Written by Hulet Smith, OT
Finding the right trapeze bar can be a life changer for those with mobility impairments or confined to bed for long periods. A hospital bed trapeze aids in sitting up, repositioning for comfort, and reducing pressure. Additionally, some designs support safer transfers to and from the bed. Our experts have researched popular options to help you make the best choice.
 | 1) Offset Fixed Medline Hospital Bed Trapeze by Medline View Product |
Useful for people of all ages living with mobility challenges, hospital bed trapezes are utilized in a wide range of care settings, including hospitals, long-term care facilities, physical recovery centers, and at home. Employed by seniors aging in place at home, people with either short-term or long-term mobility disabilities, and others recovering from injury, illness, or surgery, bed trapezes provide convenient and versatile support for anyone requiring assistance moving around in bed and transferring in and out of bed.
Medical trapeze systems often reduce the need to ask for help, optimizing the user’s sense of independence while enhancing safety, reducing the risk of falling, and maximizing comfort and pressure reduction to minimize the risk of pressure injuries. Bed trapezes can also double as physical therapy and rehab tools, improving the user’s strength and coordination as they recover.
Available in several different design formats, choosing the best medical trapeze to fit your needs depends on how you or a loved one will use this assistive equipment. Some of the most important features to consider include:
Most trapezes for the bed come in a free-standing, bed-mounted, or ceiling-mounted format. Attached to the bed with a bracket, bed-mounted styles are generally the least expensive option, but they may not provide enough strength to support heavier use from larger users. You must also make sure that the headboard it will attach to is compatible with the bracket size.
Free-standing trapeze systems are usually the best fit for most standard or hospital beds but can be much heavier to assemble and set up. They also have long base legs that slide under the bed, so it’s important to ensure this type will suit a smaller room before you order. A ceiling-mounted trapeze is highly recommended for the most compact, space-saving design, with some designs that don’t even require drilling for easier installation.
Trapeze designs that offer easy assembly and installation are always preferable when you’re doing the assembly and installation yourself. For more intricate or involved trapeze styles, we recommend professional installation. Bed-mounted trapezes are generally the easiest to install, and free-standing configurations require moderate effort and time to put together. Both of these styles often don’t require tools for assembly or any special tools. Ceiling-mounted trapezes are usually the most involved, as they often require drilling into ceiling joists for secure attachment.
The most important aspect of any of the mounting styles is to ensure the assembly and installation are done correctly - improper or incorrect installation and using incompatible mounts may compromise the stability and safety of the trapeze system.
While most hospital bed trapezes offer a minimum 250-pound weight capacity, the amount of weight they can safely accommodate is often significantly less than the maximum user weight capacity. The applied force capacity refers to the amount of weight the user and the trapeze can safely hold, and they are never designed to support the user’s entire weight completely. Bariatric models offer a higher weight capacity and applied force amount to serve larger, heavier patients better.
If you need to be able to take your bed trapeze with you when you travel, bed-mounted trapezes are usually your best option, as they are the smallest in size. Some ceiling-mounted trapeze systems that don’t drill into a ceiling joist can also be disassembled for simple portability. Free-standing trapezes take up the most room and are often quite heavy, making them a better choice for permanent, non-portable use. It’s also important to note that some bed trapeze designs require significant clearance behind the headboard.
Some medical trapezes can be adjusted in several ways to provide customized support. The trapeze bar and chain or strap may adjust in length, and the trapeze assembly may also be adjustable in placement along its upper bar. It may also adjust in height, position, or angle to better suit individual users’ needs.
Bed trapezes provide a supportive handhold for people of all ages who need assistance with sitting up in bed, moving around and repositioning in bed, and getting in and out of bed. They are often used by elderly adults, medical patients, heavier adults, and people recovering from short or long-term illness or injury, as well as post-op. They can also be used for physical rehab therapy and exercise while confined to bed.
