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Shiftwave is demonstrating its Arc wellness chair and Active Regulation software platform at Eudemonia in West Palm Beach, Florida, from Nov. 6-8. The company says the system combines pulsed pressure waves, guided breathwork and personalized sessions; its early field studies reported improvements, but lacked control groups.
Shiftwave is introducing its Arc wellness chair and Active Regulation software platform at Eudemonia in West Palm Beach, Florida, Nov. 6-8, expanding the company’s products for guided stress management, recovery and performance preparation. The chair is priced at $20,000, and first deliveries are expected in mid-February.
The Arc combines pulsed pressure waves, guided breathwork and audio experiences in a reclining chair designed by Copenhagen-based industrial designer Jakob Wagner. Shiftwave says its new Active Regulation platform pairs the hardware with software that recommends sessions based on a user’s reported feelings, goals and available time.
The software includes a library of more than 100 protocols developed with trainers, psychologists, sports performance coaches and researchers. Some sessions use the company’s patented BioDrive technology: a chair sensor measures a user’s pulse and the system adjusts vibration patterns in response. Users can track sessions with four measures Shiftwave calls Engagement, Resilience, Renewal and Inner Form, and connect wearable devices.
The platform is available through a new iPhone and iPad app, while Android support is planned. Shiftwave’s existing Pro chair is also compatible. The company is demonstrating both the Arc and software at Eudemonia; the source report does not state that attendees can purchase or receive the chair at the event.
A High-Priced Entry to Regulation Tech
The launch brings together a specialized chair and software intended to guide sessions around users’ needs, rather than offering a fixed routine alone. For buyers, the $20,000 price places the Arc at a substantial cost, while the software’s protocol library and pulse-responsive feature are central parts of the product’s pitch.
Shiftwave’s claims of potential support for stress, recovery and performance are relevant to wellness consumers and sports or occupational performance programs, but should be read alongside the limits of its published evidence. The company’s reported field-study results are self-reported and uncontrolled; they do not establish that the sessions caused the reported changes or outperform rest and expectation effects.
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What Shiftwave’s Studies Show
Shiftwave says its technology is designed to influence the autonomic nervous system, which regulates involuntary functions such as heart rate and aspects of the body’s stress response. The company describes its chairs as using vibration and guided breathing to move users between heightened alertness and relaxation. These are the company’s intended effects, not proof of a medical benefit.
An October 2026 research overview from Shiftwave reported 11 completed field studies involving 362 participants. The company said participants reported improvements in stress, anxiety, pain and relaxation after sessions. One pilot included 22 NCAA Division I athletes at UC Santa Barbara, who reported improved mental readiness and lower stress after sessions over two weeks. The company’s research has also involved firefighters, police officers and military personnel.
The overview says the completed field studies had no control groups. Shiftwave reports that eight controlled trials are in progress or awaiting approval, including work involving military personnel and researchers at Ohio State University, Appalachian State University and other institutions. The company also says its technology is used by teams in all five major U.S. professional sports leagues, military installations and performance programs.
“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
Evidence and Availability Questions
The field studies Shiftwave has described do not include control groups, so they cannot show whether reported changes were caused by the sessions or exceeded what participants might experience through rest or expectation. The available source material does not provide detailed methods or results for each study, nor does it establish clinical effectiveness.
Eight controlled trials are reported as underway or awaiting approval, but the source does not give their results or completion dates. It also does not specify the Arc’s delivery date beyond mid-February, the number of units planned, or whether the platform’s software requires a separate subscription or fee.
Trials and February Deliveries
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. Its controlled trials may provide stronger evidence about how the sessions compare with control conditions, but results and timelines have not yet been reported in the source material.
Further details to watch include the publication of controlled-trial findings, broader software availability and the company’s plans for Android support. Until those details emerge, the reported field-study outcomes remain preliminary company-reported observations.
Key Questions
What is the Shiftwave Arc?
It is a $20,000 reclining wellness chair that combines pulsed pressure waves, guided breathwork and audio experiences, paired with Shiftwave’s Active Regulation software.
When will the Arc be available?
Shiftwave expects first deliveries in mid-February. The source report does not provide a specific day or delivery schedule.
What does the Active Regulation software do?
It recommends sessions based on a user’s reported feelings, goals and available time. The platform includes more than 100 protocols; select sessions use pulse measurements to adjust vibration patterns.
Do the studies prove the chair reduces stress or anxiety?
No. Shiftwave reported improvements in self-reported outcomes across 11 field studies, but those studies did not include control groups. The findings cannot establish that the chair caused the changes or that its effects exceed rest or participant expectations.
Which devices support the software?
The new app is available for iPhone and iPad. Android support is planned, and Shiftwave says its existing Pro chair is compatible with the platform.
Source: athletechnews.com
