How to Choose the Right Height and Width for Therapeutic Parallel Bars

Parallel bars play an important role in physical rehabilitation, and many come with the ability for you to customise the height of both bars and how far apart they stand. Whether you are using them on your own, or developing a physio program for someone under your care,  determining the best height and width of the bars will ensure they are used safely and to full effect.

We’re going to briefly discuss how these bars can be used in rehab, then dive into how they can be adjusted to suit different patients and their needs.

What Are Parallel Bars, and How Are They Used?

You would have seen parallel bars outside of rehab clinics in places like gymnastics centres, dance studios, and playgrounds. But when used in physical rehabilitation, they become a powerful support tool to assist patients who need to regain their muscle strength, improve their gait, and improve their balance.

Parallel bars consist of two straight, horizontal bars made from wood or metal (usually stainless steel). The legs and bottom frame will be crafted from steel as well, with the two bars either connected at the bottom or freestanding.

Modern parallel bars used for rehab will have either telescopic legs for adjustment, or an electrical system that angles a support pole up and down to change their height that way. They will need to be bolted to the ground for the safety of patients using them.

Choosing the Height and Width of Your Parallel Bars for Rehab

The right height and width for your parallel bars to be set to can vary depending on a range of factors, including:

• The height of the patient.
• What exercise the patient is completing.
• How strong the patient is.
• Whether the patient is using the bars in combination with a mobility device, like a wheelchair or a cane.

Setting Height

For basic walking exercises, like gait training, the bars should be set as close to the patient’s hip or waist level as possible. When gripping the bars, their elbows should be slightly bent.

If the parallel bars are being used to assist a wheelchair user in getting up, they may need to be set a little lower than this or have their angle adjusted. However, the goal will always be to have them at hip or waist height for people looking to improve their walk.

For use in shoulder stretching exercises, the bars can be set to their maximum height, making them the perfect accompaniment to stretches that target the upper chest, back, and shoulder muscles.

Setting Width

In general, parallel bars should be set to the shoulder width of the patient, give or take a few centimetres. They will need to be able to grip the bars easily without having to overreach, while also having plenty of room to move and turn around inside the bars if needed.

Sometimes, you may need to adjust the width further if the patient is performing exercises that use another piece of equipment, like a step, or if the patient is using a wheelchair. They will need to be able to raise and lower themselves using the extra equipment without brushing past the bars or banging them during sets.

If you believe you will need to adjust the width of your parallel bars, make sure to choose a set that isn’t joined at the bottom (often called ‘folded’) and gives you the option to move them apart or closer together as needed.

What Else Do You Need To Check Before Using Parallel Bars For Rehab?

Before you start using your therapeutic parallel bars for rehab, balance, or any type of exercise, make sure to check off the following points:

• Have the bars been bolted in place? If not, your bars are not safe to use. This is a non-negotiable, as bars that are simply weighed down with bags or even left alone will not be safe to use for anyone, let alone a patient with mobility issues.
• Is there a cushioned walking surface to use? Many patients find it easier to start using parallel bars on a surface like carpet or, more commonly, in clinical settings, foam matting. Hard, flat surfaces like tile or concrete can be slippery and painful to walk on for people trying to regain their mobility.
• Is anything in the way? Trip hazards can be as obvious as a stray piece of exercise equipment, or as subtle as a slight bulge in the mat underfoot. Check the area in and around your parallel bars carefully, as it doesn’t always take much to trip a person who needs to use them.
• Is there a chair or support nearby? Sudden bouts of fatigue or dizziness can strike patients when using parallel bars, so it’s important that you have a way for them to sit down nearby. This could be their own wheelchair, or a singular chair or stool just outside the bars for them to move to. Practitioners should always be behind or right next to their patients to help steady them if needed.
• Are you using a harness? Some clinics may have the function of a harness that moves along the roof with patients as they walk down the length of their parallel bars. This provides patients with extra support and protection against falling, and can give them the confidence needed to get started on their exercises. Using a harness may necessitate an adjustment of the height and width of the bars.

By keeping these points in mind, you can make sure your patients are able to complete their rehabilitation using parallel bars safely and effectively.

Browse Parallel Bars for Rehab at Access Health

At Access Health, we have a range of walking rails available for use in therapeutic settings, with both wooden and stainless steel handrail options available.

Access Folding/Fixed Walking Rails with Timber Hand Rail – Multiple Lengths

• Available in fixed or folding styles (65cm width in folding style)
• Shaped, lacquered wooden handles
• Adjustable height from 70cm to 100cm in 25mm increments

Custom sizing is available–all are manufactured in Melbourne.

Access Fixed/Folding Walking Rail Stainless Steel Hand Rails – All Lengths

• Fixed or folding styles available to suit your needs (65cm wide in folding style)
• Medical-grade stainless steel handles for easy cleaning
• Height can be set from 70cm to 100cm in 25mm increments

Get in touch if you’d like a custom size for your stainless steel parallel bars.

Access Electric Hi-Lo Walking Rails – Multiple Lengths

• Battery (rechargeable) operated via remote for height adjustment
• Width adjustment over 37cm
• Rails available in six lengths, from three to eight metres (custom sizing also available)
• 220kg weight rating
• Made using Dewert Actuators, a leader in actuators and controllers across the world
• 5-year warranty

You can purchase our single ACCESS Ballet Rail, which has similar adjustable features to our parallel bars.

Access Health stocks a fantastic range of equipment suitable for use in professional rehabilitation settings or the home. Complement your use of parallel bars in rehab with tools like our range of sturdy rehab steps and stairs, balance boards and fit balls, and a variety of motion products, like our finger and shoulder ladder or shoulder pulley system.

Shop Quality Practitioner Supplies in Melbourne Today

You can trust every product from Access Health to be safe to use in professional physiotherapy and rehabilitation programs. We are ISO 9001 Quality Approved, and are more than happy to help you find the perfect equipment for your needs.

Get in touch by calling 9878 1399 or 1300 659 540, or use our online contact form to leave us a message, and we’ll return your query as soon as we can. We are based in Melbourne, but can deliver supplies anywhere across Australia you need.

Disclaimer: Access Health is not qualified to agree or deny whether this content is correct. For accurate information, consult your medical professional or provider.