Products I recommend
Everything I point people to on Steady and Safe, in one place. I've split it into two groups so you always know which is which: the things I've used myself, and the picks I chose through research.
Their doctor, surgeon, physical therapist (PT), or occupational therapist (OT) can tell you what fits their body, their bathroom, and their recovery. If anything here differs from what the care team said, follow the team.
Things I've used myself
These are from my own home: the raised seat, cold therapy machine, wedge pillow, and walker from my ACL recovery, plus the mat in my tub. ACL surgery is different from a hip or knee replacement, so your needs may be different. For the items where I don't have a brand to share, I've linked a Vive Health version similar to the one I used.
Brand I usedHealthSmart 5" Raised Toilet Seat Riser (round)
The raised seat I used at home during my ACL recovery. It's a simple, one-piece plastic riser that sits right on a round bowl while the regular seat and lid stay lifted.
HealthSmart's listing says it adds 5 inches of height, fits standard (round) bowls but not elongated ones, and has a 300 lb listed weight capacity. It has no arms, so pair it with a toilet safety frame if you need something to push up from.
- Brand I used
Yimobra Bathtub Mat Non Slip
The suction-cup non-slip mat I use in my own tub. It was an inexpensive one.
Its Amazon listing describes a soft PVC mat with suction cups and drain holes that's machine washable. Yimobra says it isn't suitable for textured, tiled, or uneven tubs.
- Type I used
A cold therapy ice machine
During my ACL recovery, I used a cold therapy ice machine with a pump that circulates cold water through a pad.
Follow your surgeon's instructions on icing. Use cold therapy only as your care team directs, and keep a barrier, like a thin cloth, between your skin and the cold pad.
Similar to the one I used
Buy at Vive Health
Vive Ice Therapy Machine: A cold therapy unit with a 6-liter tank, a contoured pad, and digital flow and timer controls.
- Type I used
A leg elevation wedge pillow
I also used a leg elevation wedge pillow during my ACL recovery.
How often and how high to raise your leg is your surgeon's call, so follow their instructions on elevation.
Similar to the one I used
Buy at Vive Health
Vive Leg Rest Pillow: A foam wedge with a 45-degree incline, 8.25 inches at the highest point and 16.5 inches wide.
- Type I used
A walker
I used a walker during my ACL recovery.
Your physical therapist will usually decide which walker you need and set it to your height, so ask before you buy.
Similar to the one I used
Buy at Vive Health
Vive Folding Walker: A lightweight aluminum walker under 6 pounds that folds with two buttons and comes with a walker bag.
Researched picks
I haven't used these myself. They're the products featured in my guides, chosen from each maker's published specs, safety guidance from trusted health sources, and real buyer reviews. They aren't hands-on reviews. Specs change, so confirm the size, fit, and weight capacity on the product page before you buy.
Shower and bath
Carex Adjustable Bath and Shower Seat with Back
Good for: A shower chair with a backrest and side handles; seat height adjusts from 14 to 20 inches; 350 lb listed capacity.
Read the guideShower chair vs. tub transfer bench
Medline Shower Chair with Back
Good for: A basic shower chair with a backrest; seat height adjusts from about 16 to 21 inches; 350 lb listed capacity.
Read the guideShower chair vs. tub transfer bench
Vive Shower Chair with Arms
Good for: Padded armrests to push up from and no backrest; may suit a walk-in shower better than a tub; 300 lb listed capacity.
Drive Medical Transfer Tub Bench (12011KD-1)
Good for: A tub transfer bench with a backrest and arm; height adjusts from 17.5 to 22.5 inches; reversible; 400 lb listed capacity.
Read the guideShower chair vs. tub transfer bench
Vive Tub Transfer Bench
Good for: An aluminum-frame transfer bench with a reversible back and armrest; height adjusts from 18.5 to 23.5 inches; 400 lb listed capacity.
Moen Eco-Performance Handheld Shower with 30-inch Slide Bar
Good for: Washing while seated, with a 69-inch hose and a slide bar for setting the height. Moen notes the slide bar is not a grab bar.
Read the guideShower chair vs. tub transfer bench
Vive Handheld Shower Head
Good for: Washing while seated, with a 6.5-foot hose, five spray settings, and a pause button.
Drive Medical Clamp-On Tub Rail
Good for: A handhold on the tub wall where you step in; fits tub walls 3 to 7 inches wide; 300 lb listed capacity.
Read the guideShower chair vs. tub transfer bench
Carex Bathtub Rail with Chrome Finish
Good for: A clamp-on tub rail with rubber pads; fits tub walls about 3.5 to 6 inches wide; 200 lb listed capacity.
Read the guideShower chair vs. tub transfer bench
Vive Bathtub Rail
Good for: A clamp-on tub rail with a tool-free lever clamp; fits flat tub edges 3.75 to 6.5 inches wide; 300 lb listed capacity.
