Jul 12 2009

What Physical Therapy Table is Best For Your Practice?

When you’re in the business of physical therapy, it is important that you have the right types of tables. It does not suffice to have just one type of table. That is because your patients come in different types. They come in different shapes, sizes, and conditions. If you have just one type of table, you’re not going to be able to serve everyone who walks through your door. That can do a lot of harm to your bottom line and there are going to be a lot of people wanting you to help them, but you can’t.

Finding the right table

Two of the most common types of physical therapy tables are the Classic Clinician style tables that you see in spas and various physical therapy offices. You will also see the heavy duty treatment table for bariatric patients. These are just two of the physical therapy supplies that are going to make your business as successful as possible.

Most importantly, you want to make sure that your physical therapy equipment can treat anyone in a variety of different situations. Take the bariatric patient, for example. They have had their surgery and are on their way to losing weight, but many years of being overweight has taken a toll on their body. As they lose weight they are able to move around more and may need therapy to strengthen and condition their muscles. However, a heavier duty table may be needed if they are seeking out therapy at the beginning of the weight loss process. This is to ensure they are as comfortable as possible.

So how do you find the right physical therapy equipment such as a physical therapy table? Ask yourself the following:

• Do I have patients with mobility issues?

• What type of services do I offer?

• Does my standard table meet all of my needs? What needs is it not meeting?

• What have my clients said about the tables I am using?

You may not realize that you have the answers to these questions, but you do. Use these answers to determine if you need positioning tables, flat tables, special hydraulic tables, inversion tables, mat tables, tilt top tables, or another one of the many tables out there. Think of the function of each of these and think of your patients. Make sure that you can serve the different types of patients that need you. For example, hydraulic tables are great for those with mobility issues and can also treat a variety of other patients. They are heavy duty, so they can also handle an excessive amount of weight.

Because you are in the physical therapy field, your business probably offers massages. If that’s the case, then massage tables should be a part of your physical therapy supplies. That way you can administer the right massages. These are more like your Classic Clinician style tables, which are the ones you see in health clubs and spas. They can be positioned just right to administer an effective massage.

Quite profitable

If you have the right physical therapy equipment, you can count on increasing your profits. Patients are going to choose the office that has the right equipment over the office that doesn’t have the right equipment. If patients are saying great things about you because of the physical therapy supplies you have, others are going to find out. Think of it as a considerable return on your investment. If you have to purchase multiple tables, you’re going to be able to cater to different types of patients. Having the right physical therapy equipment means they’ll love you for it.



By: Amy Nutt

About the Author:
Physical therapy equipment provider offers physical therapy supplies including massage therapy tables, medical equipment, and chiropractic equipment.




Aug 30 2008

How to Choose the Right Physical Therapy Table

physical therapy
The main objectives of physical therapy are to promote body strength, function and mobility and prevent future physical injury. This is achieved through the physical therapy itself as well as through teaching patients safe exercising and movement techniques to avoid potential injury and protect joints. There are many types of physical therapy that include orthopedic, geriatric, rehabilitation, pediatric, pulmonary, cardiac and neurological physical therapy.

One of the general needs of all physical therapy facilities include tables. The types of tables needed in physical therapy office are usually much different than the standard exam tables often found in other physicians’ offices. Just as there are many types of physical therapy, there are many types of therapy tables designed for many varied purposes depending on the needs of your particular clientele. You may find it beneficial to have general all-purpose physical therapy tables within the office. However, often there are particular needs that are not met with standard tables, and you will need much more specialized physical therapy tables for your particular patients.

Take special note of the main focus of your office to assess the physical therapy needs of your patients. This will greatly aid in the decision of the tables needed for your office, and help you make the appropriate decision. For example, is the therapy mainly performed in your office in need of stationary tables or would adjustable tables be more beneficial? Do your physical therapists travel or perform home heath visits? If so, you may need to invest in special portable tables.

Often you may have many patients with mobility issues, especially if working with orthopedic, geriatric or intense rehabilitation patients. If this is the case, you’ll do best to look into the wide variety of tables designed for those with these particular medical issues that accommodate wheelchairs and other common mobility devices. Depending on the types of therapy performed within your practice, you may need flat tables, positioning tables, mat tables, tilt top tables, inversion tables or specialized hydraulic tables.

Once you’ve determined your patients needs depending on your main clientele and are highly familiar with the types of therapy performed within your office, it will become quite evident the best types of tables to suit your needs. Often you may find that you need many different types of tables within the same office to handle the wide variety of physical therapy performed in your facility. This is quite common in less specialized practices that perform many different functions to the many different types of patients they may see in their office.

If you are looking to purchase tables, be sure to spend plenty of time becoming fully informed of the types of physical therapy being performed at your facility. This is especially important if you are not a physical therapist yourself. You’ll want to spend plenty of time consulting with and observing the physical therapists within your facility to get a well-rounded idea of their daily needs to best treat the patients on a daily basis.

You can also contact other similar offices for their input. The more time you spend evaluating your patients needs and the treatments used for their types of therapy, the more beneficial your table choices will be both financially and medically.



By: Amy Nutt

About the Author:

Shop for all your physical therapy products and Electrotherapy, Laser, and Ultrasound Equipment at Source1medical.com.