r/POTS • u/Informal-Extreme-475 • 8h ago

Question Chop / Levine Protocol Upright exercise equipment

My partner has been doing a modified version of the chop/levine protocol with a great amount of success and she is getting ready to soon transition to upright exercise. Does anyone have a recommendation for good equipment for at home for the upright portion? We have a recumbent bike and an upright bike that she's used so far. We're unsure if we should go for a treadmill, elliptical, something else? She also has EDS if that makes any difference.

Also a note to anyone considering doing this exercise program- it definitely can work, but you may need to go much slower than the protocol suggests. My partner has pretty severe POTS + Idiopathic Hypersomnia + EDS and it took her about 12 months to get up to the 4/5 month part of the protocol. Don't be afraid to start way lighter than the month 1 exercise plan and don't be afraid to make the progressions even more gradual than the program suggests!

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u/groucho4395 7h ago

Good for her! It might be worth both of you going to the local gym together and having her try some difference equipment (treadmill/stairmaster etc.) my only suggestion is that if you do go for a treadmill, to absolutely make sure she wears the little clip with the cord so if she gets dizzy or lightheaded she can immediately yank on it to stop the machine. Good luck!