Careflex Hydrotilt XL Bariatric Chair

CareFlex HydroTilt XL Bariatric Specialist Seating Chair

The CareFlex HydroTilt XL is a specialist bariatric seating chair designed for adults with increased body weight and size who require enhanced postural support, pressure management, positioning and comfort.

With a maximum user weight of 220 kg (approximately 34.6 stone), the HydroTilt XL combines powered Tilt-in-Space, CareFlex WaterCell Technology®, adjustable seat depth, an independently elevating leg rest and heavy-duty braked castors within a robust specialist seating system.

Particular attention has been given to the postural challenges that can occur when seating larger individuals. A configurable Waterfall back can accommodate the gluteal shelf, while the negative-angle leg-rest position can accommodate larger lower limbs and support appropriate foot positioning.

The HydroTilt XL is suitable for adults with conditions and presentations including obesity, osteoarthritis, lymphoedema, Huntington's disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, motor neurone disease, stroke, pelvic instability, increased lumbar lordosis, general weakness and fatigue.

Specialist Bariatric Seating with a 220 kg Capacity

The HydroTilt XL has a maximum user weight of: 220 kg / approximately 34.6 stone

It has been specifically developed to provide an appropriate specialist seating solution for larger adults rather than simply increasing the dimensions of a conventional chair.

The chair addresses important considerations including:

• Pressure redistribution
• Pelvic stability
• Accommodation of body shape
• Lower-limb positioning
• Appropriate foot support
• Postural stability
• Transfers
• Carer moving and handling
• Manoeuvrability

An individual specialist seating assessment is recommended to establish the appropriate configuration.

Powered Tilt-in-Space

The HydroTilt XL features powered Tilt-in-Space. Tilt-in-Space changes the reclining angle of the seat and back together without changing the relationship between the user's hip and knee angles.

This can help:

• Improve pelvic stability
• Redistribute pressure
• Support energy management
• Manage fatigue
• Provide positional changes
• Maintain postural support
• Improve comfort during prolonged sitting

Powered operation is particularly beneficial on a bariatric specialist chair because it reduces the physical effort required by carers when regularly repositioning the occupant.

Designed to Support Pelvic Stability

Achieving and maintaining an appropriate pelvic position is fundamental to specialist seating. The HydroTilt XL combines powered Tilt-in-Space with adjustable seat depth and configurable back support to help maintain the pelvis towards the rear of the chair. This can provide a more stable foundation for the trunk and lower limbs while reducing the tendency towards an unsupported sacral sitting posture.

CareFlex WaterCell Technology

The HydroTilt XL incorporates CareFlex WaterCell Technology® within its pressure-management system. The seat cushion combines WaterCell Technology with Vapour Permeable upholstery to provide continuous pressure redistribution. This is particularly important for users with reduced independent movement who may spend prolonged periods sitting.

Pressure care should always form part of a wider individual management programme and may include repositioning, skin monitoring, appropriate nutrition and other interventions identified through assessment.

Adjustable Seat Depth

The HydroTilt XL features adjustable seat depth. Correct seat depth is especially important in specialist bariatric seating because it helps provide appropriate support beneath the thighs while maintaining the pelvis towards the rear of the chair.

Appropriate seat-depth adjustment can help:

• Support the thighs
• Encourage appropriate pelvic alignment
• Improve weight distribution
• Reduce unsupported areas
• Avoid excessive pressure behind the knees
• Reduce the tendency towards sacral sitting

The seat depth should be configured around the individual's body dimensions during assessment.

Lateral Support Waterfall Back

The HydroTilt XL can be configured with a Lateral Support Waterfall Back. The Waterfall back provides additional lateral support to assist positioning and can be reconfigured around the user's body shape.

One particularly important application is accommodating the gluteal shelf.

Accommodating the Gluteal Shelf

For some people with increased body weight, the distribution of adipose tissue around the gluteal region can create a pronounced gluteal shelf. If a conventional backrest does not accommodate this body shape, the user may be pushed forwards in the chair.

