Most Common Equipment in Physical Therapy Offices
Physical therapy is not just for people who have suffered catastrophic injuries. It is crucial for individuals who have been in devastating accidents or have lost mobility in limbs. However, these offices also cater towards athletes and individuals who are overcoming neurodegenerative diseases.
The equipment in a physical therapy office is different from those found in hospitals. From bars to hold onto to underwater treadmills, the equipment in these offices is geared towards helping individuals reduce pain and gain mobility.
Below is listed some of the common equipment found in physical therapy offices.
Wheelchairs
Wheelchairs are crucial to the daily workings of a physical therapy office. From patients recovering from surgery to patients working their way towards crutches, the wheelchair is a reliable piece of medical equipment.
Wheelchair repair is crucial for physical therapy offices. These devices must be stable and well-oiled to give patients the best experience possible.
Common wheelchairs at physical therapy offices are manual, however many specialized outpatient practices are home to high-tech, electronic wheelchairs.
Medical Scales
Medical scales are usually associated with primary care offices and checkups. But knowing a patient’s weight is important for all doctors, no matter where they work. Medical scales have been used since the beginning of medicine as a benchmark for health.
Medical scales come in many forms. Some are step-on step-off, while others are built into hospital beds or have a larger area for specialty cases. In physical therapy offices, these scales may be large enough to fit bars for patients to hold onto, or are able to accommodate a wheelchair or a lift for patients with low mobility.
It is crucial that these devices are accurate; for anesthesia-related purposes, knowing a patient’s weight is important to the success of many surgeries done in physical therapy offices that work with orthopedic surgeons.
Goniometer
These devices have been around for a long time; they are also used in mathematics and scientific research. Goniometers measure angles; in physical therapy offices, they can measure a joint’s range of motion (ROM). While this may not sound exciting, these devices are crucial for physicians to benchmark and track a patient’s progress.
Goniometers must be highly accurate due to their importance in the field of physical therapy. They can be strapped onto a joint or held by a physician. Either way, they are important for tracking progress and determining a patient’s range of motion and feeling.
Due to rapid innovation, there are specialized goniometers for almost every joint and age group; the specialty of a physical therapy practice will determine what type of goniometers, from finger goniometers to gravity goniometers, are bought and used.
Massage Table
Physical therapy offices employ a variety of individuals, from orthopedic specialists to chiropractors to massage therapists. Massage tables are important for individuals who experience tightness and pain when moving and flexing joints.
These tables look different than typical medical examination tables. Massage tables come in a variety of forms; some can raise and lower, some are heavily padded, and some are larger or smaller than usual depending on the size of patient that a therapist office caters to.
Ultrasound Machines
Ultrasound machines are not just used on expectant mothers. These devices are used to get an in depth look at what is happening inside of a joint or specific area in the body.
Ultrasound machines are known for being expensive and are a large investment for a physical therapy practice. Therefore, it is important that these machines are frequently repaired, calibrated, and maintained.
Bariatric Treatment Tables
Bariatric treatment tables can hold up to 1,000 pounds at once. These devices are highly reinforced and incredibly sturdy. Common brands that make these devices are Clinton Industries, Armedica Manufacturing, and Hausmann Industries.
Clinically obese patients often suffer from painful joints and a lower range of movement. Some physical therapy offices have these tables so that they can work with patients who have undergone weight reduction surgeries or who are actively trying to keep their bodies healthy while losing weight.
Handle Grips
Handle grips are not the most high tech equipment found in a physical therapy office. However, they are incredibly important. They are found near treadmills, or propped up on miniature tracks to help patients who are learning to walk again or are getting used to using a prosthetic.
Some of these grips are also used for the purposes of therapeutic swimming or can even move with patients to help aid in recovery. While this device is simple, physical therapist offices who specialize in the mobility of legs and hips need these grips and racks to facilitate quality recovery.
Continuous Passive Motion Machine
Last but not least, continuous passive motion machines are found frequently in physical therapy offices. These machines allow patients to move a specific joint without exerting effort. These machines can be bought for home use, but for patients with low muscle mass, they are essential for building strength and reacclimatizing bed-bound patients with their previous range of motion.
These devices can range in price and complexity. Most of the CPMMs found in PT offices need to be frequently repaired and recalibrated to ensure maximum quality of care. However, due to their incredible usefulness, this is a necessary part of owning one of these machines.