Careflex Hydrotilt Small Chair

CareFlex HydroTilt Small Specialist Seating Chair

The CareFlex HydroTilt Small is a specialist Tilt-in-Space seating chair designed for smaller users, including children, young adults and smaller adults who require effective postural support, pressure management and comfortable positioning.

With a maximum user weight of 75 kg and internal seat-width options from approximately 280 mm to 430 mm, the Small HydroTilt provides a compact but highly adaptable specialist seating solution. It combines Tilt-in-Space, CareFlex WaterCell Technology, adjustable seat depth, configurable seat width, supportive lower-limb positioning and a choice of specialist back and positioning accessories.

The Small HydroTilt can be configured around individual needs and may be suitable for users with conditions or presentations including Huntington's disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, motor neurone disease, stroke, dementia, frailty, pelvic instability, scoliosis, increased thoracic kyphosis, increased lumbar lordosis, contractures and fatigue.

Designed Specifically for the Smaller User

Rather than simply providing a scaled-down conventional chair, the HydroTilt Small combines specialist postural support with dimensions appropriate for smaller users.

The Small model offers internal seat-width options of:

• 280 mm
• 330 mm
• 380 mm
• 430 mm

The adjustable seating system helps achieve an appropriate relationship between the user's pelvis, trunk, arms and lower limbs.

This makes the HydroTilt Small particularly suitable for children, young adults and smaller adults requiring specialist seating.

Maximum User Weight – 75 kg

The Small HydroTilt has a maximum user weight of 75 kg, equivalent to approximately 11.8 stone.

Maximum user weight should not be considered in isolation when selecting a specialist chair. Seat width, seat depth, lower-leg length, trunk dimensions, posture, pressure risk and transfer requirements should all be assessed.

Tilt-in-Space

The HydroTilt Small features Tilt-in-Space (TiS). Tilt-in-Space changes the orientation of the seat and back together without altering the user's hip and knee angles.

• Pelvic stability
• Pressure redistribution
• Postural positioning
• Fatigue management
• Energy conservation
• Supported rest
• Comfort during prolonged sitting

For children and young adults, this also provides the opportunity to change position while maintaining the postural support established by the seating system.

CareFlex WaterCell Technology

The HydroTilt Small incorporates CareFlex WaterCell Technology to provide specialist pressure management. WaterCell Technology works with Vapour Permeable upholstery to provide continuous pressure redistribution while maintaining a supportive seating surface. The system is designed to contour around the user and distribute weight across a larger surface area. This can be particularly important for users with limited independent mobility who spend prolonged periods sitting.

Adjustable Seat Depth

The HydroTilt Small has an adjustable seat depth of approximately 310–430 mm. Correct seat depth helps position the pelvis towards the rear of the chair while providing appropriate support beneath the thighs.

An appropriate setup can help:

• Improve pelvic stability
• Maximise thigh support
• Improve weight distribution
• Reduce the tendency towards sacral sitting
• Prevent excessive pressure behind the knees
• Improve overall sitting posture

Adjustability can also be particularly valuable for younger users whose body dimensions are changing.

Adjustable Seat Width

The Small HydroTilt can be configured with internal seat widths of approximately 280, 330, 380 or 430 mm. Correct seat width is an important part of postural management.

Excessive width can reduce lateral stability and encourage leaning or pelvic movement, while insufficient width may create unwanted pressure. The HydroTilt system allows the seating configuration to be selected around the individual user.

Choice of Back Support

A choice of back-support configurations allows the Small HydroTilt to address different postural requirements.

• Flat Back: The Flat Back provides straightforward conforming support for users who do not require substantial lateral shaping.
• Contoured Back: A Contoured Back provides increased shaping around the trunk and can help improve lateral stability and encourage a more central sitting position.
• Waterfall Back: The Waterfall Back offers greater configurability around the user's spinal shape.

Its supportive cushions can be arranged to accommodate the individual's posture, making it useful where a conventional flat backrest does not provide the required support.

Adjustable Lateral Supports

Optional Adjustable Laterals can provide additional trunk support where required. These can be positioned around the individual's body dimensions to provide greater lateral stability. For a smaller user, correctly positioned lateral support can be particularly important because oversized or poorly positioned supports may not effectively control the trunk.

Lower-Limb Support

The HydroTilt Small provides specialist lower-limb positioning designed to work with the overall seating system.

Appropriate lower-limb support can contribute to:

• Pelvic stability
• Lower-limb alignment
• Foot positioning
• Pressure distribution
• Overall sitting balance
• Functional positioning

A range of leg-rest and foot-support accessories allows the chair to be further configured around individual requirements.

Height and Angle-Adjustable Flip-Up Footplate

The HydroTilt range incorporates a height and angle-adjustable flip-up footplate designed to support different lower-leg and ankle positions. The footplate can accommodate fixed plantar-flexion angles and can provide a more restful ankle position while supporting the feet.

Five footplate positions are available:

• +90° vertical
• +15°
• 0° horizontal
• -15°
• -30°

This provides approximately 120° of adjustment. The footplate can also be lifted vertically to move it out of the way when required.

