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Shiftwave is demonstrating its Arc reclining chair and Active Regulation software platform at Eudemonia in West Palm Beach, running Nov. 6-8. The $20,000 chair combines pulsed pressure waves, guided breathwork and audio; first deliveries are expected in mid-February. The company reports positive results from preliminary field studies, but those studies lacked control groups.
Shiftwave is demonstrating its new Arc wellness chair and accompanying Active Regulation software at Eudemonia in West Palm Beach, Florida, from Nov. 6-8. The $20,000 chair combines pulsed pressure waves, guided breathwork and audio experiences, while the platform recommends sessions based on users’ reported feelings, goals and available time.
The Arc is a reclining chair designed by Copenhagen-based industrial designer Jakob Wagner, whose previous work includes headphones for Bang & Olufsen, according to Athletech News. Shiftwave says the device pairs its hardware with a software library of more than 100 protocols developed with trainers, psychologists, sports performance coaches and researchers. First deliveries are expected in mid-February.
Some sessions use the company’s patented BioDrive technology, which reads a user’s pulse through a chair-mounted sensor and adjusts vibration patterns in real time. Users can track sessions through four measures named Engagement, Resilience, Renewal and Inner Form, and connect wearable devices. The new app is available for iPhone and iPad; Android support is planned, the report says.
Shiftwave’s existing Pro chair is also compatible with the new software. The company describes its products as tools intended to influence the autonomic nervous system, which regulates involuntary functions such as heart rate and the body’s stress response. The proposed use is to support shifts between alertness and relaxation; that description reflects the company’s intended function, not proof of a clinical effect.
The launch brings together a high-priced piece of wellness hardware and software that is intended to tailor sessions to users rather than offer only a fixed routine. At $20,000, the Arc is a substantial purchase, and its initial relevance is likely to be greatest for performance facilities and buyers able to pay for specialized equipment. Shiftwave says its technology is already used by teams across all five major U.S. professional sports leagues, as well as military installations and performance programs; that is a company statement, not an independent assessment of adoption or results.
The product also illustrates how wellness companies are packaging biometric feedback, guided breathing and sensory stimulation into one service. The pulse-based BioDrive feature is designed to adjust vibration during a session, while the app provides protocols and tracking measures. Whether that combination produces benefits beyond rest, guided breathing or user expectations remains an open research question. For customers and organizations considering the chair, the distinction between a product’s design goals and demonstrated outcomes is material.
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Research Behind Shiftwave’s Claims
Shiftwave is promoting the launch alongside a research program examining the technology’s possible effects on stress, anxiety and recovery. In an October 2026 research overview released by the company, it reported 11 completed field studies involving 362 participants. The company said participants reported improvements in stress, anxiety, pain and relaxation after sessions. Those are reported findings from the company’s summary, not independently established treatment effects.
One pilot described in the overview involved 22 NCAA Division I athletes at UC Santa Barbara. Participants reported improvements in mental readiness and stress after sessions over two weeks, according to Shiftwave. The company also says its research has involved firefighters, police officers and military personnel. The supplied report notes that the completed field studies did not include control groups, limiting what can be concluded about whether sessions caused the reported changes.
Shiftwave says eight controlled trials are in progress or awaiting approval. The listed work includes studies involving military personnel and researchers at Ohio State University, Appalachian State University and other institutions. Those trials could provide stronger comparisons than uncontrolled field studies, but their status and findings are not yet available in the source material.
“We saw in the lab that gentle wasn’t enough to get people unstuck, so we kept adding power until we could reliably create a shift.”
— Mike North, Shiftwave co-founder and CEO
Clinical Evidence Is Still Developing
The available research summary does not establish whether Shiftwave sessions outperform rest, breathing exercises or participants’ expectations. The 11 completed field studies had no control groups, according to the report, so their results cannot isolate the technology’s effects. The source material does not provide full study designs, peer-reviewed publications or detailed numerical results for the reported changes.
It is also unclear when the eight controlled trials will be completed or when results will be published. The supplied information does not specify the exact delivery date within mid-February, the number of Arc units available, or whether the software’s planned Android version has a release schedule. No independent evaluation of the chair’s four tracking metrics is described.
Demonstrations Before Mid-February Delivery
Shiftwave is scheduled to demonstrate the Arc and Active Regulation platform at Eudemonia from Nov. 6-8. The company expects first deliveries in mid-February, but the source does not provide a more precise date or shipment schedule. Prospective buyers may be able to see the chair at the event; availability, purchasing terms beyond the stated retail price and the scale of the initial rollout are not specified.
Further evidence will depend in part on the controlled trials Shiftwave says are underway or awaiting approval. Their methods, completion dates and results have not been supplied. Updates on those studies, Android availability and real-world use of the platform would help clarify how the product performs beyond the company’s early, uncontrolled research.
Key Questions
What is Shiftwave showing at Eudemonia?
The company is demonstrating its Arc reclining chair and Active Regulation software at the West Palm Beach event from Nov. 6-8. The chair combines pulsed pressure waves, guided breathwork and audio experiences.
How much does the Shiftwave Arc cost?
The reported retail price is $20,000. The source material does not detail purchasing terms or whether other costs apply.
When will the Arc be available?
Shiftwave expects first deliveries in mid-February. The exact delivery date and rollout size have not been provided.
What evidence supports the chair’s claimed benefits?
Shiftwave reports 11 completed field studies with 362 participants and says participants reported improvements in several measures. The studies lacked control groups, so they cannot establish that the chair caused the changes or performed better than rest or expectations.
Which devices support the new software?
The app is available for iPhone and iPad. Android support is planned, but no release date is given. Shiftwave says its existing Pro chair is compatible with the platform.
Source: athletechnews.com