Although they’re usually configured as an open triangle shape, bed trapezes have varying assemblies and different types of handles for patients confined to bed to grab onto. The patient reaches out to grasp the handle, helping to partially support their weight in order to reposition, sit up in bed, or transfer in and out of the bed. Trapezes come in styles that can be attached to the headboard, mounted to the ceiling, or free-standing devices with legs that slide under the bed.
Aside from its obvious benefits as a supportive handhold to optimize bed mobility and reduce reliance on caregivers, a bed trapeze can also help people develop better upper body, torso, and arm strength. The more patients use them to sit up, move around, and reposition within the bed, the more they will benefit from improved balance, coordination, and strength.
.jpg&newwidth=365&maxheight=200 "Kratos Ceiling Mounted Trapeze") | Kratos Ceiling Mounted Trapeze View Product |
The Kratos Ceiling Mounted Trapeze is our number 6 option for patients needing a space-efficient mobility aid. This trapeze attaches to your ceiling near the bed or in the corner of a room, providing support for standing, sitting, or changing positions without occupying floor or wall space. It is ideal for helping patients change positions and features a wide-grip handle for optimal support and an antimicrobial coating for communal use. The Kratos trapeze by Hartmobility is easy to install and clean, making it a practical choice for home, clinic, or hospital settings. It is durable enough to accommodate patients up to 350 pounds, and the large handle ensures a secure grip for various movements.
 | SuperPole with SuperTrapeze Bed Trapeze by HealthCraft View Product |
Grabbing 5th place on our list with its multiple support options and resourceful functionality, the SuperPole with SuperTrapeze Bed Trapeze by HealthCraft conveniently combines two assistive support products into one compact device. No drilling is required, and it’s easy to install with a simple screwdriver. This innovative and adjustable support pole and trapeze utilize a super-strong jackscrew to create enough pressure between the ceiling and the floor for solid, dependable support wherever you need it. Safe and secure for users weighing up to 300 pounds, the SuperTrapeze accommodates 150 pounds of applied force.
Ideal for people who rent or for those who want to take this support along when they travel, this popular HealthCraft combo device highlights a dual, staggered SuperTrapeze handle, just like the E2 Easy-Up. Reducing wrist strain, this beneficial bar handle design increases leverage, making it easier for people to grab for repositioning and sitting in bed. The SuperPole adds strong and steady support for getting into and out of bed and standing up. It helps users with wheelchair transfers to and from the bed, and this whole system can be used for support with other applications, such as recliners or placement around a toilet.
For users with the SuperPole, a SuperTrapeze Support Add-On Kit is available to purchase separately. You don’t have to buy a new SuperPole to use the SuperTrapeze support. Several add-on options allow this pole and trapeze combo customization, including angled ceiling extenders and lock-bar options. Its strong, powder-coated alloy steel construction ensures years of dependable functionality that’s easy to clean and maintain, along with an antimicrobial finish to enhance infection protocols.
 | Trapeze for Invacare Home Hospital Beds View Product |
The Trapeze for Invacare Home Hospital Beds is a practical and reliable solution for patients requiring assistance with bed mobility. As our number 4 choice, this trapeze bar facilitates patient transfers into and out of bed or changing positions with minimal help. Constructed with heavy-gauge octagon steel, it ensures durability and stability, supporting a safe working load of up to 168 lbs. The trapeze bar is designed for easy, tool-less assembly, allowing quick setup. It can be used with either a floor stand or mounted directly to the bed's headboard. Additionally, wall bumpers and padded mounting brackets protect the bed and wall surfaces from damage, ensuring both functionality and preservation of your home environment.
 | Lumex Free-Standing Bariatric Trapeze View Product |
We selected the Free-Standing Bariatric Trapeze by Lumex as our number 3 best hospital bed trapeze for its wider accommodation of larger users and top-notch quality design. Offering a 450-pound and 600-pound weight capacity, this overhead trapeze is free-standing, so it’s conveniently compatible with most standard hospital beds.