Suitable for Functional Everyday Activities

CareFlex describes the Mini and Small HydroTilt as specialist seating designed to balance postural care with everyday activities.

This can include:

• Watching television
• Gaming
• Socialising
• Spending time with family
• Educational activities
• Leisure activities
• Resting

The objective is to provide supportive seating without unnecessarily restricting the user's opportunity to participate in daily life.

Compact Overall Width

The Small HydroTilt has a maximum chair width of approximately 650 mm / 65 cm. Its relatively compact footprint can be useful in domestic and educational environments where space may be restricted.

Door widths and access routes should nevertheless be checked before ordering because doorway dimensions vary.

We are recognized as the leading supplier of the specialist seating in the UK and Ireland and the Hydrotilt chair has been our best selling specialist seating system for over twelve years. We provide client assessment services on our entire seating range. If you would like to arrange a demonstration or an individual product assessment, please contact us on 028 9267 7077.

Key features

• Patented water-cell technology provides unrivalled all over pressure care. 
• Tilt-in-space action 
• Quick and easy seat length adjustability 
• 4 castors; 2 braked
• Independently adjustable elevating legrest 
• Individually replaceable wipeable covers 
• Depth adjustable seat
• Also available in Large, Medium and Mini Versions to accomodate all ages and sizes
• Electrically operated version available to order
• New version comes with Integral Flip up footplate as standard
• Negative Angle Legrest as standard
• Suitable for users up to 75 kg

Accessories

• 2 point pelvic belt fitted as standard
• Choice of headrests
• Choice of Backrest cushion types
• Adjustable lateral support system
• Chest Harnesses
• 4 point hip belts
• footplate pad to reduce height
• Huge choice of Headrests

Removable Side Arms

The HydroTilt platform offers removable side arms, providing improved access for appropriate transfers and care.

This can be particularly useful for:

• Lateral transfers
• Hoist transfers
• Sling application
• Sling removal
• Personal care

Transfer methods should be individually assessed.

Manual or Motorised Options

HydroTilt functions can be configured with manual gas-action controls or battery-powered motors, depending on the required specification. Powered operation can be useful where regular repositioning is required or where reducing manual effort for carers is important.

The precise powered configuration required should be established during assessment.

Motorised AutoTilt Option

Motorised AutoTilt can also be considered within the HydroTilt range. AutoTilt provides automated Tilt-in-Space adjustment over a selected cycle, allowing regular positional changes and pressure redistribution. Where this option is being considered for a child or smaller user, its suitability and setup should form part of the specialist seating assessment.

Suitable for Paediatric Environments

The Small HydroTilt is particularly relevant for paediatric and young-person specialist seating requirements.

Potential environments include:

• Family homes
• Schools
• Paediatric units
• Respite care
• Community services
• Specialist education
• Rehabilitation settings

The chair should be configured according to the user's postural, functional and environmental requirements.

Suitable for Multi-User Environments

The HydroTilt's modular construction and adjustable dimensions also make it suitable for consideration within community equipment and multi-user services.

Loose covers can increase adaptability when equipment is being reissued.

Every new user should receive an appropriate assessment and the chair must be correctly reconfigured before use.

Infection-Control Cover Option

Infection-control covers are available where enhanced cleaning and infection-prevention measures are required.

These replace exposed hook-and-loop fastening areas with plastic profile fittings and zips while minimising exposed seams.

This can be particularly useful within:

• Hospitals
• Paediatric units
• Community equipment services
• Multi-user settings

Suitable for Pelvic Instability

The HydroTilt Small can be particularly useful where a smaller user requires additional pelvic stability. Correct seat width and depth establish the foundation of the seated posture, while Tilt-in-Space helps encourage the pelvis to remain towards the rear of the chair. Additional pelvic positioning accessories can be incorporated where required.

Suitable for Scoliosis

The HydroTilt may be considered for users with scoliosis. A Contoured or Waterfall back, together with adjustable lateral support where required, provides greater flexibility when supporting an asymmetrical trunk position.

The objective should be established through assessment, particularly whether the posture is flexible or fixed.

Suitable for Increased Thoracic Kyphosis

The Small HydroTilt may also be considered where the user presents with increased thoracic kyphosis. The choice of back-support configurations provides greater flexibility for accommodating individual spinal shape.

Where the spinal and associated head-positioning requirements are substantially more complex, a more advanced specialist seating system may need to be considered.

Suitable for Contractures

The HydroTilt may be appropriate for users with contractures. Its configurable lower-limb support and adjustable foot positioning provide flexibility when accommodating restricted joint ranges.

A fixed posture should not be forcibly corrected through the seating system without appropriate clinical assessment.

Suitable for Neurological Conditions

The HydroTilt can be considered for users with neurological conditions where mild to moderate postural and pressure-management needs are present. CareFlex identifies potential applications including:

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

Suitability should always be based on the individual's actual presentation rather than diagnosis alone.