From a Garage to the ICU: The Story of the MOVAO Bari

Physical Therapy  |  Bariatric Patient Care  |  Burn Unit Recovery

What begins with a vision and a willingness to do whatever it takes rarely looks impressive at first. For Dr. Darin Trees, it began with PVC pipe, plywood, and a garage. Decades later, it became one of the most trusted names in bariatric physical therapy equipment.

A Problem Worth Solving

In the 1990s, Dr. Darin Trees was confronted with a challenge facing ICU burn unit patients across the country: how do you help critically injured, often bariatric patients begin the critical work of physical therapy when the equipment simply does not exist to support them?

Standard physical therapy equipment was not designed for the weight capacities, physical fragility, or recovery demands of burn unit patients. The gap between what patients needed and what was available was significant, and for many patients, that gap meant delayed recovery, prolonged bedrest, and diminished outcomes.

Dr. Trees did not wait for someone else to solve it.

Built in a Garage, Designed for Recovery

The first iteration of what would become the MOVAO Bari was built by hand in Dr. Trees' home garage using PVC pipe and plywood. It was not elegant. It was not commercially manufactured. But it worked, and more importantly, it worked for patients who had no other options.

This original prototype was developed specifically to support ICU burn unit physical therapy, enabling therapists to help patients transition from bedrest and begin rebuilding strength at the earliest possible stage of recovery. Early mobility is a well-established factor in burn recovery outcomes, and having equipment capable of safely supporting bariatric patients was a critical clinical need.

Decades of Refinement: Introducing the Modern MOVAO Bari

That garage prototype has been refined, engineered, and perfected over decades into today's MOVAO Bari, a precision-built patient recovery and physical therapy aid that sets the standard in bariatric rehabilitation equipment.

The MOVAO Bari is engineered to support patients across the full spectrum of physical therapy and early mobility needs, from the most vulnerable stages of ICU and burn unit recovery through progressive rehabilitation milestones on the path to independence.

Designed for the patients who need it most

Bariatric patients face unique challenges in physical therapy and post-acute recovery. Standard equipment routinely falls short in terms of weight capacity, stability, and the ability to safely support patients who may be at early, fragile stages of mobilization. The MOVAO Bari was built to close that gap.

•      Weight capacity of up to 750 lbs to accommodate bariatric patient needs

•      Precision-engineered construction for durability and long-term clinical use

•      Designed to support patients from bedrest to standing and early ambulation

•      Built to empower recovery milestones in ICU, burn unit, and rehabilitation settings

•      Provides unmatched stability and support for physical therapy professionals and patients alike

Why Early Mobility Matters in Burn Unit Recovery

For burn unit patients, the window for early physical therapy intervention is critical. Prolonged immobility following serious burns is associated with muscle atrophy, joint contracture, reduced respiratory function, and extended recovery timelines. Getting patients moving, even in the earliest stages of ICU care, is a clinical priority.

The challenge has always been equipment. Standard physical therapy aids are not designed for the specific demands of burn patients, who may have compromised skin integrity, significant pain, and weight profiles that exceed standard equipment limits. The MOVAO Bari was created precisely for this clinical reality.

By providing a stable, high-capacity support system, the MOVAO Bari allows physical therapists to initiate mobility protocols earlier, support patients through progressive weight-bearing exercises, and help patients achieve key recovery milestones with greater safety and confidence.

From Bedrest to Independence

The journey from bedrest to independence is one of the most significant challenges a patient and their care team can face. For bariatric patients recovering from burns or other serious conditions requiring ICU care, that journey demands equipment that is up to the task at every stage.

The MOVAO Bari supports that full journey. Whether a patient is taking their first assisted steps after extended bedrest, progressing through strength-building physical therapy, or working toward the mobility milestones that signal readiness for discharge or transition to the next level of care, the MOVAO Bari is engineered to be there, providing the stability, support, and durability the moment demands.

The Legacy of Innovation That Never Stops

Dr. Darin Trees' story is a reminder that the most meaningful innovations in healthcare are often born not in large research facilities or corporate development labs, but in the determined mind of someone who sees a problem and refuses to accept that nothing can be done about it.

From a PVC pipe prototype in a residential garage in the 1990s to a professionally engineered, high-capacity bariatric physical therapy aid serving patients in ICU burn units and rehabilitation settings today, the MOVAO Bari represents what is possible when clinical insight, engineering, and an unrelenting commitment to patient outcomes come together.

It is more than equipment. It is the product of a vision that was never abandoned.

Learn More About the MOVAO Bari

For more information about the MOVAO Bari or to request a quote for your facility, visit www.movaobari.com. Serving ICU, burn unit, and rehabilitation facilities nationwide.

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