Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (PoTs) is a chronic nervous system disorder affecting a person's heart rate and blood pressure when transitioning into an upright posture. Showering is extremely difficult for people living with PoTs, as standing still for extended periods and hot water triggers symptoms. These symptoms include blood pooling in the legs, fatigue, dizziness, and shortness of breath, commonly leading to fainting. These symptoms become intrinsically linked with one's identity, with many feeling they are losing control of their lives.
Numa is a shower stool that helps manage this daily activity. The seat of the stool includes an inflated cushion, allowing for ‘active seating’, which engages core and leg muscles to improve blood circulation. Two inflated silicone hand pumps help pump blood back up into their upper body when squeezed. The stool is modular, providing different combinations of seating, not just for someone with PoTs, but for a full household or family. Numa’s purposeful and playful design elements challenge existing shower chairs, therefore challenging medical equipment aesthetics, attitudes towards illness and disability, as well as the user’s perception of themselves.
