Maintaining Your Physio Table: Tips for Longevity and Hygiene

A physio table, or physiotherapy table, is essential equipment for both patients and professionals in physiotherapy clinics. As a professional, you have to keep it clean and maintain it to ensure good treatment for patients. In this blog, we will discuss some easy-peasy tips to maintain your physio table and ensure its longevity and hygiene. These tips will keep your table as good as new.

Let’s dive in.

But first let’s understand,

Why Proper Maintenance is Crucial?

A physiotherapy table is used daily by patients who are recovering from injuries or managing pain. Due to this reason, the table needs to be cleaned daily and in good shape to ensure patients comfort and safety. 

Whereas, poor maintenance can lead tables to wear out fast and cause discomfort to patients or even mishaps. Moreover, not cleaning the table can spread germs and harm both the doctor and the patient. Here are some simple cleaning and maintenance practices. 

1. Regular Cleaning

The basic step to keep your table as good as new is to clean it regularly. It will not only keep the table looking nice but also reduce the chances of germ spread between patients and doctors. 

How to Clean Your Table?

• Use a clean cloth and a mild disinfectant spray to wipe the table after each session. Clean the areas which come in direct contact with the patient's skin.

• You must avoid using harsh chemicals as they can damage the material of the table. 

• In addition to wiping the table, you should also use disinfectant on the entire table at the end of the day. This will remove any lingering germs from the table.

By keeping the table clean, you are protecting your patients, staff and yourself.

2. Regular Inspection

After sometime even the best physio tales can show signs of wear and tear. To ensure that the table is safe and functional, you must regularly inspect for any wear or tear. Here are things you must look for:

• If the material starts to crack or tear, fix the small tears before they get worse. 

• If the table is wobbly or makes a squeaky noise, you must use oil or tighten the screws. 

• Many physiotherapy tables have adjustable parts like height or tilt. Make sure these features are working smoothly and are easy to operate. If these are not working properly they can be dangerous for patients. 

3. Regular Lubrication

If your physiotherapy table has adjustable parts, like a hydraulic lift or movable headrests, it’s essential to keep those moving parts properly lubricated. Lubricating helps parts move smoothly and reduces wear. Here’s how to do the lubrication properly: 

• Always check the manual or consult the manufacturer to find what kind of lubricant to use. It is important because every table needs different types of oil. 

• Depending on how often the table is used, you must lubricate the moving parts once a month or once every few months.

Regular lubrication will make sure that the table is in good working order. 

4. Protect the Upholstery

The upholstery of a therapy table can wear out with time, especially if it is exposed to sweat, oil, or heavy use. You can follow the below-mentioned ways to protect it:

• You can use a disposable or washable cover to protect the upholstery. This will also make cleaning easier and prevent stains. 

• If your table is near a window, keep it away from direct sunlight. UV rays can fade or crack the upholstery over time.

• If somehow anything spills, such as lotions, oils, or other liquids, clean them right away to avoid stains or damage to the fabric.  

5. Use high-quality Spare Parts Only

Over time, your physio table will wear out, and you might need to replace it completely or just some parts. Therefore, it is important to replace the important parts with high-quality parts to ensure the table functions properly. To get the parts 

• Check with the manufacturer and always choose original parts over any other suggestions.

• If you are buying parts from a third party, ensure that they are reputable and sell only quality products.

Summary

Maintaining a physio table is not complicated. You just have to follow simple steps like regular cleaning, inspecting for wear and tear, lubricating moving parts, and protecting the upholstery. You should also use only premium-quality parts so that the table can stand in good condition. As a physiotherapist, proper maintenance will help you get the most out of your investment. Taking care of a therapy table not only extends its life but also ensures the comfort and safety of those who use it.