Buying a table......Determining Height

[misstorwai]

Im still in school, but want to buy a massage table soon to start practicing. Ive been looking at Craigslist.....but how do I figure out the height of the table I need. I want to get either an Oakworks Nova or an Earthlite New SPirit......or maybe someone has another suggestion. These are just the ones Ive worked on at school. Yes, there are some student deals thru school, but even they are expensive for me.

Anything else I should consider when buying used?

thanks for any advice!

 

[Lissa]

Most tables are adjustable. I wouldn't buy a table that wasn't. The only problems you may encounter is if you are on either end of the height spectrum. We used the Oakworks in school and I ended up buying the wellspring. It was able to be adjusted comfortably for everyone in the class. Shortest being just under 5 ft, and the tallest in another class being 6'4. They should have taught you in school how to make sure that your table is at the proper height.

 

[SucreCaramel]

They did teach us how to tell the perfect height, they just didnt tell us how to figure that out numerically.

 

[Peanut Butter]

An easy solution is to actually measure the height of your table at school. You'll want a table at adjusts to that height around the middle to upper section of the adjustable range. Presumably you'll not be doing to many massages with the table higher than at that current height.

I have found as I use deeper techniques that I have been adjusting my table lower than I did when at school.

I've recently started practing table thai, and have my table much lower than I do normally. (shorter distance to fall of the table LOL)

Just my :2cents:

 

[toto]

OK, shane... we are here to help you... first and formost, what is your height? That way you can get suggestions from people who are your height... and yes, I do work on a setting lower than that when I was in school, so Talenyn has a point... and again it goes to if you are on the either ends of the height spectrum.

 

[lemily014]

Im 5'2 1/2........

 

[just_ken_here]

The Nova is adjustable from 24 to 34 inches. The Earthlite Spirit is adjustable from23-33 inches.

When we were in school we adjusted the table so that the fingers of a soft fist would just brush the table. That being a guideline. We were doing Swedish. You may have to go up or down from there. Also depending on the size of the client. Makes the electric table seem wonderful. So figure our where you are working with the table now. Measure it and compare with the tables you are looking at buying. Get a table that falls in that range. Make sure you have some wiggle room to lower it later on. Lots of folks I know have lowered thier tables since leaving school.

My advice would be to get the best table you can afford. I know you said you are in a bind. But you don't want a squeaky, shakey table.

Our school had a bulletin board where ex-students could sell tables. I know some folks that got good deals that way. Best if you can go look at it before buying.

 

[Preschool Donna]

They did teach us how to tell the perfect height, they just didnt tell us how to figure that out numerically.

Bring a tape measure to class. Set your ideal table height and measure it.
Most tables are sold in height RANGES.
Go go to either extreme as far as the measurements go. Remember that you will need to steer away from your normal table height when working with larger clients.....and/or low deeeeep work.

Robyn

 

[~Volcom~]

I'm about 5'3" and I have trouble on any table that doesnt go down to about 17" at its lowest point, especially if I am trying to do any deep tissue massage than I need it lower than I usually do if I am doing relaxation massage, at which I usually put it about 21".

HTH!

Renee

 

[Elii [ucansuckkit]]

So renee.......what height range is the table you have (or the one you work on)?

The ranges on the Oakworks Nova is 18-26, 22-30, 24-34, 26-36 Thats what the puzzling part is to me....... The 18-26 seems like it could be tooo low a range......24-34 is standard, and seems to be what all the used tables are that Im seeing.

I know for some modalities youll want it to be higher than for say, swedish. The rule of thumb for setting the table in our school is between the tops of your knees and where the ends of your fingers hit. Ive talked to students who have graduated from our school and they all say that our school teaches students to set their tables alot lower than other schools......as a way to protect your back, etc.

I havent been able to get a hold of a teacher from school (we dont have school on Mon) so guess Ill have to wait till tomorrow......

 

[hey gemma!]

If your table is too low, then you will definitely be hurting your back by bending over too much... but you do need to be able to lower it when you are doing deeper work, or working on larger people.

 

[unumeMuck]

Just a note on the Nova table from someone who has one:

It is heavy compared to other tables. I am 5'4" and find it very cumbersome to carry, set up and move around alone. If you like Oakworks products, just about any of their other portable tables will be lighter than the Nova. Something to consider if you plan on doing a lot of outcalls or traveling with your table.

Good luck!

 

[guvnor]

I have a friend who is going out of town and is lending me his nova....so Ill get a good idea on what its like. They all seem heavy and cumbersome to me.......

 

[Question Man]

so I measured where the tips of my fingers end and the ground....and it was 23". Most of the tables are 18-26 range.....and we've only finished one modality, swedish.

 

[Dani Gurl]

Take that table that you are practicing on, you have 5 inches more to play with, put it all the way down to the lowest setting, put someone on the table, lunge and apply all your body weight in a long stroke... see how you feel about it... watch your body mechanics.

I do a lot of deep work, and I only dropped my table 2 notches below what I was using in school, but I know some people have dropped it further. Count the notches and see what is left below your swedish setting.

 

[The Dreamer (AC Theory)]

At our school there is one particular table that was purchased for those who are of the shorter stature. It's an Oakworks Nova with the 18-26" range. It sounds like this would be a perfect choice given your height Shane. The thing I noticed about this table is that the legs were actually the same length as the other tables. It was the table ends that were made to be shorter. I am pretty short myself...standing at a tall 5'4" . I have a "regular size" table, but might look into getting this "shorter" table, because of the deep work I prefer to do.

 

[seafarer]

Thanks Jeff.....thats exactly what all my instructors told me. So I might not be able to buy a USED table after all. Seems all the ones Im seeing on craigslist and Ebay are standard 24-whatever height. And what I supposedly need is the 18- height.

I might even wait until we do connective tissue or an energy modality b4 buying a table......I have my friends to borrow for a month, so thats good.


thanks everyone. Guess I just have to see for myself what I need b4 buying......