Constructed with durable steel for solid and stable performance, this medical trapeze is built to withstand bariatric patients' hard and heavy repetitive usage. Easy to clean and maintain, the Lumex is a well-loved trapeze system that safely serves patients of all sizes in residential and institutional applications. It comes with everything required for support, including the base stand, which needs only a 14-mm wrench for easy assembly.
Fully adjustable in placement, the handle and chain assembly are also adjustable from 43 to 52 inches in length for versatile, customized support. It can be used for sitting in bed, repositioning, and even getting in and out of bed. Rubber bumper guards protect floors and walls from damage. This over-bed trapeze from Lumex is a great choice for long-term care at home, providing long-lasting support for heavier, larger users in a heavy-duty design you can always count on.
 | Drive Medical Trapeze Bar for Bed Assistance View Product |
Coming in at our number 2 spot, the Trapeze Bar for Bed Assistance by Drive Medical is an essential tool for individuals who need assistance with mobility in bed. This trapeze bar clamps easily to most headboards, providing patients with a stable and reliable aid. It can be used at home or in a facility. Its heavy-gauge, two-piece steel tubing construction ensures durability and longevity, making it a dependable choice for long-term use. The trapeze bar helps patients lift their upper body into a sitting position, facilitating easier transfers and movements. This sturdy design offers patients the maximum support needed to manage their mobility, enhancing their independence and comfort.
 | Offset Fixed Medline Hospital Bed Trapeze by Medline View Product |
Versatile and easy to install without tools, the Offset Fixed Hospital Bed Trapeze by Medline takes the top spot in our review. This trapeze assembly and base are sold separately for simple customization to fit your unique requirements. Use it with the bracket to attach to any Medline medical bed or with the base to create a free-standing unit you can conveniently use as trapeze support with almost any kind of bed.
The trapeze triangle assembly, bracket, and base are built to last. They are constructed with heavy-duty chrome-plated steel tubing that supports a 250-pound assisted weight capacity. Padding on the bracket and wall bumpers helps to protect walls, floors, and the bed headboard from scratches and dents.
Often used in long-term care facilities, hospitals, and physical rehab centers, this medical trapeze is also a great choice for home care. Its versatility, ease of assembly, and lower starting price point make it a well-loved support device for improving bed mobility.
Specially designed to deliver dependable assistance for repositioning, sitting up, and safer transfers, hospital bed trapezes are important medical equipment that helps optimize patient safety and comfort while in bed. Reducing the need for caregiver assistance also helps mitigate caregiver injuries. Bed trapeze systems are ideal for people of any age who require assistance moving around in bed.
Considering various factors, our team of experts researched the best hospital bed trapezes available in the current marketplace. They determined ease of assembly/installation, performance, functionality, durability, and beneficial features, and they also factored in the reviews of real-life users of this equipment, resulting in this list of the six best trapezes.
While many of our selections would be the best choice for a specific group of patients, we concluded that The Offset Fixed Hospital Bed Trapeze by Medline offers customizable setup options, heavy-duty chrome-plated steel tubing for durability, and a 250-pound weight capacity, making it ideal for long-term care facilities and home use. Its ease of assembly, protective features, and versatility make it a top choice for improving bed mobility.
Be sure to check out our comprehensive catalog of hospital and home care beds and our wide selection of hospital bed accessories to ensure the best options for you and your loved ones. You can also find helpful information and caregiving tips from our healthcare experts at Caregiver University!
Co-founder/CEO of Rehabmart, Pediatric Occupational Therapist, husband, and father. Passionate about connecting special needs kids with superb nutrition, sensory integration, and complementary health strategies. Excited about Rehabmart's mission to become the premier online educational platform which empowers caregivers by spotlighting innovative devices and interventions to achieve optimal patient response and recovery.
.jpg&newwidth=365 "Kratos Ceiling Mounted Trapeze")
