REPLIES: Parallel Bar Spacing to the Wall

REPLIES: Parallel Bar Spacing to the Wall

Andrew Domb

7/26/2007

Thanks to all who replied..........We've decided to run the side closest to the wall the entire length of the wall with its opposing side 3.5 feet from one end and 1.5 feet on the other.
   
  Original Post.........
   
  I need to install a set of parallel bars in my office and I'd like to maximize its length. So here's the question..........

  What is the comfortable space between the ends of the bars and the wall?

I'll post the responses to the question.

Thanks,
Andrew D. Domb, CPO LPO

   
  RESPONSES
  We have about 8 ft total in the room minus the length of the parallel bars. I usually have between 22 and 24 inches @ end of the room w/ about 6 ft to allow for wheel chair or seating for patient. If you have room on one or both sides of bars it allows you to stand at the end of the walkway while patient is coming towards you and then you can step around while patient turns and walk back down with them outside bars
     

   
  36 same as ADA compliant doors need to be in width.
     

   
  Depending on your patient activity....enough to get a wheelchair in and out with ease and not lifting the chair for the final rotation (for your own health and safety)
   
  You may consider only one side for this and have fixed or easily removable chair at the other end.
     

   

We have 6 feet on the client end, (wheelchair etc.) and 2.5 on the Practitioner entry end.
  
 

   

I would allow at least 40 to allow an oversized wheelchair to be positioned in the bars.
     

   
  Comfortable enough for the Prosthetist to get in and out with mirror on the wall. Otherwise, you'll get caught and will have to crawl out under the bars. Enough for wheelchair maneuvering on the opposite end. Best cost mirrors are mirror closet doors, they are like 80 bucks for a full human size one.
     

   
  We allowed 18 inches at the far end so we could get in and 5 and 1/2 foot at the other to allow easy access for wheelchair or chair. Our bars are 20' long also. 6' does not allow anyone to get into a natural gait cycle. 12' is okay for most patients. 20' allows even 6'4 patients to take several normal steps.
     

   
  Andrew, we recently moved our office and that was the exact situation we faced. I placed a wheelchair between the wall and the bars and gave myself extra room accommodating for turns and also larger wheel chairs. I am not sure of the exact length, but, I am guessing approximately four feet
     

   
  I have 38 and have not had an issue. I was concerned as I have several folks over 300 pounds and did not want to have to try to lift and turn their wheelchairs.
   
  Of note: I left enough room between the bar and the side wall so that I could squeeze in there to make adjustments- only about 12 between the perpendicular piece on the support posts and the wall. I stored my portable scale back there and slide it into the bars for safe weighing of pts...I cannot tell you how many people squeezed their big bad selves back there when I left the room for adjustments! Unbelievable... I have moved the scale.
     

   
  I just moved into a new office, and worked this issue. I have the bars running next to and parallel to a wall. Along that wall I have the bars full length to the walls on either end. However, on the other side, I have the bar shorter with a 5 foot opening which allows easy access for a wheelchair to enter the bars. I only with I had left 2 foot at the other end so it is easier for me to get in and out while a patient is sitting in the opening.
     

   

I don't know of any actual guidelines but ours are 16.5 from the end wall and we don't have any real problems. I may suggest 20 just to give a bit more room if you want to walk out of the bars from that end but most of our patients turn around inside the bars and we just squeeze in through the end.
   

       
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