Table safety: chiropractic table maintenance

Keep patients safe while improving table longevity.

Just as gardeners rely on their hedge trimmers and mechanics rely on their air compressors, as a chiropractor, you rely on your chiropractic table each and every day to help you not only do your job, but do it well. Because of this, your table is probably the most important tool you have, other than your hands. Chiropractic table maintenance is essential, and there are many ways this can be done.

Routine Inspections

Like any other item you use in your practice on a regular basis, you should routinely inspect your chiropractic table to make sure everything looks and works as it should. These regular inspections potentially prolong the life of the chiropractic table, helping you avoid unnecessary repair costs or even table replacement. These include:

• Loose bolts that need to be tightened
• Hinges that need to be oiled
• Any piece or part that appears to be in need of replacement or repair

Take a good look at the padding on the table. With patients getting on and off it all day and moving from their front to their side to their back, it is easy for rips and tears to begin. Fixing them when they’re small is more cost effective.

Set up a regular inspection schedule and assign someone to following up. Because tables can be complicated, making an inspection checklist and simplify this process for those you designate to inspect your tables.

Replaceable parts

While chiropractic tables have large up-front costs, many of their components can be replaced or recalibrated for a fraction of that cost. Some replaceable parts are:

• Cushions
• Actuator brake
• Compressor coil
• Springs and valves

Maintenance tools and parts

If you’ve found problems with your chiropractic table that need to be fixed, you want to take care of them promptly. Neglecting to fix issues as they arise, will have you spending more time and money down the road. Or worse, you may be in the middle of an adjustment when your table fails. Having a few maintenance-related tools and parts available for use will make these ad hoc repairs quicker.

• Phillips-head screwdriver. Replacing parts, such as cushions, requires this tool on most tables.¹
• Lubricant.If you notice that some parts of your chiropractic table aren’t moving well, applying lubricant may help free them up. Important to note is a number of manufacturers’ tables don’t require any lubricant at all.² Always check your owner’s manual before adding lubricant.
• Wrench set.If your chiropractic table maintenance involves more in-depth repairs, such as replacing the rocker foot pedal switch, then a wrench can prove to be very useful.³
• Pliers.This tool provides somewhat flexible sizing in the event your wrench does not fit some bolts on your table.

When in doubt, out-source

If you’re not comfortable doing maintenance on your own, then you may be better off purchasing a service contract and letting someone else take care of your chiropractic table for you. A service contract will save you time, but will cost more money.

Maintenance matters

Regularly inspecting your tables is the first step in ensuring table longevity. Know what parts and tools your tables need. Keeping them in regular repair will save you time and money, and will keep your table from injuring patients.

References

1 Hill Laboratories. “Removing & Reattaching a Mat Table Cushion.” http://www.hilllabs.com/service_pdfs/mat_table/mat_remv_mat_cushion.pdf. Published January 2005. Accessed August 2015.

2 Hill Laboratories. “Hill 90C/Air90C Table: Owner’s Manual.” http://www.hilllabs.com/manuals/hill_mnl_90c_web.pdf. Published 2011. Accessed August 2015.

3 Hill Laboratories. “Replacing the Rocker Foot Pedal Switch.” http://www.hilllabs.com/service_pdfs/table_base/base_rpl_rckr_pdl_switch.pdf. Published January 2005. Accessed August 2015.