Massage Table Choices

[cleverbutdumb]

I have had the Earthlite Harmony 2 for over a year now and have been satisfied with it.  Now that I've got permanent office space of my own, I'm thinking about selling my "starter" table and upgrading to something better.We used Oakworks tables in massage school.  I found the Oakworks adjustable headrest to be more versatile than my Earthlite headrest, so I'm considering an Oakworks table but want to explore some other options.Those are the only two brands of tables that I've used thus far, so I have no idea how much (or little) I'd like some of the other tables out there.  I'm curious to know what opinions there are here.

• Which tables do you use or have you used?  What did you or didn't you like about them and why?
• Is there any huge advaneforum.xxxe of a stationary table vs. a portable one?  (I'm considering either a nicer portable table or a reasonable stationary table.)
• What do you consider the most comfortable, versatile, and easy to manipulate adjustable headrest available?
• What about tables with breast recesses?  Does anyone have any good/bad experiences with these?  I've only seen pictures.  Have you found them to be comfortable and useful, or just a pricey novelty?
• Any feedback on the Advanta http://www.oakworksmassagetables.com/MassageTablesPort/Advanta.htm table?  I'm all for ergonomics and proper body mechanics, just don't want to waste time on novelties.

 

[tamara k]

I have been using the Earthlite Spirit.  I don't do outcalls, and the table has been sitting at a permanent place for the last 3 years.  I have not had any problems with it.  My massage room is small and stationary tables look too bulky to me.Hmmm.. I wonder if it is bad to keep the table open all the time?

 

[Pompal 09.]

I still have my Earthlite Spirit which showed up on my doorstep in 1994 (a long story as to how it got there).  Up until I expanded my office and got an Oakworks electric lift last year, the Spirit was used constantly (rarely being folded) from 1994-2002.  It still has a lot of life in it.  I now use it as an extra when we do 2 massages in the same room or when I do a demonstration off site.  It's an excellent deep tissue table, and by the way, I have always used an Oakworks face cradle with it.  IMHO it's not a great housecall table because it is heavy (maybe 28-30 lbs).I also have an Earthlite Stationery table in one of my other rooms (got it cheap off an aesthetician leaving town) and don't like it at all.  It's very beautiful, but very heavy.  And if you like to change the height of your table, or have multiple people with multiple heights working on it, it can be quite inconvenient to change heights.  My advice is to stick with a nice portable with lots of padding.  Forget the cutouts and bells and whistles.  For as many people who will like them, there will be just as many who won't.  If you want to get a stationary table in the future, save your money for an electric lift.

 

[Seth H]

Massage Table Choices

I have two Custom Craftworks Athena Pro Tables, Great table.

http://www.customcraftworks.com/port_tables1.html

 

[Dr. Patrick Spiller]

If you are interested in a stationary table, I would highly recommend looking at Earthlite's Ellora electric lift table.  As $$$ goes, it is (I think) the least expensive electric lift going and you may qualify for the ADA tax credit.  The other bonus is that you can roll it around - one end has wheels.  It's still heavy and a bit cumbersome, but any time I've needed to move my table out of my therapy room or change my room around I've been able to (I wouln't want to move it every day though....)I really wanted a table that I could adjust the height from client to client and have found that this has really helped save my body.  I have been quite pleased with my investment!!!

 

[Just Call Me G]

I have an Earthlite Avalon, acquired brand new, February 1997 while still in Massage Therapy school.  A couple of minor repairs (replaced a bolt at 4 years old... and just had to restaple the strap that holds the face cradle in place and reattach one end of the handle, tighten the screw actually, now, at 6 years old ) but it's still working just fine for me.  No rips, no tears, no squeaks... ;D

 

[ZoomN]

Massage Table Choices

The Ellnora starts at $1,299.00.  If you think about it, it's not that much more than a good stationary table and the ability to go up and down by client is great.  Keep in mind that a stationary table is a nightmare to move up and down by yourself - they are way heavy in most cases.  If you're a stickler for the height of the table by client, a good portable or electric may be the way to go.  Personally, I've had an Oakworks for years and it's a real workhorse.  The bottom line is this piece of equipment is integral to your work so buy the best one you can afford.  Let us know if you end up with the electric, I'd like to live vicariously through someone a bit.  All my best, Joe E.  

 

[There She GOes]

Massage Table Choices

I still have my Earthlite Spirit which showed up on my doorstep in 1994 ...snip... It's an excellent deep tissue table, and by the way, I have always used an Oakworks face cradle with it.

An Oakworks face cradle will work on an Earthlite table?  Without any sort of modification?  For some reason, I didn't think it would.  I can't remember if someone had told me that, or if I read something, or if I just assumed... but I thought the outlet spacing was different.

Well, if that's the case, I think I just doubled my options.

 

[mshatswell]

Well I seem to remember my massage therapy teacher had an Earthlite Spirit which he used the "Double articulated" Oakworks face cradle on, and again, this was way back in 1997.So, I think it's possible for you to use them together. Plus I bet if you asked the people at Oakworks... I bet  if it IS possible they've probably had A LOT of MT's doing it over the years. Customer Service ought to know if it's a viable option.

 

[Fun-sizedd!]

You can definitely use an Oakworks head rest with an Earthlite table. Im currently in Massage school and we use both brands of tables and headrest interchangably.  The Oakworks headrest is really great since you can move it so many ways. I have an Earthlite Spirit which I love but am definitely considering buying the Oakworks headrest to replace my Earthlite adjustable one.Best of luck!

 

[get go]

I don't really know the answer but I would check to make sure that the current headrests from both manufacturers are still interchangable.  If they are, the manufacturers are doing themselves a dis-service especially since they usually sell everything separately.  If they made them so you had to buy their headrest, they would be guaranteed the sale.  Doesn't make sense from a business sense but I hope it's true from a therapist's point of view.  Joe E.