Teen developed wellness tool. Increase flexibility, release muscle tension, ease lower back pain. Stretch your way into better health!
Read more
245
backers
$15,369
This project will be funded on .
Replay with sound
Teen developed wellness tool. Increase flexibility, release muscle tension, ease lower back pain. Stretch your way into better health!
About this project
Self-Myofascial Release: Massage technique to stretch and manipulate muscles to relieve tension
Static Stretching: Holding a stretch for a period of time to lengthen muscles
Trigger Point Therapy: Relieving of tight muscle points by applying pressure
- Stretching is key to increasing flexibility or range of motion.
- Maintaining flexibility can help reduce the risk of injuries.
- Proper stretching increases blood supply and oxygen flow to the brain.
- Stretching can reduce tension, relieve stress, lessen soreness and even improve posture.
- More oxygen results in a clearer mind and a better mood.
- Stretching makes people feel good.
We want to help people stretch, make it as easy as possible and make it fun. If it is fun, you will want to stretch. If you keep stretching, you will feel better. It is that simple!
Replay with sound
FLEXFIT was inspired by an 8th grade STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) project of our co-presidents, Rachelle and Matthew, who are now Juniors in high school.
- The mission was simple.
- Reduce the risk of injury by promoting stretching.
- It was personal. They understood.
- Rachelle is a dancer. Matthew is a baseball pitcher.
- Both had already experienced the pain of athletic overuse injuries.
They wanted to help their peers. They wanted to make a difference.
KRAM Wellness (Kinetic Range and Motion) was born from this passion. Parents Dave, Heather and Jack, who are engineering and entrepreneurial professionals, joined in on the journey.
2 ½ years later:
- We are ready to share our 8th generation FLEXFIT with everyone.
- Our design is patent pending worldwide.
- We are merging engineering and entrepreneurship for the next gen.
Taking a STEM concept to a proven product, do our teen founders have Shark Tank in their future?
Meet the Team:
- A 3-in-1 self care wellness tool like no other.
- Stretch without strain or tension.
- Extremely lightweight at under 1 pound!
- One size adjustability works for all heights and flexibility levels.
Replay with sound
Replay with sound
Replay with sound
- FLEXFIT travels well and loves company.
- Use it alone, with a friend or with everyone around you.
- Try it standing, sitting or even laying down.
- You will love how you feel!
Through networking we have developed relationships with fitness and health professionals that have driven the development of our initial concept into a production ready 8th generation design.
Networking. Education. Research. Action.
We’re giving a big shout out to Nick Normandin, CrossFit Coach and Fitness Expert and Sarah Davis, Physical Therapist and Wellness Coach who educated us on the many benefits of trigger point therapy and self-myofascial release through foam rolling.
- Their guidance tripled the uniqueness of FLEXFIT.
- From Static Stretching to a 3-in-1 Wellness Tool!
Feedback from over 100 evaluations of people of all ages and fitness levels was studied and solutions implemented to address every concern.
Networking also allowed us to conduct a 6 week full clinical study with results evaluated by The Micheli Center for Sports Injury Prevention. 40 participants aged 14-56 used FLEXFIT every day and range of motion measurements were taken at the beginning, the middle and the end.
Unbelievable experience. Fantastic feedback. Proven results.
Participants saw an average of a 20% increase in range of motion!
Our 7th generation is fully functional but we want to improve the trigger point therapy feature by replacing the off-the-shelf end caps with those custom shaped to maximize the effect.
Funding Goal: $8,200 for a Steel Mold
We are currently working with a local plastics manufacturer for the steel tooling needed to produce our custom design. Because we have produced fully functional design prototypes which have been evaluated in test markets and validated by clinical study results, our production timeline from here is short.
Shipping in early December just in time for the holidays!
All funds raised will go directly to the purchase of the steel mold and manufacturing FLEXFIT.
We are proud that FLEXFIT will be assembled in the USA in Leominster, MA.
We are even prouder that we have partnered with The Arc of Opportunity, an organization who empowers individuals with disabilities by employing them in the workforce, to assemble FLEXFIT.
- FLEXFIT has been an ideal project for their vision.
- The Arc has been an inspiration for us.
We have been so fortunate on our journey that we want to share our experiences with other teens. Get them involved. Expand the energy.
We want to create jobs through the success of our Kickstarter campaign and hire local teenagers to assemble production FLEXFITs working alongside these great people from The Arc.
Practice compassion. Help our community. Pay it forward.
Replay with sound
Definition of a FLEXFITTER: An awesome person who is experiencing the benefits of stretching using FLEXFIT!
- Really cool rewards will make you a FLEXFITTER for life!