Vive Non Slip Bath Mat
Good for: A 28 by 16 inch suction-cup tub mat with a ribbed top; latex-free and machine washable. Needs a smooth tub floor.
Drive Medical Bath Mat
Good for: A longer suction-cup mat at 35.5 by 15.75 inches, which covers more of a standard tub floor.
Read the guideNon-slip bath mats and tub strips
Carex Bath Mat
Good for: A 16 by 32 inch suction-cup mat with drainage holes; Carex says it's designed to work with bath seats and transfer benches.
Read the guideNon-slip bath mats and tub strips
Vive Shower Mat (22 by 22 inches)
Good for: A square suction-cup mat for stall showers, with a 6-inch center drain hole.
Toilet safety
Drive Medical Premium Raised Elongated Toilet Seat with Lock and Arms
Good for: Adds 5 inches and locks onto an elongated bowl, with padded arms that come off without tools; 300 lb listed capacity.
Read the guideRaised toilet seat vs. toilet safety frame
Carex E-Z Lock Raised Toilet Seat
Good for: Adds 5 inches with a locking mechanism and hand grips molded into the seat; 300 lb listed capacity.
Read the guideRaised toilet seat vs. toilet safety frame
Vive Toilet Seat Riser with Arms
Good for: Installs under your existing seat and adds 3.5 inches, with padded handles that come off; 300 lb listed capacity.
Drive Medical Toilet Safety Frame
Good for: An aluminum frame that attaches with the toilet seat bolts; height adjusts in 1-inch steps; 300 lb listed capacity.
Read the guideRaised toilet seat vs. toilet safety frame
Vive Toilet Safety Rail
Good for: Attaches with the seat bolts, with adjustable width and height and foam handles; Vive says it works with a riser; 300 lb listed capacity.
Vive Padded 3-in-1 Commode
Good for: Works as a bedside commode, a raised seat over the toilet, or a safety frame; 330 lb listed capacity.
Drive Medical 3-in-1 Folding Steel Commode
Good for: Works as a bedside commode, a raised seat over the toilet, or a safety frame, and folds for storage; 350 lb listed capacity.
Read the guideRaised toilet seat vs. toilet safety frame
Grab bars
Moen Home Care 24-inch Concealed Screw Grab Bar (L8724)
Good for: A drilled grab bar with a 500 lb weight rating and an easy-to-grip 1.25-inch diameter.
Read the guideAre no-drill grab bars safe?
LiveWell 32-inch ADA-Compliant Grab Bar with Grips
Good for: A 304 stainless steel drilled bar with rubber grip sections for a better hold with wet hands.
LiveWell Grabcessories Decorative 2-in-1 Grab Bar Towel Bar with Grips
Good for: A curved grab bar styled like regular bathroom hardware that can also hold a towel; 500 lb listed capacity.
LiveWell Grabcessories Decorative 20-inch Curved Transitional Grab Bar with Grips
Good for: A 20-inch curved grab bar with non-slip rubber grips; 500 lb listed capacity.
Moen SecureMount Anchors (SMA1000)
Good for: Mounting a grab bar where there's no stud; Moen lists a 300 lb user weight limit.
Read the guideAre no-drill grab bars safe?
Stander Wonder Pole
Good for: A no-drill floor-to-ceiling pole with a pivoting handle; fits ceilings from 7 feet to 9 feet 6 inches.
Read the guideAre no-drill grab bars safe?
Stander Double Handle Floor to Ceiling Grab Bar
Good for: A no-drill pole with two handholds at different heights for sit-to-stand help.
Read the guideAre no-drill grab bars safe?
Vive Floor to Ceiling Grab Bar
Good for: A no-drill steel tension pole with a U-shaped bar for one or both hands; 250 lb listed capacity.
Recovery after hip or knee surgery
Vive Hip and Knee Recovery Bundle
Good for: One kit with a leg lifter, a long shoehorn with a sock remover, a sock assist, a dressing stick, a reacher, and a long-handled loofah brush.
Vive Reacher Grabber
Good for: A 32-inch reacher with a rotating claw for light items (Vive lists about 5 lb).
Vive Sock and Shoe Assist Kit
Good for: A sock aid with a 4-inch opening that Vive says works with compression socks, plus a shoe-on helper.
Getting around
Drive Medical Deluxe Two-Button Folding Walker with 5-inch Wheels
Good for: A folding walker with front wheels; handle height adjusts from 32 to 39 inches; 350 lb listed capacity.
Read the guideWhat you need after hip or knee replacement
GE LED Night Light, Contour Dynamic Motion
Good for: A plug-in, dusk-to-dawn night light that brightens with movement, for the bedside, hall, and bathroom.
Read the guideWhat you need after hip or knee replacement