With ALS, the chair has to keep up with change. That usually points to a full positioning chair, with deep tilt and recline a caregiver can adjust as needs grow.
As neck and trunk muscles weaken, sitting upright takes effort your husband may not have to spare. Tilt-in-space tips the seat and back as one piece, so gravity rests his head on the headrest and his back against the chair instead of asking tired muscles to hold him. Broda offers back heights up to 35 inches, which gives the head a place to settle.
ALS rarely holds still, and a chair that fits perfectly in spring may not suit by autumn. Infinitely adjustable tilt and recline, meaning any angle within the range rather than a few fixed stops, lets a caregiver fine-tune the position week to week. Ask what can be added later, such as extra padding or different supports, so the chair can adapt instead of being replaced.
Life still includes clinic visits, showers and time with family. A positioning chair with the WC19 option, the crash-test standard for wheelchairs used as seats in a vehicle, lets your husband ride to appointments without moving into a car seat. For bathing, a tilting shower commode keeps him leaned back and supported while a caregiver washes, which can make the routine less tiring for you both.
Prices are Broda's MSRP for the base chair. Size, options and accessories change the final price.
From $4,506.40MSRP
Broda designs the Synthesis for people who need full support through long days. It tilts to 40 degrees and reclines to 90, and an optional WC19 package lets your husband ride to the ALS clinic seated in his own chair.
From $5,173.70MSRP
The same Synthesis frame fitted with Broda's Huntington's Special Padding package. Broda also points to this padding for ALS when someone needs more cushioning around the frame as muscle weakness changes how they sit.
From $3,878.62MSRP
A stainless steel shower commode with tilt and up to 67 degrees of recline. Broda designs it to keep a person with weak trunk muscles leaned back and supported while a caregiver washes his hair and back.
Ask the ALS clinic's occupational or physical therapist, or an ATP (assistive technology professional), to assess seating early, while there is time to try options. They will look at head control, trunk strength and how your husband is most comfortable breathing while seated, then set tilt, recline and back height to match. Measure his hip width and thigh length while he sits. Plan to review the settings at each clinic visit, because what fits today may need changing in a few months.
Many families pay privately. Insurance or a public program may help when a doctor, therapist or ATP documents why the person needs the chair. Whether it is covered depends on the plan. Our written quote lists the exact model and options, so it can go straight into that paperwork. Facilities, care organizations and multi-unit buyers can ask us about partner pricing.
There is no single answer, and the right chair often changes over time. Many people with ALS eventually need full positioning, meaning tilt, recline and good head support. Some also use a power wheelchair to get around on their own. The ALS clinic therapist can match the chair to where your family is right now.
Yes, within limits. Tilt and recline on the positioning models stop at any angle in their range, so a caregiver can change the position as needs shift, and some padding and supports can be added later. A therapist or ATP should still review the setup regularly, since larger changes may call for a different model.
Usually not. Broda positioning chairs have no motor and are pushed by a caregiver. Some families use a power chair for moving around independently and a Broda for long hours of sitting, meals and rest at home. Your therapist can help you sort out which combination fits.
With the right equipment, yes. Broda offers a WC19 option on the Synthesis that adds crash-tested tie-down brackets and a seat belt. The van also needs its own wheelchair tie-down system, and the driver should follow its instructions for fastening the chair before each trip.
This guide is general product information, not medical advice. Chair features are described as Broda designs them. Choose seating together with the person's doctor, therapist or ATP.
Product photos © Broda Seating, used with permission. Broda® and model names are trademarks of their owner.
Call with the person's diagnosis, height and weight, and where they will sit most of the day. We will tell you which Broda chairs fit and send a written quote.
