Therapy couch weight limits!

[??yl?]

Hi!

Don't know if I am posting this in the right forum or not!! Apologise if not!!

I have a friend who is desperate for a massage but she weighs 22 stone.
I have searched for the weight limits on the "general" style portable couches but can't find any info on the max. weight they can hold.

Does anyone know what weight these couches can take?

Many Thanks!!

 

[PeruBoliviaTravel]

Hiya

To be on the safe side, I'd massage her on the floor or on a bed, if you can.

Hope this helps

 

[Warren D]

I suggest you do a quick google for massage tables and then look at the spec for them

They mostly state a max weight ( mine says up to 30 stone ) but remember this is the combined weight of the person plus the pressure you exert when massaging

Hope this helps

Steve

Yoga Doncaster and Donny Massage

 

[Galactus]

I treated a woman who was around 20 stone on my electric couch - it got her to a treatable height but then the motor burnt out! She is fine on my portable wooden couch, as it can take up to 30stone. Call the company that made your couch and check. I'd go with Chris' advice and treat her on her bed (she may have problems getting up from the floor). Watch your back!

 

[abvlcocr]

A lot of couches will take the weight of 22 stone.

What is just as important is how the client

1) gets on the couch
2) moves on the couch
3) gets off the couch

Because the working weight of the couch is based on distributed weight.

SO a couch will take her weight but if she gets on and kind of kneels on the couch all her weight will be going through one small area (knee) on to one small area of the massage couch and it wil probably break.

Also if she is prone and turns to go supine or turns to get off she may put all her weight through her elbow and the same will happen.

The weakes part of a couch is the base board which is usually 10mm thick on most couches.

I think there are two options you can go with.

A) Have an upholsterer put a cross beam on the base of your table (pm if you want more detailed instructions) on both sides of the middle and this will increase the strength a lot and woudl be very hard to break. Some massage couch retailers will do this for you but whereas it will prrobably cost you £40-£50 directly with an upholsterer it will cost you more to have it done on a new couch with the retailer.

B) THere is a couch on the market called the Porta-lite Delta which is 30" wide (which will also help with client size) and the base is made from the same material that parachutes are made of and it is so much stronger than tables with wooden bases. I had one when I worked at a clinic in belgium and had very large clients on it with no problems at all.

Whatever you do I think it is very important to go through how to get on the couch correctly with the client beforehand and help them turn if and when they need to.

Hope I am not stating the obvious!!