     
         43 . The bed exercise system of any one of  claims 1 - 42 , wherein the foot pad comprises at least one foot retention structure. 
     
     
         44 . The bed exercise system of  claim 43 , wherein the at least one foot retention structure comprises a plurality of pockets,
 wherein each pocket has a closed end facing an upper side of the foot pad and an open end facing a lower side of the foot pad such that the foot retention structure is configured to receive at least a forefoot region of a respective foot.   
     
     
         45 . The bed exercise system of  claim 44 , wherein each pocket is further configured to receive a midfoot region of the respective foot. 
     
     
         46 . The bed exercise system of any one of  claims 44 - 45 , wherein each pocket has a width in a dimension between a first lateral side of the foot pad and a second lateral side of the foot pad, and
 wherein the width of each pocket is approximately eight inches.   
     
     
         47 . The bed exercise system of any one of  claims 44 - 46 , wherein at least a portion of each pocket is coupled to the foot pad by a hook and loop fastener coupling. 
     
     
         48 . The bed exercise system of any one of  claims 43 - 47 , wherein the at least one foot retention structure comprises a hood structure that is movable between a storage position on a back side of the foot pad and a retention position on a front side of the foot pad, and
 wherein, in the retention position, the hood structure is configured to retain at least a forefoot region of a pair of boots worn by a patient while soles of the pair of boots contact the front side of the foot pad.   
     
     
         49 . The bed exercise system of  claim 48 , wherein the hood structure comprises a plurality of accordion pleats configured to expand responsive to moving the hood structure from the storage position to the retention position. 
     
     
         50 . The bed exercise system of any one of  claims 48 - 49 , further comprising a strap having (i) a first end coupled to the hood structure and (ii) a second end that is configured to, when the hood structure is in the retention position, removably couple to at least one of the foot pad or a leg support member extending from the foot pad. 
     
     
         51 . The bed exercise system of any one of  claims 1 - 50 , wherein the first elastic connector comprises a first adjustment mechanism configured to adjust a length of the first elastic connector, and
 wherein the second elastic connector comprises a second adjustment mechanism configured to adjust a length of the second elastic connector.   
     
     
         52 . The bed exercise system of  claim 51 , wherein the first adjustment mechanism comprises a plurality of first loops on the first elastic connector and a first clip that is configured to couple to a selected one of the plurality of first loops,
 wherein the second adjustment mechanism comprises a plurality of second loops on the second elastic connector and a second clip that is configured to couple to a selected one of the plurality of second loops, and   wherein the first clip is closer to the foot pad than the plurality of first loops when the first clip is decoupled from all of the plurality of first loops and the second clip is closer to the foot pad than the plurality of second loops when the second clip is decoupled from all of the plurality of second loops.   
     
     
         53 . The bed exercise system of any one of  claims 1 - 52 , wherein the first elastic connector and the second elastic connector are releasably coupled to the foot pad. 
     
     
         54 . The bed exercise system of  claim 1 , wherein the anchor comprises:
 a first pole configured to couple to a first slot of a bed frame;   a first bracket coupled to the first pole;   a first brace coupled to the first bracket;   a second pole configured to couple to a second slot of the bed frame;   a second bracket coupled to the second pole; and   a second brace coupled to the second bracket.   
     
     
         55 . The bed exercise system of  claim 54 , wherein a size of the first pole and a size of the second pole are adjustable. 
     
     
         56 . The bed exercise system of any one of  claims 54 - 55 , wherein a size of the first bracket and a size of the second bracket are adjustable. 
     
     
         57 . A method of operating the bed exercise system according to any one of  claims 1 - 53 , comprising:
 coupling the anchor to the bed;   coupling the first elastic connector to the anchor, wherein the first elastic connector extends from the anchor to the foot pad;   coupling the second elastic connector to the anchor, wherein the second elastic connector extends from the anchor to the foot pad;   positioning at least one foot of an operator on the foot pad and at least one leg of the operator between the first elastic connector and the second elastic connector;   moving, using the at least one foot and the at least one leg, the foot pad to a first position; and   moving, using the at least one foot and the at least one leg, the foot pad distally from the first position to a second position to increase a tension on the first elastic connector and a tension on the second elastic connector.   
     
     
         58 . A bed exercise system, comprising:
 an anchor configured to couple to a bed frame, wherein the anchor comprises:
 a first pole configured to couple to a first slot of the bed frame; 
 a first bracket coupled to the first pole; 
 a first brace coupled to the first bracket; 
 a second pole configured to couple to a second slot of the bed frame; 
 a second bracket coupled to the second pole; and 
 a second brace coupled to the second bracket 
   an exercise attachment; and   a first elastic connector having a first end coupled to the handheld attachment and a second end coupled to the anchor.   
     
