What are Chiropractic Tables?

Chiropractic tables are specialized pieces of medical equipment used in chiropractic therapy. Some special needs have to be addressed in the design of the tables chiropractors use to accommodate their clients, and numerous firms make chiropractic tables specifically for this purpose, although some chiropractors utilize massage tables and other equipment for their patients. Students at chiropractic schools typically learn how to use a table effectively, and they may be given tips about selecting the best table.

When someone goes to a chiropractic clinic for treatment, the chiropractor usually asks the patient to walk around, so that the chiropractor can assess the patient's musculoskeletal system, and the practitioner also interviews the patient to learn about the problem which brought the patient into the office. After that, the chiropractor has the patient climb onto a chiropractic table for treatment, and it is important to use the right table, or the treatment can be difficult to perform or less effective for the patient.

From the patient's point of view, a chiropractic table needs to be comfortable. Chiropractic tables are usually padded so that patients will feel comfortable on the surface, and they include supports like head rests to keep the patient's body in a balanced state. The chiropractor needs a table which can be adjusted to a comfortable height for work, and the table must also be adjusted to conform with the patient's body. If the patient's body is out of alignment on the table, it can be difficult to give chiropractic care, and the patient may be inadvertently injured, making adjustability of the table critical.

Chiropractic tables have a number of adjustable elements which allow the practitioner to raise and lower various areas of the table. These adjustments can make the patient more comfortable, present specific areas of the body for treatment, or support the chiropractic adjustments that the chiropractor makes to the patient's musculoskeletal system. Some tables are on hydraulics so that they can easily be raised and lowered, allowing the patient to easily mount the table, and the chiropractor to adjust the height as needed.

In addition to addressing concerns about patient comfort, chiropractic tables must also support patient safety. Typically the table is covered with a fresh sheet or slipcover for every new patient, to avoid transferring pathogens between patients, and the movable elements of the table are constructed to avoid accidentally injuring a patient. The design must also be easy to sterilize, to keep a chiropractic practice safe for patients and practitioners.