The HydroTilt XL Waterfall back can be configured to create additional space to accommodate the gluteal shelf.

This can help:

• Position the pelvis further back in the chair
• Improve postural alignment
• Improve pressure distribution
• Reduce the tendency for the user to be pushed anteriorly
• Improve overall comfort
• Provide more appropriate trunk support

This is an important distinction between purpose-designed bariatric seating and simply using an oversized conventional chair.

Flat Back with Headrest

A Flat Back with Headrest is also available. This provides straightforward conforming support to the lower back while the user is positioned upright or tilted. The backrest is designed to support long-term sitting comfort and pressure management.

The most appropriate backrest configuration should be selected according to the individual's body shape and postural presentation.

Independently Elevating Leg Rest

The HydroTilt XL incorporates an independently elevating leg rest. This allows the lower-limb position to be adjusted independently according to the user's requirements and activities throughout the day. The leg rest incorporates Reflexions Foam  to provide additional pressure redistribution for the legs.

Negative-Angle Leg-Rest Position

The HydroTilt XL leg rest can provide a negative-angle position. This is particularly useful in bariatric seating because larger lower limbs may be difficult to accommodate appropriately on a conventional elevated leg support.

The negative angle can help:

• Accommodate larger lower limbs
• Maintain a more appropriate knee-flexion position
• Support the feet
• Distribute weight through the feet
• Provide a more stable foot position
• Assist positioning for sit-to-stand transfers

The exact lower-limb position should be established according to the user's range of movement, comfort and transfer requirements.

Supports Sit-to-Stand Transfers

Where the individual has sufficient ability to perform a sit-to-stand transfer, appropriate leg-rest and foot positioning can help establish a stable starting position. The negative-angle leg rest can allow the feet to be positioned more effectively for standing. The HydroTilt XL also offers appropriate hand-support options to assist users where this is consistent with their assessed abilities.

Wooden Hand Grips

Wooden hand grips are available. These provide a solid surface that an appropriate user can hold when rising to stand. For semi-ambulant users, secure hand positioning can form an important part of an individually assessed transfer technique.

Soft Hand Grips

Soft hand grips provide an alternative to the wooden version. These consist of upholstered foam pads fitted in the same position and may be preferable where comfort and soft contact surfaces are a priority.

Four Heavy-Duty Braked Castors

The HydroTilt XL is equipped with four heavy-duty braked castors. The castors incorporate sealed bearing hubs to provide enhanced durability and smoother manoeuvrability. This is particularly important with bariatric seating because the combined weight of the user and chair can increase the physical demands placed on carers when manoeuvring equipment.

When the brakes are applied, the chair provides a stable platform for appropriate transfers.

Designed with Carer Safety in Mind

Seating and moving a person with increased body weight can create additional moving-and-handling demands for carers, support workers and clinicians.

The HydroTilt XL addresses this through features including:

• Powered functions
• Heavy-duty castors
• Sealed-bearing castor hubs
• Stable transfer positioning
• Adjustable lower-limb support
• Purpose-designed bariatric construction

These features are intended to make chair operation and manoeuvrability smoother for both the user and their support network.

Appropriate moving-and-handling assessments and procedures remain essential.

Optional Loose Covers

The HydroTilt XL can be supplied with loose covers. These provide increased flexibility in multi-user environments and can simplify management of the seating surfaces.

This can be particularly useful for:

• Community equipment services
• Care homes
• Hospitals
• Rehabilitation environments
• Multi-user equipment provision

Suitable for Adults with Obesity

The HydroTilt XL is specifically intended for specialist seating applications involving obesity and increased body size.

Rather than focusing solely on maximum user weight, its design addresses how increased body size can affect:

• Pelvic position
• Trunk position
• Gluteal shape
• Lower-limb positioning
• Pressure distribution
• Transfers
• Manoeuvrability

Individual body shape can vary considerably between people of a similar weight, making specialist assessment particularly important.

