Can you get an elevating backrest on a shower trolley?

Not just for your clients — but for the carers, too.

That’s why the best shower trolleys come with full flexibility and adjustable features. And one of the biggest differences between the types of shower trolleys is the level of control you have over the backrest.

Here’s what to look out for when you’re shopping around — and why an elevating backrest could be more important than you think:

The best shower trolleys come with:

• An elevating backrest 
• Multiple locking angles (up to 63°)
• Easy controls (raised by gas spring)
• Extendable head support

Why is an elevating backrest important?

The most basic shower trolleys come with a flat surface, where your client needs to lie in a supine position while they’re bathing.

That’s great for lots of users. But it’s not ideal for everyone, and it’s not always comfortable — for both the user and the carer!

With an elevating backrest on a shower trolley, it becomes easier to:

• Make transfers — moving from one sitting position to another sitting position
• Reach the upper body — especially when you’re helping to bathe their back and head
• Move and control the user — with a more supported upper body
• Communicate face-to-face — helping them to stay relaxed and engaged.

But it’s not just about making things easier for carers:

It makes a big difference to the user, too.

Some users won’t have the flexibility to be comfortable in a flat position. Some might be more relaxed when they can see everything that’s going on. And some might not like the feeling of having water on and around their head and face.

With a shower trolley that comes with an elevating backrest, you’re creating options for your clients — helping them to find the angles and positions that work best for them and their bathing routines.

How is it operated?

The best shower trolleys are designed for easy use — and an elevating backrest is no different.

Our popular Barella range comes with a backrest (expect for the Bariatric Barella) that’s raised by a pedal-operated gas spring system.

You can get a maximum backrest angle of 63°. But importantly, you can also lock the backrest into place in any intermediary angle — so you can find the exact position that works best for your clients.

With the more advanced design of our Wave Profiling Shower Trolley, you can angle the backrest up to a maximum of 52°.

But the Wave shower trolley goes one step further, with a fully electric profiling mechanism that lets you adjust the angles at both the hip and the knee — giving the carer and the user full control to get the most comfortable and accessible posture for their shower.

What about head support?

For some users, it can be a challenge to support their head comfortably — especially when they’re sitting at an angle with an elevated backrest.

In some cases, you can create better head support with an extra accessory, like the Wedge Pillow for the Barella range, which adds support with an extra 15° of tilt.

But for the best support, you can customise a Barella shower trolley with an extended head support.

After raising the backrest past the end-rails of the shower trolley, this extra support can extend out from the top of the backrest to create a stable platform for your clients to rest their heads.

Looking for a shower trolley that gives you options?

We’ve been supplying accessible bathing equipment for over 20 years, working directly with OTs and prescribers to help them make the best recommendations for their clients and their needs.

So, if you’re working with someone who needs help with their bathing routines, take a look at our full range of flexible and adjustable shower trolleys — or start a chat with one of our experts to find out exactly what you need.

Book a FREE product demo