Types of massage tables

Question 1 "I am confused by all the different types of portable massage tables - can you simply explain the differences to me?"

Answer. Tables are made to cater for many different bodywork modalities. Often the practitioner requirements for one particular modality differ only marginally from another. Remember choosing the right table for your particular needs will improve client comfort and draw loyal clients and referrals. Treatment tables can be divided into a number of groups and sub-groups. They can be manufactured from timber, steel, aluminium and/or combinations of these materials.

[Q1.2] Portable Fixed Height.

These are generally made of aluminium, timber or steel frames, with the same range of materials used for the legs. In recent years as the cost of adjustable height tables has come down fewer and fewer people are choosing fixed height tables. These tables are not suitable for use in clinics where many different height practitioners may be using the one table. Timber framed fixed height tables generally have two aluminium legs on either end, and two pairs of folding legs in the middle, making a total of eight legs. In general, because of the support of the four middle legs, these tables are extremely strong in the centre and tend to have very little deflection under load. Suitable for a practitioner who uses techniques such as a knee on the table, to provide additional leverage, or where the practitioner chooses to kneel either side of the patient for deep tissue work, shiatsu or chiropractic.

[Q1.3] Portable Adjustable Height.

Adjustable height tables tend to follow the same design concepts as fixed height tables, but with an extendable leg assembly. From a practical viewpoint, the less legs that have to be adjusted, the more likely the feature is going to be used. Conversely, the less legs the table has, the more deflection it is likely to have under load. Refer to Question 6 (Page 16) below, for a more detailed discussion on the merits of adjustable versus fixed height tables.

[Q1.4] Shaped Top Tables. 

This style of table is very popular with professional masseurs because it offers many practical advantages for the patient and masseur. Shaped tables are designed to allow increased table surface area where it is most beneficial for patient comfort and are contoured in areas where increased practitioner access is desirable, to achieve less bending over patients during treatments. This often means a practitioner of shorter stature can comfortably use a table wider than they would normally find comfortable to use, and of course the wider the table, the more comfortable it is for the patient.

Shaped tables often feature face cradle extensions with prone arm supports. A well designed shaped table will feature a rounded or cutaway table end to allow patients arms easy and comfortable access to a prone arm support underneath the face cradle. When face cradles are fitted to rectangular shaped tables the patient needs to lie with their shoulders off the table end in order to access the prone arm support, this is not an optimum position for treatment comfort. The shaped table prone position completely relaxes the shoulder and upper back muscles, enabling the practitioner to work more effectively in this area. When in the supine position there is still sufficient support for the shoulders. Most patients find this an exceptionally comfortable table to be treated on.

This table is also increasingly being used for recovery from macular surgery where the patient is required to lie face down for between 5 and 10 days for up to 21 hours per day. This style of table is the only type comfortable enough for this extreme use!

[Q1.5] Adjustable Backrest Tables.

Beauticians, physiotherapists, and foot reflexologists favour this type of table. Patients can be made comfortable in either the horizontal (for massage), or semi-sitting position, (for waxing, reflexology, etc.). Doctors and physiotherapists also like this model because a lot of their work is done with the patient sitting up. The main drawback is that the adjustable backrest mechanism adds a considerable weight and bulk penalty, and so the table is more realistically called transportable, rather than portable. This type of table is often used in a situation where there is limited availability of space for a fixed stationary table and where the table needs to be  folded up, and put away when not in use.

[Q1.6] Stationary Tables (non-portable). This booklet is primarily about portable tables so it will not dwell too long on stationary tables. The multitude of options available when choosing a fixed or electrically operated table, are covered in a very general way in questions 16,17 and 18 and we will shortly be releasing a guide to choosing an electrically operated table. Suffice to say that there are stationary versions of all the portable table types listed above. There is also a hybrid type of table, which is basically a stationary table (single piece top), with legs that fold for transportation, or to enable positioning in a very confined space, e.g. a terrace house with narrow stairs. Most stationary tables have either a timber or steel frame. It is very much a question of personal aesthetics. Stationary steel tables can be made very strong (depending on the gauge of steel used), but they are also heavier to move around.  A high quality portable table can offer most of the benefits of a stationary table but still has the ability to be folded and easily transported. Also included in this category is the full range of stationary height adjustable tables. These tables can take many forms ranging from a simple plinth on a hydraulic, foot-operated base, to sophisticated electrically operated tables with a multitude of adjustments.