SIMOY | Redefining POTS Exercise Rehabilitation

With an average diagnostic delay of 6.9 years in Australia, many people living with POTS spend years without appropriate support. As exercise is a cornerstone of symptom management, accessible home-based rehabilitation can help individuals maintain strength and function without relying solely on specialist-led treatment.

Many people living with POTS also experience concurrent conditions such as Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), migraines, and autoimmune disorders. These conditions can further impact mobility, energy levels, and access to rehabilitation, highlighting the need for adaptable exercise solutions that can accommodate varying levels of ability and symptom severity.

When people living with POTS spend prolonged periods resting, sitting, or lying down to avoid symptoms such as dizziness and fatigue, they can experience physical deconditioning over time. This often leads to reduced cardiovascular fitness, loss of muscle mass, and worsening exercise intolerance, creating a cycle in which everyday activities become increasingly difficult. Accessible exercise rehabilitation is essential for safely rebuilding strength and endurance, helping individuals manage symptoms while improving their overall quality of life.

For many people living with POTS, the cost of managing their condition extends beyond medical expenses. Australians with POTS lose an average of $40,000 in personal income each year, while carers lose approximately $21,000 annually due to reduced work capacity and ongoing care responsibilities. Accessible home-based rehabilitation can help reduce the need for frequent specialist visits, lowering associated costs and making long-term exercise therapy more attainable and sustainable.

Recumbent Biking: This helps improve cardiovascular fitness without the strain of standing.

Rowing: Using a rowing machine can strengthen your heart and improve overall endurance.

Swimming: Swimming or using a kickboard in the pool provides a full-body workout while keeping you in a horizontal position

Seated Leg Press: Strengthens the lower body, which helps with blood circulation.

Leg Curl and Leg Extension: Focuses on the hamstrings and quadriceps.

Calf Raises: Improves muscle tone in the calves, aiding in blood return to the heart.

Chest Press and Seated Row: Strengthens the upper body and core.

Abdominal Crunches: Strengthens the core muscles.

Back Extensions: Helps improve posture and back strength.

Pilates-Based Exercises: Any Pilates exercises that can be done on the floor are beneficial.

Seated Ball Exercises: Sitting on an exercise ball and performing leg lifts or marches can improve balance and core strength.

Straight Leg Raises: Helps strengthen the thigh muscles and improve leg stability.

In its ottoman mode, the product functions as both a footrest and coffee table, allowing it to integrate seamlessly into the home environment. The form also supports seated rehabilitation exercises, including leg presses, while the integrated side handle serves as an anchor point for resistance bands, enabling seated cable row exercises. By combining everyday furniture with exercise functionality, the design encourages convenient and accessible rehabilitation throughout the day.

In reformer mode, the product supports a wide range of Pilates-based rehabilitation and endurance exercises in recumbent, seated, and upright positions. This versatility allows users to tailor their exercise routine to their current symptoms, energy levels, and stage of rehabilitation. By accommodating different levels of ability and progression, the design encourages safe, adaptable and long-term participation in exercise.

In yoga mat mode, the product supports a variety of floor-based rehabilitation and Pilates exercises while providing convenient resistance band attachment points through the integrated flush pulls positioned around the frame. This allows users to quickly set up and perform exercises such as Pilates movements, leg raises, lying leg curls and other resistance-based activities. By combining a dedicated exercise surface with adaptable anchoring points, the design promotes versatile, low-impact rehabilitation within a compact home environment.

Foundational boxes: The product is built around a series of foundational boxes, reinforced with internal wooden support beams to ensure structural stability and load-bearing strength. Each box is permanently assembled using nail gun construction, creating a rigid and durable framework that is not intended to be disassembled.

Moving seat: The moving seat is upholstered to provide comfort during use while also softening edges and corners. This reduces the risk of contact with sharp surfaces, creating a safer and more approachable experience for users during rehabilitation exercises.

Touch Points: Leather is used in areas that experience the most contact and foot traffic due to its durability, sweat-resistant properties, and ease of maintenance. Its smooth, non-porous surface allows sweat and stains to be quickly wiped away, supporting hygiene and reducing ongoing upkeep.

Exterior upholstery: Leather is also used as the primary exterior material, giving the product a refined, furniture-like appearance while providing durability for everyday use. The upholstery is secured to the structure using staple gun construction, ensuring a clean, taut finish that can withstand repeated use and movement.

Tracks: The reformer tracks are constructed from durable metal to support the combined weight of both the user and the moving seat without bending or deforming during use. To further enhance strength and stability, the tracks are anchored to the internal wooden support beams within each box, ensuring smooth and reliable movement throughout the rehabilitation experience.

Corner washers: Aluminium corner washers are fitted along the edges of the product to create smooth transitions around corners and support the leather upholstery. This helps maintain a clean, refined finish by preventing wrinkles and distortion in the material, contributing to the product’s furniture-like appearance and overall build quality.

– Screws, washer, spring washer and nuts
– Castors
– Hinges
– Metal guide for the foot rest
– Flush pulls
– Resistance Bands kit

Storage box upholstery: The largest box is upholstered with black fabric, which is secured to the structure using staple gun construction. This box serves as the primary storage compartment for exercise equipment, allowing accessories to be stored neatly and kept easily accessible when needed. By integrating storage directly into the product, the design helps reduce clutter and supports a more organised rehabilitation experience within the home.