The right table for you AND your patients

Whether you are just starting out in your chiropractic practice, or looking to expand or revamp your existing practice, there seem to be an endless number of options.

This is especially true when it comes to purchasing equipment.

Nowhere is this truer than when it comes to buying your chiropractic table. Because it is essentially your primary workstation, your table is the single most important purchase you will ever make.

Yet almost all articles providing advice on how to select tables tend to focus on patient comfort and safety, while almost completely ignoring that whichever table you select must also be the best choice for your comfort and safety.

Here are some considerations for how to choose a table that not only is best for your patients, but also best for you.

Does the table measure up?

It is prudent to consider the width and height of chiropractic tables in terms of your patients. If you are catering to larger patients, a table that is wider will provide them with more stability. Your pediatric and geriatric patients will be happier with a table that is lower, making it easier for them to get on and off it.

However, your height and reach will also factor into which table width is best. If you are short, a table that is too wide may leave you unable to safely perform adjustments on your patients without putting them and you at risk of injury. The obvious solution here is a table that is somewhat narrower.

You can determine which width will work best for you by first testing things out by cutting out cardboard in rectangles of the widths you are considering. Lay them out on either your kitchen counter or dining table to see which width feels most comfortable.

Climbing to new heights to get the right table

The height of your table can also make a difference in your comfort and safety, depending on your height. If you are short, a lower table will allow you to reach the areas on your patients that require treatment, without putting you off balance, and at risk of injuring yourself or your patient.

Although a small stool can give you the proper height, there is not much standing surface. Conversely, if you are tall, standard tables may require you to hunch over your patients, causing you back, neck, and shoulder issues while relieving theirs.

A table that can be set to various heights would seem to be a good solution, as it can be put on the lowest setting for your patients to lie down, before it is then raised to your optimal height for performing adjustments.

However, this must be balanced against the fact that adjustable-height tables do cost more than stationary tables. If you are on a budget, you might consider looking at refurbished adjustable-height tables.

No matter which table you end up selecting, it should be one that suits both your patients’ and your needs, comfort and safety, as well as your budget. Taking a little extra time to determine the height and width of table that works best for you will save you from more heart – and back – ache further down the line.