Are you buying a couch for the first time, or are you replacing your current one? Whatever the reason you need a new massage couch, chiropractic couch, or acupuncture couch, there are a plethora of options. For this reason, I have created a guide to some things you should consider before buying a new couch.
What is the purpose?
First and foremost, you need to be sure about the purpose of the couch – will it be used for chiropractic, massage, acupuncture, or perhaps something else entirely? We have found that many people who choose to buy their couch from us have multiple purposes for it. For example, it could be an acupuncturist who combines their treatment with massage, or a chiropractor who naturally also needs to massage their patient in some treatments. You should also consider whether you want a stationary or portable couch.
You are the most important!
A big mistake many people make, especially first-time couch buyers, is that they prioritize their patients' comfort over their own. This is a big mistake! Of course, it's true that a good treatment requires a comfortable treatment couch, but the fact is that you will most likely be using the couch for many hours a day, and your patient will usually only lie there for at most an hour.
Therefore, you need to consider:
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How wide is it – and does the width match your height?
It is very important for your back, shoulders, and neck muscles that you have a couch that matches your height. It is always possible to go down in size, but we strongly advise against buying a couch that is wider than recommended, simply due to the working environment. Remember that your couch is one of your most important tools, and you will be using it many hours a day.
What features do you want the couch to have?
Couches come in many variations. There are couches with an electric motor, allowing you to raise and lower the couch, and there are several different couches where you can change the patient's lying position, for example, because the couch is 2-3-4 or 5-sections.
While it's important to have a couch that is ergonomically correct for your proportions, your patients may also have different physical sizes. We experience – fortunately not often – that our customers buy a narrow couch because it best suits the practitioner's height. Just as we humans are different, so are the practitioner's patients, and therefore it can be a good consideration whether you want removable armrests on your couch to be able to offer slightly wider patients a comfortable treatment position.
Furthermore, for your patients, you should consider whether you want an adjustable headrest, armrests, and similar features. Remember that as a practitioner, you should have the best possible working environment to protect your body as much as possible. We find that several of our customers buy knee and neck cushions, so this is also a topic you as a practitioner should consider.
Do you find the couch aesthetically pleasing?
I know – it might seem extremely trivial, but the fact is that a couch is large and usually dominates the room it's in. Therefore, you should also consider what color you want your new couch to be – both for the upholstery and whether you want, for example, painted or shiny steel legs, or if you prefer wooden legs. However, you will find that the more advanced the couch you buy, the fewer choices there are for legs and frame.
Is it soft or firm?
Another parameter you should consider is the firmness/softness of the couch. For a massage couch, it is usually a high priority to have a very relaxing environment, and patient comfort is therefore highly valued. For an acupuncture couch, comfort is also important, but not as crucial as for a masseuse. If you are going to use a chiropractic couch, your patients rarely use the couch for extended periods, and you can therefore afford to be less critical about how soft you want your couch to be.
Where should I buy my couch?
Of course, there is a large selection of dealers of all types of couches, but price and quality often go hand in hand. What you need to consider is how your complaint process will be if you experience defects or deficiencies in your couch. Furthermore, the quality, and whether it is a recognized manufacturer. Often, couches in the lower price ranges can be difficult to get spare parts for, whereas manufacturers such as Lojer or Coinfy can supply spare parts for all their products.
At Acupunctureshop, we have over 20 years of experience in selling couches, and most of us are also trained practitioners because we believe it can help us provide the right guidance to our customers. We are always ready to help and guide you in your choice of couches. Please call 76940877 if you need help. We answer the phone on weekdays between 08:30 and 16:00 (Friday until 15:30). You are also welcome to send us an email