- Kickstarter Exclusive - Skype Session with the founders.
- For every backer at the $5.00 level or higher, we'll add your name to our website. Check it out here:
http://www.kramwellnessgroup.com/
Choose yours and join our FLEXFIT Revolution today!
Risks and challenges
Our initial challenges of product design and quality component selection have been successfully addressed with our 8th generation FLEXFIT. The design has been validated through proven clinical and real life testing and the results clearly show the benefits. Our prior generation prototypes have gone through many evaluations and have experienced months of use in a CrossFit facility and Dance studio.
Our remaining challenges with a successfully funded campaign will be final production and distribution in order to meet our quick turn delivery time depending upon the demand. We have really thought through our assembly process and have worked diligently with the Arc of Opportunity to set up an efficient and comfortable workspace. Our CTO (Chief Technology Officer), Jack, has created fixtures that not only streamline the process but also ensure accuracy and repeatability.
The fact that we will assemble and ship out of our local business facility here in the USA will allow us to personally oversee the full production process. Our plastics manufacturer is also within an hour’s drive of our location. Finally Dave, Heather and Jack have many years of experience with manufacturing and distribution.
Learn about accountability on KickstarterFAQ
-
Just in case you missed it, less than 1 pound! When we say lightweight, we mean lightweight!
-
FLEXFIT 5 is a series of stretching protocols (routines) of five stretches each targeting certain muscle groups or lifestyles. Each are designed to give you the most benefit for your stretching time.
-
Our physical therapist developed a special FLEXFIT 5 routine to target the lower back. Additionally, keeping your hamstrings loose has an effect on your back and using FLEXFIT has been proven as an excellent way to increase your range of motion (flexibility) of your hamstrings.
-
We recommend using FLEXFIT at least 3 times per week. For more significant results, stretch daily. To get the most benefit from stretching, you need to keep the regular routine.
-
Our fitness experts recommend holding each stretch with FLEXFIT for 30-60 seconds on each side. This was the amount of time followed in our clinical study, evaluating range of motion results.
-
We recommend the best time to stretch with FLEXFIT is always after an activity, but you can also use FLEXFIT before or even at any point during the day that fits your schedule and activity level.
-
FLEXFIT is safe for everyone! Our clinical study participants were aged 14-56 years young, but Rachelle’s own grandmother (aged 80) has used FLEXFIT to help ease the pain of her polymyalgia. We have also had kids as young as 4 try it out with parental supervision, of course!
-
Like with everything, please consult your doctor, but remaining active is a good thing and stretching can help you maintain an active lifestyle. One of our early supporters at CrossFit EXP used FLEXFIT regularly after classes while she was pregnant. She just modified his position, so instead of laying down, she sat with her legs out and stretched.
-
FLEXFIT originally started as a device targeted for the lower leg, and as we expanded stretches to include the upper body, we kept the description to be true to our roots. Use the foot saddle on your foot, your leg, your arm or even around a bar or door knob. Don’t let the description limit you!
-
The FLEX clip allows the bottom portion of the FLEXFIT to form a loop that can be tightened around your foot for example, which keeps it in place, allowing you to bring your leg to higher levels or steeper angles that you might be able to without the extra security of the FLEX clip. We have a FLEXFIT 5 routine targeted for those who enjoy extreme flexibility. We call it FLEXFIT Extreme for dancers.
-
FLEXFIT can get wet, it will not shed water, but it will dry. The type of webbing was purposely chosen as it dries easily, resists absorption and holds it shape. We tested FLEXFIT in swimming pools from New England to Southern Florida and even at the beach.
-
With our unique combination of hardware, FLEXFIT can be adjusted simply by pulling toward you or pushing away from you. If you need even more or even less length, then slide the FLEX clip the direction you need and readjust the rest of the unit. Take a look at the video under the “FLEXFIT Advantage” in our story section for a demonstration.
-
Let’s just say they are sturdy plastic. We can’t give away all of our secrets!
-
Not yet, but it is a goal in our business plan to develop one and we now have been able to add this as a stretch goal! We believe our FLEXFIT 5 Stretching eBook will be a good starting point for development but if you have any ideas please send us a note!
-
Not yet, but we are in discussions with our webbing manufacturer for options and pricing to see if we can add choices during our campaign, We are considering offering a customized “My FLEXFIT” with different webbing colors in the future. We are also considering offering specific colors for sports teams or facilities, when FLEXFIT is purchased in quantity by those entities.
-
Not at this time. Your FLEXFIT will come in our orange bag with the winning tagline from our previous Facebook contest. “Get Fit. Stay Fit. FLEXFIT”. Orange is a power color! For more fun contests to come follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.