For POTS, look for a chair that tilts and reclines, so your daughter can lean back the moment she feels lightheaded without standing up or moving to a bed.
POTS, short for postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, affects how the body copes with being upright. Lying flat is often where people with POTS are most comfortable, but a bed is rarely nearby when a dizzy spell starts. Tilt lowers the back of the whole seat with her body in the same sitting shape, and recline drops the backrest on its own. Together they let her get close to lying down right where she sits.
Fatigue is a large part of life with POTS, and wheeling a chair by hand can use up energy she needs for school or work. Broda's pedal chairs sit low enough for her feet to reach the floor, so she can walk the chair along with her legs. On harder days, a family member can push from behind, and the seat can still tilt back whenever she needs it.
Visits to cardiology and neurology can mean long drives and longer waiting rooms. A chair crash-tested to WC19, a safety standard for wheelchairs used as seats in vehicles, lets her stay in the chair for the trip if the van has proper tie-downs. Broda's Traversa reclines up to 90 degrees, so she can lie back during the ride without being moved to a stretcher.
Prices are Broda's MSRP for the base chair. Size, options and accessories change the final price.
From $4,506.40MSRP
For days spent mostly seated, the Synthesis offers 40 degrees of tilt alongside a full 90-degree recline, with a Trendelenburg option that raises the legs above head level. Crash-tested WC19 brackets and a seat belt can be added for vehicle travel.
From $3,194.94MSRP
For a young woman who wants to move herself, the Encore Pedal has a low seat for propelling with her feet; its height from the floor adjusts between 12.5 and 19 inches. Front-pivot tilt keeps her feet down even while she rests back.
Broda built the Traversa as a stretcher alternative for medical transport. It is crash-tested to WC19, reclines up to 90 degrees, tilts up to 20, and has a seat that raises and lowers. It carries up to 450 pounds.
POTS can look very different from one hour to the next, so try to book the assessment on a typical day rather than a good one. Her physical therapist, or an Assistive Technology Professional (ATP), can see how far back she needs to go to feel steady and whether she can propel herself. If she will pedal with her feet, measure seat-to-floor height with her usual shoes on. Many people with POTS use a chair only part of the time, so think about where it will go most: school, the car or home. Recheck the setup as her symptoms shift.
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.
Not everyone with POTS does. Some people use one only for long outings, appointments or rough weeks, and walk the rest of the time. Whether a chair makes sense is a decision for her and her care team. If it does, a chair that tilts and reclines gives her a way to rest without leaving her seat.
Often, yes, although pushing with the arms can be tiring. Broda's pedal chairs are built for moving with the feet from a low seat, which some people find easier. Her therapist can watch her try both methods and suggest the setup that leaves her with the most energy for the rest of her day.
Tilt and recline come first, followed by a seat that stays comfortable for hours and a way to travel. The Broda Synthesis offers deep tilt and full recline, and Broda sells a WC19 bracket option for it. If she needs to lie back during vehicle trips, ask us about the Traversa as well.
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.
