ERIN is proud to spotlight Shorty, founder of Karma Medical Products Ltd., an Edmonton-based company redefining how people recover from upper extremity injuries.
Born out of a NAIT student capstone project at Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital, FEPSim Karma’s flagship device was created to restore motion, confidence, and independence. What began as a local innovation has grown into a made-in-Alberta success story that’s improving lives across North America and beyond.
Innovation with Impact
FEPSim® is a patented rehabilitation system designed to strengthen grip, improve dexterity, and simulate real-world motion for patients recovering from injury, illness, or surgery. The 1000H and 1000V models enable over 50 task-based exercises that help people get back to everyday life from turning a key or opening a jar to getting back to sport or work.
Validated through studies at the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital, University of Alberta, and NAIT, FEPSim has shown:
171% average improvement in grip strength
More than 50% faster fine motor performance
Usability rating of 84–86/100 (Excellent)
Clinicians at the Barrow Neurological Institute praised FEPSim’s versatility and design simplicity, describing it as “a small, powerful system that engages patients in meaningful movement.”
For an industry where methods have remained unchanged for decades, FEPSim is setting a new benchmark for functional recovery.
Impact on Edmonton & Beyond
Karma’s work is about more than product innovation; it’s about people. Every FEPSim is designed, machined, and assembled in Alberta through a trusted network of local suppliers and collaborators.
The company partners with Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital, NAIT, University of Alberta, Health Cities, Praxis SCI, and Alberta Innovates to bridge research, rehabilitation, and manufacturing, positioning Edmonton as a global hub for smart, compassionate, and practical health technology.
How the ERIN Community Can Help
“Connections are everything,” says Shorty. “ERIN’s Meet, Know, Grow approach is exactly what makes Alberta’s innovation ecosystem special - meet good people, know who can help, and grow together.”
Karma Medical Products is now expanding partnerships, connecting with investors, and working with therapists and clinics to bring FEPSim to more patients worldwide.
Each FEPSim delivered is more than a product; it’s a person getting their independence back.
Connect with Shorty at shorty@fepsim.com
Learn more at www.fepsim.com