Buying a treatment table: what to look out for

When buying a treatment table, five points matter most: the drive, the height range, the width of the lying surface, the upholstery and head section, and the accessories your treatments actually need. If you clarify these points for your own practice in advance, you compare offers on the same basis and avoid paying for equipment that later goes unused.

Treatment first, then the table

What counts most when buying is which treatments take place on the table, whether you call it a therapy table, treatment table or practice couch. Classic physiotherapy and manual therapy have different requirements from massage, lymphatic drainage, osteopathy or neurological treatment according to Bobath. So first write down which treatments you carry out on a typical day, whether you mainly work standing or seated, how many therapists of different heights use the table, and whether patients with limited mobility need to get on it. Almost every further decision follows from this list, and you quickly see which equipment is essential and which would merely be nice to have.

The buying checklist

• Drive: electric with hand or foot control for frequent adjustment, hydraulic with a foot pump where there is no power at the location or the budget is tight.
• Height range: the lowest position makes it easier for older patients to get on, the highest must suit the tallest person on the team.
• Width: narrow tables let you work closer to the patient, wide tables give security for positioning, repositioning and neurological treatment.
• Upholstery and head section: upholstery type, face cut-out and a multi-part head section determine how comfortable prone position and neck treatment are.
• Accessories: choose paper roll holders, a side arm rest, castors or a lifting castor system only if your workflows actually need them.
• Colours: choose upholstery colour and frame colour in RAL shades to match the practice, light upholstery shows signs of use sooner.
• Service: clarify before buying who will later inspect, maintain and repair the table, and how quickly help is available on site.

Not every point on the list carries the same weight. You fix the drive, height range and width permanently with your purchase, they cannot be changed later. Upholstery colour and accessories, on the other hand, are more a question of comfort and appearance. So take the most time over the first three points. For working height and table width, our other guides contain detailed tables with the values of all models, which help you compare the specifications of different tables directly.

What a treatment table costs

The price depends mainly on the series and the drive, and only then on width and accessories. The overview below shows the current price ranges in our range, broken down by category. It is generated automatically from our catalogue and therefore always reflects the valid list prices.

Accessories often change the final price more than expected. The next table shows what individual options add, so you can estimate before your enquiry which extras are worthwhile for your practice and which you can leave out.

Common mistakes when buying a table

The most common mistake is a table that is too low for the tallest person on the team. Anyone who treats in a stooped position for long periods soon feels it in their back. Width is misjudged just as often: a very wide table looks generous in the showroom but forces you to lean far forward during manual therapy. A third point is the location. Check whether a socket is within reach, how much space remains around the table and whether you want to move it for cleaning. Then there are the running costs: a table is a working tool for many years, and regular inspection and maintenance belong in the budget from the start.

If you are setting up a practice for the first time, a conversation helps before you commit. We advise you without obligation on model, drive, width and accessories, put together the right table for you in the configurator and, with Riedimed Engineering, also take care of inspection and maintenance later on.