Some therapy tools earn their ceiling mount. The Southpaw 2-in-1 Bolster Swing & Trapeze Bar gives you two pieces of suspended therapy equipment in a single setup - the classic pony bolster for vestibular input and postural work, and a trapeze bar for upper body strengthening and active movement. Available across North America from The Sensory Supply, this is one of the most versatile pieces of vestibular therapy equipment an OT clinic, sensory room, or home therapy space can invest in.

What Makes the Southpaw 2-in-1 Bolster Swing Work

The adapted Pony Bolster Swing is a shorter-length bolster with a round cylindrical profile - a shape that immediately challenges postural stability. Riders can straddle it, lie across it, or hang beneath it, and the swing can accommodate a therapist alongside a client for additional positional support. That dual-user capacity makes it unusually practical in a clinical setting where OTs want to be hands-on without switching equipment. The linear swinging motion provides predictable, rhythmic vestibular input that many children find genuinely calming - the kind of steady, repetitive movement that supports self-regulation without overwhelming the sensory system.

The Trapeze Bar switches the focus entirely. Where the bolster is about balance and postural control, the bar puts the demand on grip strength, shoulder stability, and upper extremity endurance. Children and young people can hang, swing, twist, and use their legs to build core and arm strength through play - rarely noticing that the activity is doing serious therapeutic work at the same time.

Key Features of the Southpaw 2-in-1 Bolster Swing & Trapeze Bar

• 2-in-1 Dual Suspension Design - Includes both a Pony Bolster Swing and a Trapeze Bar in a single unit, letting a therapist, educator, or family shift between two therapeutic modalities without separate equipment
• Pony Bolster Cylindrical Profile - The round, adapted bolster shape challenges posture and balance with every swing, encouraging the core engagement and bilateral body awareness that are central to sensory integration work
• Multiple Hanging Configurations - Can be mounted from a single suspension point or two points positioned 30 to 36 inches apart, providing flexibility for different ceiling setups and swing directions
• 300 lb Working Load - Supports robust clinical use, accommodating multiple users or therapist-assisted positions without load limitations becoming a concern
• Safety Snap Compatible - Three Safety Snaps included for quick, secure attachment to your swing suspension system; compatible with Southpaw's Safety Rotational Device for adding rotational movement
• Rotational Movement Option - When used with Southpaw's Safety Rotational Device (sold separately), both the bolster and trapeze can move rotationally in addition to linear swinging, expanding the vestibular and proprioceptive input available
• Convertible Setup - The bolster can be removed entirely so the unit functions as a standalone trapeze bar, extending its usefulness as a child's strength and coordination needs evolve
• 8-Foot Ceiling Minimum - Designed for standard therapy room and home setups; walls and obstacles should be at least 6 feet clear of the swing for safe use
• Colours May Vary - Fabric colourway is not guaranteed and may differ between units
• Made in the USA - Manufactured in the United States by Southpaw Enterprises

Why Vestibular and Proprioceptive Input Matters

The vestibular system governs balance, spatial orientation, and the body's ability to stabilise itself during movement. When children swing, climb, or hang, they're generating exactly the kind of vestibular and proprioceptive input that supports sensory integration - the neurological process by which the brain organises incoming sensory information into coherent, regulated responses. For children who are over-stimulated, the rhythmic linear motion of a bolster swing can act as a calming anchor. For those seeking more input, the trapeze bar invites active, effortful engagement that builds strength alongside regulation.

Occupational therapists often include suspended equipment like this as a core component of a sensory diet - a personalised activity plan designed to give the nervous system the input it needs throughout the day. The bolster and trapeze configuration is particularly effective for work on bilateral coordination (the ability to use both sides of the body together), motor planning (organising and sequencing physical actions), and postural control (holding the body upright against gravity). These are foundational skills that feed into everything from handwriting and self-care to focus and emotional regulation.

Skills Children Develop with the Southpaw Bolster Swing & Trapeze Bar

• Vestibular Processing & Sensory Regulation - Linear and rotational swinging input activates the vestibular system, supporting the self-regulation and body awareness that underpins focused, calm participation in daily life
• Bilateral Coordination - Straddling the bolster or gripping the trapeze bar requires both sides of the body to work together, building the neurological pathways that support tasks like writing, dressing, and sports
• Core Strength & Postural Stability - Holding position on the cylindrical bolster and sustaining grip on the trapeze bar both demand active core engagement, developing the deep muscle strength that supports upright posture
• Upper Extremity Strengthening - Gripping, hanging, pushing, and lifting body weight through the trapeze bar builds shoulder, arm, and hand strength in a context that feels entirely like play
• Motor Planning & Sequencing - Navigating changing movement - adjusting grip, shifting weight, transitioning between positions - challenges the brain to plan and sequence physical actions, a skill critical for coordination and learning
• Balance & Proprioceptive Awareness - The bolster's cylindrical profile means the body must constantly make small adjustments to stay stable, building the proprioceptive feedback loops that support balance and body confidence

Ideal For

Children, young people, and adults working with vestibular, proprioceptive, and motor development goals. OT clinics and sensory integration therapy rooms looking for a single piece of suspended equipment that covers both postural and upper extremity work. Schools, inclusive classrooms, and sensory rooms building a movement toolkit for neurodiverse learners and all children who benefit from active, movement-based engagement. Families creating a home therapy or sensory play space. Paediatric occupational therapists, physiotherapists, and educators who want Southpaw-quality equipment available in Canada and the US.

Important Note For Use:

• All Southpaw Swings are highly recommended to be used with a minimum of 1 Southpaw Safety Rotational Device. For swings with more than 1 anchor point, it's highly recommended to use 1 Southpaw Safety Rotation Device for each anchor point for maximum flexibility of use.
• Note that all Southpaw Safety Rotation Devices come with 1 Southpaw Safety Snap, but the purchase of a 2nd is required to connect it to the swing safely.

• Dimensions: 9" diameter x 36" L x 75" H
• Working Load: 300 lbs
• Includes: 2-in-1 Bolster Swing, 3 Safety Snaps, Instruction Sheet, Safety Snap Instruction Sheet, Maintenance Checklist
• Safety Rotational Device: required for all swings; sold separately
• Ceiling Clearance Required: 8 feet or higher
• Wall Clearance Required: 6 feet minimum from all sides

Southpaw 2-in-1 Bolster Swing & Trapeze Bar Installation and Safety Guide