|
|
|
|
|
|
|
My Table How to measure for table height [Q7.1] Question 7 "I have decided to purchase a fixed height table, but I have heard conflicting reports about the way I should be measured - can you help?" Answer. There are many different ways of being measured for "correct" table height. Many of these methods are vague and imprecise, such as from the "fist to the floor", or from the "flattened palm to the floor". Similarly, making a knuckle and measuring to the floor is also quite vague because the angle of the wrist, and the position of the feet, can alter the measurement by many centimetres. It should be remembered that physical height is only a guide to table height. Of much more importance is extended arm length from the floor. Also important is the footwear, if any, worn while working. Because of these factors it is sometimes the case that a short person with short arms will require a much higher table than a taller person with long arms. This situation is exaggerated even more if the short person normally works in shoes, while the tall person works barefoot. Having said all that, there is a very simple and precise method for measuring people for correct massage table height. This method has been shown to be very successful in correctly sizing a table for Swedish and/or remedial massage. Bear in mind that different bodywork modalities sometimes require different measuring techniques. In particular chiropractic, reiki, and feldenkrais have quite different height requirements, but there are others as well. [Q7.2] The recommended method involves having the person being measured stand like a soldier at attention. The heels and toes are completely together; the shoulders are back, the head erect with the eyes looking straight ahead. The arms are stiffly by the sides, with the fingertips pointing directly at the floor, while resting against the thighs. In this position the person doing the measuring takes the measurement from the floor to the top of the skin fold on the middle knuckle of the middle finger. Of course the person being measured should be in the footwear they normally use while working, or barefoot if they normally work without shoes.
This method gives a precise measurement for each person, and it is very consistent from person to person because of the stance of the person being measured. The results of this measuring technique are normally a little lower than other methods but experienced practitioners who spend most of each day massaging, attest to its effectiveness in determining the ideal table height. Remember this method for determining correct table height is based on measuring to the mid-point of the variation in average torso thickness’ (refer comments on this issue in Question 6.). - Billy Bunter! Torso thickness: Fixed height table - Average torso
Centurion tables manufacture the height of their tables in increments of 3cm. If you measure in between these measurements always select the lower leg height. A general guide for other modalities (refer also to Question 10) For beauty therapy, waxing, physiotherapy, acupuncture and reiki, add 3 cm to the massage height measurement. For Alexander add 10 cm. Chiropractors and osteopaths measure from the fully extended fingertips to the ground. Feldenkrais practitioners measure from the bottom of the knee joint to the ground.
|
|