Suitable for Lymphoedema

The HydroTilt XL may be considered for individuals living with lymphoedema. Its independently adjustable leg-rest system provides flexibility around lower-limb positioning, while the wider specialist seating system can accommodate increased lower-limb size.

The chair itself is not a treatment for lymphoedema, and positioning should be determined according to the individual's clinical requirements.

Suitable for Osteoarthritis

The HydroTilt XL may also provide an appropriate seating solution for people with osteoarthritis who require bariatric seating and supportive positioning. Powered Tilt-in-Space and adjustable lower-limb support can reduce the need for repeated manual chair adjustment while allowing the seating position to be changed throughout the day.

Suitable for Neurological Conditions

The HydroTilt XL can be considered for adults with neurological conditions including:

• Huntington's disease
• Parkinson's disease
• Multiple sclerosis
• Motor neurone disease
• Stroke

The individual's diagnosis alone does not determine suitability. Posture, body dimensions, movement, muscle tone, pressure risk, transfer method and functional ability should all form part of the assessment.

Suitable for Pelvic Instability

Pelvic instability is specifically identified as one of the postural challenges for which the HydroTilt XL may be appropriate. The combination of Powered Tilt-in-Space, adjustable seat depth, WaterCell pressure management and configurable back support provides multiple ways to support a more stable seated position.

Suitable for Increased Lumbar Lordosis

The HydroTilt XL can also accommodate users presenting with increased lumbar lordosis.

Back-support selection and configuration should be based on the individual's spinal shape and whether the posture needs to be accommodated, supported or managed in another way.

Motorised Options

Motorised functionality is available for the HydroTilt XL, allowing positioning functions to be operated electrically.

Powered operation can be especially valuable where:

• The occupant requires frequent repositioning
• Carers need to minimise manual effort
• The combined user and chair weight makes manual operation difficult
• Consistent positional changes are required

The appropriate powered configuration should be established during assessment.

Motorised AutoTilt Option

A Motorised AutoTilt option is also available. This provides an additional powered positioning solution within the HydroTilt XL range.

Where AutoTilt is being considered, its operation and suitability should be discussed during assessment so the configuration matches the user's pressure, posture and care requirements.

Assurance Arms

Assurance Arms are available as an accessory option. Arm-support selection can be important for upper-limb positioning, lateral security and transfers.

The appropriate arm configuration should be established according to the individual's body dimensions, posture and functional requirements.

Channel Leg Rest

A Channel Leg Rest is among the available accessories for the HydroTilt XL. This provides an additional lower-limb support option where the standard configuration does not fully address the user's positioning requirements.

Padded Pelvic Belt

A Padded Pelvic Belt is available where additional pelvic positioning is required. Pelvic positioning supports should only be used following an appropriate assessment and should be correctly fitted for the individual.

Back Rest Wedge

A Back Rest Wedge is available as an additional positioning accessory. This can provide further flexibility when configuring the back support around an individual's particular posture and body shape.

Chair Protector

A dedicated HydroTilt XL Chair Protector is available to help protect the seating system during everyday use. This may be particularly useful in long-term care and multi-user environments.

Key features

• Powered tilt in space - change the reclining angle of the chair, seat and back
• Choice of backrest - Choose between a range of back rest styles including flat back, waterfall backrest and lateral support waterfall backrest.
• Maximum pressure relief - the seat uses Careflex watercell technology 
• Independently elevating leg rest.
• 4 braked heavy duty castors
• Wooden or soft hand grips
• Adjustable seat depth
• 5 year frame warranty

Specification

• Max User Weight 220kg / 35st 
• Seat width 60 - 65 cm
• Seat height 56 cm
• Max width 85 cm
• Seat depth 38 - 53 cm
• Base length 108 cm
• Back length 80 cm
• Arm height 24 cm