A massage table will bring relaxation into your life
Want to enjoy the relaxation of a gentle massage in your own home? Or maybe you want to help people leave muscle tension and backache behind after a long day at the office? Then you need a professional massage table! Let us tell you what you should keep in mind before buying one.
Mobile massage tables are flexible and stable
A mobile therapy table can be quickly set up and dismantled in just a few steps. They can be folded up to save space and can be used straight away when you want to treat a patient or receive a massage yourself. Consider how heavy it is. Mobile massage tables shouldn’t weigh any more than 25 kilos so you can easily take it with you to your next appointment. The carry bag that is often included with the table will help. Of course, flexibility shouldn’t come at the cost of stability. High-quality massage beds come with a robust frame, non-slip feet with rubber caps and a continuous hinge in the middle. Cross bars and diagonal tension bands increase stability and prevent annoying squeaking noises as you apply more pressure. The treatment bed should be able to hold up to 250 kilos to make sure it’s especially robust and durable.
Comfort for masseuse and client
Choose a treatment table that’s long and wide enough. This will give the client plenty of space to lie down with their arms next to their body. As a masseuse, you should remember that some techniques require a lot of freedom of movement, so you should keep the dimensions of your treatment room in mind. High-quality massage beds are height-adjustable, so the therapist can adjust the height to suit their own needs. The head and foot of the table should also be individually adjustable. Accessories such as arm slings and head cushioning make a massage even more enjoyable. You can secure and adjust any such accessories individually on your massage table. A circular head pillow offers a range of benefits compared with a simple hole in the massage table: it keeps the whole face free, allowing relaxed breathing during the massage. The angle of the pillow should be easy to adjust so the patient doesn’t get neck pain during the massage.
Padding and covers for a hygienic massage bed
Especially for longer treatments, soft padding should be suitably thick. Experts recommend four centimetres of foam or more so the patient can lie comfortably during the massage. The edges and seams of a therapy bed should be especially well made. But hygiene also plays a major role in the massage client’s wellbeing. To guarantee perfect cleanliness, the cover should be skin-friendly and washable. Covers made from polyurethane, also called PU, are advisable. This is a high-quality faux leather free from plasticisers that doesn’t leach out any harmful substances. At the same time, the waterproof and oil-resistant surface ensures hygiene in the treatment room. A genuine leather cover is also suitable for treatment tables: thanks to its smooth, finely pored surface, it feels soft and warm against the skin. The massage client’s body gently glides along it, making the treatment pleasant for the therapist and the patient.
Caring for a massage table
Clean your massage table thoroughly with warm water after each treatment. You can buy special disinfectant sprays from specialist retailers that are designed for the cover of your massage table. Important: allow your treatment table to dry well before you fold it up and store it in its carry bag - otherwise unsightly stains may develop on the material. Check the screws and bolts on the height setting, legs and hinges around every six months to guarantee optimal stability, more regularly if you use it often, as you may need to tighten these up. If certain parts of your treatment table break, you can generally buy and exchange these yourself.
The most popular massage techniques
Your massage table is suitable for a range of different massage techniques. Let us briefly explain the most popular. The most common is Swedish massage. This is a classic full-body or partial massage that employs stroking and kneading motions to relieve tension. Scented oils enhance the feeling of wellness. Thai massage, also known by its original name Nuat Phaen Boran, is a technique where the body is stretched and elongated. Then you have pressure point massage, which is similar to acupressure, and which gently mobilises joints. The therapist uses their hands, elbows and feet. Similarly, the masseuse relies more on their body weight than muscle power in Japanese shiatsu massage. This technique treats the energy pathways that distribute energy through the body according to traditional Chinese medicine. The art of Lomi Lomi Nui comes from Hawaii. This special kind of massage isn’t just designed to relax, but also to relieve physical and spiritual blockades. To this end, the therapist uses their whole lower arm and elbow. There are plenty of other massage techniques that use heated stones, aromatic herbs and gentle exfoliants.
The massage bed holds the key to greater wellbeing
Whether it’s in your own practice, in the patient’s home or in your own living room: a massage bed lets you give and receive relaxing massages. Enjoy this centuries-old therapy of kneading, stretching and stroking and leave the stress of everyday life behind.