The Next Wave in Athletic Recovery is a Chair
Anwar Stetson
You may have heard of sensory deprivation chambers, infrared saunas, and other high tech recovery tools athletes use to stay on top of their game. But you may not have heard of a system that allows you to recover from the comfort of what looks like a lawn chair.
California-based company Shiftwave recently introduced the “Shiftwave Pro,” a high-tech recovery and sensory deprivation chair designed to mimic the benefits of a cold plunge or red light therapy. The chair massages and stimulates muscles for recovery and multiple pro athletes are even using it as a staple in meditation. This could mark the future of athletic recovery.
The company says the system is built to help people reset their bodies during stressful or demanding stretches of the day. It is positioned for use at home, in training environments, and in clinical settings, and it focuses on creating simple routines that support calm, focus, and overall regulation.
The chairs are even used outside of an athletic setting. Shiftwave donated chairs to LA firefighters recovering from January’s wildfire tragedy.
The platform centers on what Shiftwave describes as a “body up” approach. This includes breath pacing, rhythmic full body vibration, and controlled sensory input. According to the company, these tools draw from research on heart rate variability, mechanoreceptor activation, and rhythmic entrainment. Put simply, the chair combines physical massaging and vibration, audio sensation, and sensory deprivation to settle the nervous system.
Shiftwave Pro features more than fifty guided protocols. Each one targets a specific state such as resetting after a workout, preparing for a high pressure moment, or calming down before sleep. The new iPad integration also gives users quick access to heart rate readings. The system also recommends sessions based on previous use and ongoing patterns.
Shiftwave frames the product as a way to make daily recovery more consistent. The company says the biggest hurdle for most people is not a lack of interest, but the difficulty of building a repeatable routine. By giving users a structured session with step by step guidance, Shiftwave Pro aims to remove that barrier.
Athletes like NFL quarterback Michael Penix Jr., star triathlete Max Fennell, and the Ukrainian Athletics team have all attested to the benefits of Shiftwave Pro.
The device is compact and quiet, and it is designed to fit into small rooms or shared spaces. Though its price is steep at $9,950, the chair is also HSA/FSA eligible.