6 Main Types Of Grab Bars: ADA Compliance, Use, & Aesthetic

There is an assortment of grab bars that you can choose from in order to reinforce the security of your bathroom for you, and your disabled loved ones and friends.

We’re here to discuss the six main types, along with designer grab bars that are sure to bring both flair and safety to your home.

6 Main Types Of Grab Bars

1. Vertical Grab Bars

The main purpose of vertical grab bars is “balance”. It helps you whenever you stand still and keep yourself upright. Observational researches reveal that it is highly beneficial for those who suffer from less severe disabilities such as arthritis, muscle stiffness and staring, and the like. Vertical handles tend to be a go-to for those who have joint problems in the wrist (i.e. arthritis). With this type, the carpus experiences less pressure around its metacarpal bones and bridges because grabbing on to a perpendicular rod distributes stress to the whole of the arm instead.

2. Horizontal Grab Bars

The cousin of vertical holders, horizontal grab bars offer ease in body rotation. At the same time, it is reliable as a weight-crutch for standing up from a lower level. An example of this is standing from a wheelchair and transferring to the tub, and vice versa. To provide a more convenient grip, choose horizontal bars with a textured surface. The aberrations on the bars will act as traction against a slippery palm. Plus, it will continue to remain grip-safe even if the surface of the bar itself is wet.

3. Wave-Style Grab Bars

From the term “wave-style”, these handrails have a distinctive physical feature— they have a wave design. It isn’t merely for aesthetic effect. Wave-style grab bars, though they are usually chosen due to their decorative structure, are actually an aid for those with weaker grips, for to hang on with fewer hassles. Their curves are inertial buffers. You can clasp your fingers around them without fearing slippage.

4. Floor To Ceiling Poles

Floor to ceiling poles can be situated on main parts of the bathroom (i.e. next to the shower, bathtub, and/or toilet). What’s great about them is that their length is precisely the marker that separates these holders from the rest. Whether you require grab-bar-assistance to lay or sit in the tub and stand from the toilet seat, the pole is the sole tool that can fulfil all three roles.

5. Angled Grab Bars

Positioned in an almost 90-degree angle, angled grab bars can be assigned in areas wherein shifting to different heights is necessitated. For instance, next to the toilet, since you will be changing heights from a sitting position to one that’s standing, and the other way around (similar to horizontal grab bars). The same is true with fastening them near bathtubs, or if sections of the floor are raised (i.e. stairs, pedestals, etc.).

6. Corner Grab Bars

It is recommended that corner grab bars be set up along meeting walls, or, as the term suggests, “corners”. This is ideal for toilets and tubs that are constructed right alongside said secluded region. They can also be placed on the corner walls of a standing shower as an added stabilizer.