     
         59 . The bed exercise system of  claim 58 , further comprising a second elastic connector having a first end coupled to the exercise attachment and a second end coupled to the anchor. 
     
     
         60 . The bed exercise system of  claim 59 , wherein the exercise attachment is a foot pad that is configured to be moved by one or more legs of an operator. 
     
     
         61 . The bed exercise system of  claim 58 , wherein the exercise attachment comprises a first handle coupled to the first end of the first elastic connector and a second handle coupled to the first end of the second elastic connector. 
     
     
         62 . A patient repositioning system, comprising:
 an anchor configured to couple to a bed frame, wherein the anchor comprises:
 a first pole configured to couple to a first slot of the bed frame; 
 a first bracket coupled to the first pole; 
 a first brace coupled to the first bracket; 
 a second pole configured to couple to a second slot of the bed frame; 
 a second bracket coupled to the second pole; and 
 a second brace coupled to the second bracket 
   a foot pad comprising a rigid support member;   a first inelastic connector having a first end coupled to the foot pad and a second end coupled to the anchor; and   a second inelastic connector having a first end coupled to the foot pad and a second end coupled to the anchor.   
     
     
         63 . A bed exercise system, comprising:
 a foot pad comprising a foot cushion;   a leg support member extending from a lower side of the foot pad, wherein the leg support member comprises a leg cushion, wherein the leg support member comprises a lower exterior surface, wherein the lower exterior surface comprises a low-friction material;   a first elastic connector having a first end coupled to a first lateral side of the foot pad and a second end;   a second elastic connector having a first end coupled to a second lateral side of the foot pad and a second end; and   
     
     
         64 . The bed exercise system of  claim 63 , wherein the first elastic connector and the second elastic connector are monolithically formed with each other as a single strip of elastic material, wherein the single strip of elastic material extends across an upper side of the foot pad. 
     
     
         65 . The bed exercise system of  claim 63 , wherein an upper exterior surface of the leg support member comprises a high-friction material. 
     
     
         66 . The bed exercise system of  claim 63 , wherein the leg cushion comprises a leg air bladder. 
     
     
         67 . The bed exercise system of  claim 66 , wherein the leg air bladder comprises a plurality of segments. 
     
     
         68 . The bed exercise system of  claim 67 , wherein the plurality of segments comprise a plurality of center segments, a first lateral segment on a first lateral side of the plurality of center segments, and a second lateral segment on a second lateral side of the plurality of center segments. 
     
     
         69 . The bed exercise system of  claim 68 , wherein the first lateral segment and the second lateral segment are elongated and extend along a length of the leg support member between a proximal end of the leg support member and a distal end of the leg support member. 
     
     
         70 . The bed exercise system of  claim 63 , wherein the foot cushion comprises a foot air bladder. 
     
     
         71 . The bed exercise system of  claim 70 , wherein the foot air bladder comprises a plurality of foot-cushion segments. 
     
     
         72 . The bed exercise system of  claim 71 , wherein the plurality of foot-cushion segments comprise one or more center segments, a first lateral segment on a first lateral side of the one or more center segments, and a second lateral segment on a second lateral side of the one or more center segments. 
     
     
         73 . The bed exercise system of  claim 72 , further comprising a first lateral seam between the first lateral segment and the plurality of center segments, and a second lateral seam between the second lateral segment and the plurality of center segments,
 wherein the first lateral segment is configured to hingedly move about the first seam relative to the plurality of center segments, and   wherein the second lateral segment is configured to hingedly move about the second seam relative to the plurality of center segments.   
     
     
         74 . The bed exercise system of  claim 63 , further comprising a foot strap coupled to the foot pad, wherein the foot strap is configured to couple one or more feet of an operator to the foot pad. 
     
     
         75 . The bed exercise system of  claim 74 , wherein the foot strap is configured to be coupled to the foot pad at a plurality of positions on the foot pad. 
     
     
         76 . The bed exercise system of  claim 74 , wherein the foot strap comprises a first hook-and-loop material, the foot pad comprises a second hook-and-loop material, and the first hook-and-loop material is configured to couple to the second hook-and-loop material by a hook-and-loop coupling. 
     
     
         77 . The bed exercise system of  claim 74 , wherein the foot strap comprises an elastic material. 
     
     
         78 . The bed exercise system of  claim 63 , further comprising a lateral seam at an interface between the foot pad and the leg support member.