Thinking about how to maintain your recumbent stepper? Well you’ve come to the right place.
Leg stabilizer stow clips. We know it’s a small piece but we want to let you know – these little bad boys matter more than you think. If you’ve ever experienced the annoying problem of a loose leg stabilizer swinging around on your recumbent stepper or getting in the way of other equipment…
Let’s just say, you know how bad it can be!
In this easy guide, you’ll find out:
- Why Stow Clips Matter
- What is a Leg Stabilizer Stow Clip?
- What is The Hidden Danger Behind Lack of Maintenance
- How To Maintain Your Exercise Equipment
Why Stow Clips Matter
Here’s the real truth, we don’t want to alarm you but…
Little things like a leg stabilizer stow clip may not seem like a big deal but they do a lot of work to help you maintain your rehabilitation equipment and most importantly make sure your equipment is safe to use.
Without stow clips, your equipment is messy, hazardous and annoying.
Picture this: a loose leg stabilizer swinging around the equipment while your customer, member or patient is exercising. Not only does it look untidy, but it could also be dangerous for other users, pose tripping hazards and even result in damaging the machine.
Plus, recent studies showed that 30% of gym injuries are due to poor maintenance. A pretty staggering number for something that is easily preventable!
So if you want to know how to keep your equipment in tip-top shape, read on!
What is a Leg Stabilizer Stow Clip?
Leg stabilizer stow clips are little accessories designed to hold leg stabilizers when not in use. The stabilizers themselves help users with lower body weakness and paralysis support their legs in alignment while exercising. It really is such a cool tool.
But what about when the leg stabilizers aren’t in use? The stow clip ensures that the legs stabilizer stays out of the way, safely tucked in beside the machine until it is needed again. This means no more hanging straps to trip over, no loose equipment to clutter your floor and no worrying that a customer, member or patient might get the leg stabilizer strap caught in the machine.
Particularly crucial for:
- Physical therapy centers
- Senior living facilities
- Home rehabilitation setups
- Clinical settings
Ensuring equipment is safe and easy to use between users. Plus, it also prevents unnecessary damage to the leg stabilizer strap itself.
What is The Hidden Danger Behind Lack of Maintenance
Did we scare you earlier? If not, here’s a little more reason to stay with us and find out how simple it is to keep your equipment in top condition!
Exercise equipment was responsible for over 409,000 injuries in 2021. And that was an 8.3% increase from the previous year.
If this doesn’t frighten you, we don’t know what will!
Now, if you think about it, many of these accidents could have been avoided with a little care and attention.
When small parts like stow clips are missing or damaged, they cause a whole host of problems. First, dangling equipment causes tripping hazards. Someone could trip over a dangling leg stabilizer when they walk past your recumbent stepper.
Secondly, when the leg stabilizer isn’t stowed properly, it can get damaged more quickly. Stow clips prevent straps from getting bent, twisted or worn out prematurely.
Thirdly, it just makes your machine look untidy. When not stowed properly, loose straps and equipment mess up your floor space. In a professional setting like clinical facilities and gyms, you don’t want to look like your don’t care about cleanliness and maintenance, do you?
You might have heard the term “moving injuries” in a workplace environment. Poorly maintained equipment can increase the risk of injuries by up to 20% – that is not a statistic anyone should be comfortable with.
So, let’s keep it in mind and find out how to maintain your equipment, shall we?
How To Maintain Your Exercise Equipment
Ok, ok, now we’ve terrified you, let’s get you sorted so you don’t have to worry ever again.
Checking on your leg stabilizer stow clips is actually pretty straightforward.
First, have a look at the clips themselves. Look for any cracks or breaks in the plastic. You also want to make sure the clips aren’t loose, check the attachment points too and look for any signs of wear and tear. Be sure to check that you don’t have any missing clips that will need replacing.
Next steps:
The last thing you want is a loose leg stabilizer slipping out of the stow clip while your customer or patient is exercising.
That’s why if you do find a broken clip, you should replace it immediately. Don’t wait for it to completely break, replace it as soon as you see any damage. A single replacement clip is a small price to pay compared to what you could pay for an injury or broken equipment.
In addition to inspecting your clips, it’s a good idea to put a maintenance schedule in place. Check your equipment once a week if it’s high-traffic or used often. A monthly inspection will be enough for home set-ups with less traffic.
It’s also essential to make sure all your users are aware of how to secure the leg stabilizer properly when they’re finished with it. Instilling good habits in users and caretakers will help avoid most problems.
Keep some spare clips on hand too, that way you won’t have to worry about equipment downtime if a clip suddenly goes missing or breaks.
Choosing Quality Replacement Parts
Not all replacement parts are made the same, that much we know.
When you are shopping for replacement parts like stow clips, it’s always best to use manufacturer-approved parts and components. We know the generic options can be tempting, they are usually cheaper and they may seem like they’ll do the same job but, in our experience, they often don’t fit as well and they wear out much quicker.
Look for clips that are:
- Durable, medical-grade materials
- Compatible and designed for your equipment model
- Easy to install without needing special tools
- Come with a warranty or guarantee
Quality parts may cost a little more upfront but they will last much longer and will save you time replacing and maintaining your equipment.
The Cost of Ignoring The Small Details
We like to say, it is the little things that matter and this couldn’t be more true!
Let’s take a moment to appreciate the domino effect a little issue like a missing or damaged stow clip can have. You ignore it, it results in damage to your leg stabilizer which costs hundreds of dollars to replace. The damaged leg stabilizer now means your machine is unsafe to use and has to go out of action while the leg stabilizer is replaced. That could mean lost revenue, potential liability and lost productivity.
If you like, you can factor in a few more statistics:
- Replacement stabilizers can cost you hundreds of dollars
- Time out of action for your machine and associated equipment while the leg stabilizer is being replaced
- Potential liability if your customer, patient or member is injured
- Lost productivity, especially for clinical and gym facilities
And all that from a stow clip that will only cost you a few dollars at most.
We hope by now we don’t have to tell you that the cost of preventive maintenance with quality replacement parts is always cheaper than fixing big problems after the damage is done.
Putting it all together
So now you know, little things like leg stabilizer stow clips can have a big impact on the safety, maintenance and longevity of your equipment. They keep leg stabilizers organized and safe, reduce the risk of damage and injury and are super easy to use and maintain.
With over 409,000 annual exercise equipment injuries taking place, looking after these little details is more important than ever before.
Regular checks, using quality replacement parts and user training help you create a safe environment for all your members, customers and patients.
So, check over your equipment today and replace any worn or broken stow clips.
You can thank yourself later!
The best part? This takes mere minutes and yet provides benefits for years to come.
