Every patient that comes into your facility is likely to have some form of contact with your table. Research has shown that chiropractic tables normally test positive for pathogens and contaminants such as microbes and bacteria.
As a chiropractor, you should always ensure that your patients are not exposed to diseases resulting from pathogens and bacteria from your table. As such, it is important to ensure that your chiropractic table is always clean and free from any contaminants.
Although there are currently no specific guidelines on how chiropractors should clean or disinfect their treatment tables, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has sterilization and disinfection guidelines in healthcare facilities that can also be used by chiropractors.
1. Understand your treatment tables
One of the first things that can help in maintaining chiropractic tables is understanding the types of material they are made of.
The type of material that a chiropractic table is made of will help you know the type of detergents to use. This is because some cleaning detergents or material may react with the surface of the table.
It is important when purchasing a chiropractic table or tables to select one made from high-quality leather material that is easy to clean and doesn’t react with cleaning detergents.
2. CDC recommendations
The Center for Disease and Control (CDC) has various guidelines for sterilization and disinfection of medical equipment. Although the guidelines are not specific to chiropractors, they can be used as a guide to cleaning and maintaining chiropractic tables and other equipment.
According to the guidelines, CDC recommends that surfaces such as those of chiropractic tables should be cleaned using disposable towels.
In case you decide to clean the table with reusable clothes, CDC recommends that you wash the cloth with a strong detergent and dry it for at least two hours.
3. Purchase from reputable manufacturer
If you are just starting your chiropractic business, it is advisable to purchase your chiropractic table and other equipment from reputable manufacturers. Although this may cost you a lot of money, it is worth it because they will last long before you can think of maintenance or repairs.
Sometimes it may be difficult to distinguish genuine and good chiropractor manufacturers from those that are out just to make money. One of the best ways to know a good manufacturer is by checking online reviews and asking for referrals from friends and family members.
4. Regular cleaning
It is always easy to forget about cleaning your chiropractic table. This is probably because from the outward appearance, you won’t be able to tell if the table is dirty. But in the real sense, it is full of bacteria and pathogens that can transmit diseases to your patients.
That is why it is important to carry out regular cleaning on your chiropractic table. The purpose of cleaning is not only to make the table last long but also to get rid of the pathogens and bacteria that might have been left behind by patients.
However, you should clean your table using the right cleaning detergents or risk shortening the lifespan of the table. Some cleaning detergents may cause some parts of the table to rust and make it hard to operate normally.
5. Perform regular maintenance and fix any issues immediately
Another great way of maintaining your chiropractic table is to ensure that you conduct regular maintenance. For example, if your table has movable parts that need constant lubrication, put this in your schedule so that it doesn’t slip your mind.
The good thing is that most tables come with manuals that have suggestions for regular maintenance. Besides, you can also contact the manufacturer of your table to ask for suggestions as far as regular maintenance is concerned.
Bottom Line
A chiropractic table is an expensive investment. Regular maintenance is important to protect patients from infections as well as ensure that it lasts for long.