HealthInfo Canterbury
Bath boards
Papa kaukauranga
A bath board is a wooden or plastic board that creates a seat across your bath so you can sit to have a shower. It's held in place with cleats that grip the inside of the bath.
You may find a bath board helpful if you:
- have difficulty using a shower over the bath
- have difficulty raising your legs to get in and out of the bath
- have limited movement or pain in your hips or knees
- become short of breath and tired when you stand to have a shower.
If you use a bath board to shower, it's best to also use a hand-held shower fitting and have a non-slip mat and handrails.
Choosing a bath board
Bath boards come in different shapes, sizes and types of materials. They also have different weight (loading) limits depending on what they're made of.
The type of bath board you get will depend on your bath style, your weight and the measurements of your bath.
To fit a bath board, your bath must have a ledge at least 2 cm wide on both sides. If your bath doesn't have a ledge, talk to an occupational therapist about your options.
Before you choose a bath board, measure the width of your bath from one outside edge to the other outside edge. If there's a rim around the edge of the bath, measure just inside the rim. You'll need a bath board that's about as long as this measurement.
Don't install a bath board if:
- there's a shower door track on the side of your bath
- your bath has curved edges or sides – the cleats won't grip this style of bath
- you have a free-standing bath – talk to an occupational therapist, as it may be possible on some free-standing baths
- the bath board sticks out over the edge of the bath – this is unstable and can tip.
If you're unsure about using or fitting your bath board or whether a bath board is right for you, talk to an occupational therapist about your options.
Using a bath board
Always make sure the bath board is fitted snugly according to the manufacturer's instructions and doesn't move around. Check the fitting regularly.
To use a bath board:
- start with your feet flat on the floor and your back to the bath
- step backwards until you can feel the edge of the bath against the back of your legs
- sit on the board and move your bottom back towards the middle of the bath board
- starting with the leg closest to the bath, lift both your legs, one at a time, over the side and into the bath
- shuffle across to the middle of the bath board.
Reverse the process to get out of the bath. Once your legs are outside the bath, bring your bottom forward as close to the edge as you can and use your hands to push up off the edge of the bath into a standing position.
Important
If you've recently had a knee injury or had surgery, especially hip replacement surgery, talk to an occupational therapist about how to use the bath board. You'll need to use different techniques to protect your surgery site and make sure you don't injure yourself.
Looking after a bath board
You'll need to clean your bath board regularly to make sure it doesn't get slippery. But don't use abrasive cleaners.
Wipe the surface of the board dry after each use. This includes cleaning underneath, as well as cleaning the cleats that hold the board in place.
At least once a week, check the board's condition and how well it's fitting. If it becomes wobbly and loose or shows signs of wear and tear, remove the board and don't use it. Talk to an occupational therapist about what you should do.
HealthInfo recommends the following pages
- Age Concern – Equipment suppliers
A directory of businesses and organisations that supply disability and mobility equipment for people of all ages.
Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed November 2022.
Sources
See also:
Review key: HIDAH-120231
