Many Ella's Bubbles customers with arthritis choose a walk-in tub, and the everyday controls on an Ella tub can be operated without a strong grip: the door handle tension can be eased with a lock nut adjustment, the drain openers are turn handles that need only a light hand, the faucet uses lever handles, the push controls respond to a gentle palm press, and every hydro tub has an intensity dial that softens the jets. This page walks through each control with sore hands in mind, plus the warm-water guidance Ella publishes. It is not medical advice; your rheumatologist or therapist decides on temperature and duration.

Warm Water and Joints: What Ella Publishes and the 100.4 F Ceiling

Ella's article on injury recovery and pain management cites studies showing that soaking in warm water between 92 and 100 F for at least 20 minutes can help reduce pain and swelling, and water's buoyancy takes weight off painful joints. The owner manuals set the ceiling: water in excess of 100.4 F may be harmful to your health, so check and adjust the temperature before use. Tubs ordered with a thermostatic faucet package have a thermostatic control valve that arrives set at that 100.4 F ceiling. Our warm-water bathing guidelines cover temperature and duration in more detail.

Door Handles: The Lock Nut and Never Forcing

A walk-in tub door seals against a full bath of water, so the handle needs a positive lock, but it should never need force. If the door has become hard to open or close, the usual cause is a handle lock nut set too tight. The nut sits behind the front apron under a small cap; loosening it reduces handle tension, tightening increases it, and it is adjusted in small steps until the handle moves easily but still holds the door firmly against the seal. Our door handle lock nut and hinge adjustment guide shows the procedure. Never lean on the door for support, because it is designed to carry only its own weight, and keep the door open when the tub is not in use so the seal stays flexible and closes without effort.

Drain Openers: Turn Handles, Clockwise to Open

Ella drain openers are easy-grip turn handles. Turn clockwise to open and counterclockwise to close, and turn completely so the stopper lifts all the way; a half-open drain drains slowly. Transfer wheelchair tubs have extension handles on the drain openers; handle up means open. A handle that wobbles or feels loose is usually a small allen screw or lock nut that needs a gentle snug, covered in why are my drain handles loose.

Faucet Levers: The ADA Lever Cartridge and the 5-Piece Handles

Our comparison of the 2-piece and 5-piece fast-fill faucets shows what each set looks like.

Push Buttons vs the Digital Touchpad with Sore Hands

Ella deck controls come as pneumatic push buttons or a digital touchpad, and both are easy on the hands. The push controls need only a gentle push; a soft press with the palm works perfectly, and pressing very hard can damage the mechanism over time. Press the air button once for high speed, twice for medium, three times for low, and a fourth time to turn the air massage off; because the fourth press is always off, you can keep pressing to reach any speed or shut down. The hydro button is one press on and one press off. On the digital touchpad, a light touch on the air bubble icon starts the air massage, plus and minus set the intensity, and holding the icon for two seconds stops it. Some units ship with unlabeled push controls, which is normal. See push controls vs the digital touchpad for every control demonstrated.

As the video shows, every Ella hydro massage tub has an intensity control dial; turning it up introduces more air into the jet stream for a stronger flow, and turning it down gives a gentler flow, which lets a bather with tender joints soften the massage without touching the buttons again. If the dial itself feels stiff, our guide to jet and intensity dial adjustment explains the quick fix.

Small Helps: Swivel Tray, Pillows and Hand Shower Settings

• The patented removable 360 degree swivel tray, standard on the stainless steel door models such as the Elite, Royal, Deluxe and Ultimate (the Petite is not listed with one), keeps a drink, a book or a washcloth within reach without twisting.
• Headrest pillows that attach with suction cups and optional seat cushions are available for most seated tubs; see comfort accessories.
• The optional heated seat and backrest is switched on with a single press 10 to 15 minutes before entry and turns itself off after 20 minutes, so you are not sitting down on a cold surface.

• ☐ Check the water with a thermometer; keep it at or below 100.4 F
• ☐ Ease a stiff door handle at the lock nut rather than forcing it
• ☐ Turn both drain handles fully clockwise to open and confirm they close completely
• ☐ Press push controls gently with the palm; fourth press on air is off
• ☐ Set the intensity dial low before starting hydro, then bring it up
• ☐ Preheat the heated seat, if fitted, before entering

Your Rheumatologist or Therapist Decides Duration and Temperature

Read the official guidance: Arthritis, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Ella's Bubbles products and content are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. The published temperature range and soak time are general guidance, and the manuals ask anyone with a medical condition or taking medication to consult a physician before bathing in warm water.

Related Guides

• Warm-water bathing guidelines and conditions
• Door handle lock nut and hinge adjustment
• Push controls vs the digital touchpad
• Fast-fill faucets: 2-piece vs 5-piece
• Comfort accessories: swivel tray, seat riser and cushions
• Jet and intensity dial adjustment

Common Questions

Talk to the care team. Your rheumatologist, physical therapist or occupational therapist decides whether warm-water bathing suits your joints, at what temperature and for how long. This page describes how the tub's handles, drains, faucet, controls and accessories can be operated with limited grip; it does not prescribe any therapy. For help with a specific control on your tub, contact your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850, or open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support with your model and serial number.