Height, technique, and color are just some of the factors to consider when buying a table

Buying an adjusting table today is an adventure. So many choices exist, such as make and model, options and devices, and bells and whistles. And the price range is literally all over the map.

We recently moved into a new clinic and began the process of looking for new chiropractic adjusting tables. In the process, I began to realize how many options are available to us. It is truly amazing how much planning goes into buying an adjusting table. Space, technique, color, and size are all major considerations.  Manufacturing quality is also a major factor to consider.

Let’s Start With Height
The table should be at a height that is comfortable for the doctor. Height is also a factor in the long-term safety of the practitioner. Think about it: You work day in and day out on patients (many of us from the same side of the table) with your lumbar spine in a slightly flexed and rotated position while shifting your weight to one leg, potentially increasing the shear and torque forces across the pelvis, sacroiliac joint, and spine. Wow! Sounds like something we tell our patients not to do. Having a table at the appropriate height is one of the ways the doctor can protect himself from long-term repetitive injury.

Technique also plays an obvious role in the style of table you will purchase. Many adjusting techniques require special devices or a certain shape for the technique to best be practiced. For example, Thompson requires drop pieces that can be manually or hydraulically operated. Practitioners who use adjusting instruments need wider tables; those who use flexion-distraction need special options on their tables. The list goes on and on. And of course, if you use multiple techniques, then you complicate the whole table/options scenario even more.

If that isn’t enough to think about, every option you consider affects the price of the table. So for those of us who must remain price-conscious, we may need to weigh the value of each option we choose. Which options are the most important when considering patient outcomes, technique, and other factors?

Many manufacturers build tables to custom specifications—at an additional price, of course. I know a doctor who stands less than 5 feet tall and had special requirements outside the standard for table height. She needed to have a table custom-made to fit her height. But be careful with too much custom work.

Sometimes, your ideas about what you want and the reality of how that table will function might be two different things. For example, if you are trying to combine techniques to fit one table, you might try to design a table that in reality is very impractical. Leave as much of the design work as you can to the manufacturer and ask questions. The manufacturer’s experience can often help you develop the customization you need and save some headaches by not winding up with a table that doesn’t work for you.

Color Coordinate
Then comes the decision of color and covering material for your new table. The quality of fabric or vinyl on your new table will be a determining factor as to how long your table may keep its “new” look and hold up under constant use. Typically, the heavier the material, the more wear and tear it can withstand. You may be tempted to save money on your new table by cutting down on the quality of the fabric, but depending on your technique and the volume of patient flow, you may be costing yourself more in the long run. Part of your regular table maintenance is to uphold the covering, so it is well worth the price to put material on that new table that will last and withstand the pressures of daily use. You will also want to ask the manufacturer for recommendations on which cleaners to use so the material color will stay true over time.

The color you choose should be appealing and fit the scheme of your office.  You cannot go wrong with a “classic” color, such as brown, black, blue, or gray. These are less likely to become outdated in the future. Also, consider how the color will hold up over time. Lighter colors tend to show more dirt, while darker colors can lose their luster from cleaners and show scratches more readily.

Ask the manufacturer’s representatives for their experience with the color you are considering. Sometimes they can even direct you to practitioners in your area that have that color table in their office so you can see it firsthand. Also, remember to balance your color choice with fabric quality. The nice-looking color that goes great with your office decor may not come in the quality of fabric that you need.

Other Options
The remainder of options you must consider when looking at tables are based on personal need or are dictated by technique.  These might include options like drop pieces, hydraulics, hi-low function, elevation, electric, or manual. For the most part, these are left to practitioner preference or dictated by your adjusting techniques.

Ask yourself these questions when considering the functionality of all options:  Do you really need them (cost versus value consideration)? Will they remain functional over time? In other words, are you spending a lot on something that, over the years, you will not use all that much or is at risk of mechanical failure, which increases the cost of maintaining your table? Many tables are out there with so many features and options that they seemingly will even adjust the patient for you. But remember, many of those optional devices, if not necessary for your technique, may become maintenance headaches down the road. Most of the time, you will be well-served by staying with the basic, less-mechanical features for your new table.

Luckily, many financing options are available to most practitioners. Ask your dealer for a recommendation. You don’t have to break Fort Knox with a table full of every high-dollar option, especially if you are new in practice. You can always upgrade as your practice and needs grow. Ask about service.

Nothing is worse than when a table breaks down and you have to limp along for weeks waiting to get it fixed. Our traction table had a small problem one time, and our manufacturer was there that afternoon to fix it on the spot. Most distributors will service the tables they sell, and most manufacturers offer good warranties. Make certain that you deal with a reputable dealer/distributor that has a good track record with the industry and solid experience with the product.  

 Whatever you decide to buy, make sure that you keep it in good working order. Your patients will benefit, and you will appreciate the longevity that important piece of equipment will provide you over the years.

Michael Perusich, DC, is a 1999 graduate of Cleveland Chiropractic College in Kansas City and practices in Sedalia, Mo. Contact him at docp@charterinternet.com.