massage therapy journal

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Making Your Table Last

Gutowski purchased her first table through massage school as part of a student package. It came with a face cradle, ankle bolster and carrying case for just under $500. She says that while her equipment has held up well, about five years into use the table started to creak and the vinyl began splitting. “It turns out,” she says, “the cleaning solution I had been using was making the fabric less supple.”

Exposure to the oils and alcohols found in many cleaning agents breaks down fibers over time and are the main culprits for table fabric scuffs and tears, says Riach. He says the best way to protect your table is to keep it covered so no oil actually makes contact with the table’s surface.

When cleaning your table, use a mild soap and water and follow with a final rinse, suggests Sura, who estimates that the normal life span of a good table is approximately 20 years if cared for and used properly. But regardless of how meticulously you care for your table, “foams will break down and get softer over time.”

You definitely don’t want your table to bottom out, so Sura suggests that every five to 10 years you take your table in for a tuneup at a local massage table store. If you don’t know where to go, try calling your table’s manufacturer and asking for a recommendation. “I’ve learned to periodically check the knobs on the legs to make sure they haven’t loosened,” says Gutowski, who schedules monthly checkups for her equipment. “Having a table leg come loose could be disastrous.”

Should your table fabric reach a point beyond normal wear and tear, never have your table reupholstered at a furniture or specialty store, says Sura. “The table will be dismantled in the process and you run the risk of having it put back incorrectly,” she explains. The safest bet, she says, is to go back to the manufacturer for this service.

All things considered, what it really boils down to at the end of the day is finding a table that works for you. While the selection can seem overwhelming, finding the right table—or tables—to meet your needs and your budget can be done.

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