Mat Table vs. Hi-Low Mat Table vs. Treatment Table: Choosing What’s Right for Your Facility

• A mat table is a flat, wide surface table that is used for therapeutic exercises and helps with stretching and bed mobility.
• A hi-low mat table allows for adjustable height, which helps therapists to treat patients at safer positions and makes transfers easier. 
• A treatment table is typically narrower and designed for clinical positioning, exams, and manual therapy. 
• Static mat tables may be limited for certain patient populations or treatment goals. 
• A treatment platform can be very helpful for achieving primary goals in physical therapy and increasing access, improving patient adherence, and providing continuous, data-based care outside of traditional, in-person clinic visits. 
• There are many factors to consider when deciding whether a mat table, a hi-low mat table, or a treatment table is best for physical therapy at your rehab hospital, skilled nursing facility, long-term care facility, outpatient clinic, or education/training program. 

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In the realm of physical therapy, rehab buyers often will use the terminology of mat tables, hi-low tables, and treatment tables interchangeably. But the differences and benefits of each of these types of therapy tables will have great significance to both your staff and your patients. You would serve your medical facility well to consider the distinctions among all of these various tables to ensure that they meet the unique needs of your therapists and their patients. 

What is a Mat Table?

A traditional mat table is what many therapists use to treat their patients. While it gets the job done, it is given to versatility or for enhancing a patient’s mobility.

A traditional mat table for physical therapy is a wide, flat surface and is tailored to therapeutic exercises, as well as stretching, rolling, bed mobility, and general movement work. A traditional mat table is a wide, cushioned surface used for therapeutic exercise, stretching, rolling, bed mobility, strengthening, balance activities, and general movement work. Its larger surface gives patients room to move and gives therapists space to assist with exercise-based rehabilitation. 

Key Uses and Functions of a Mat Table

Manual Therapy and Massage

The wide surface, typically 4 feet by 7 feet or larger, provides space for therapist-assisted stretching and soft-tissue work. 

Accessibility 

Lower heights allow easier transfers for wheelchair users and for patients with restricted movement. 

Exercise Platform

In this instance, it is used for rehabilitation exercises like mobility, balance training, and strengthening. 

What is a Hi-Low Mat Table for Physical Therapy?

A hi-low table offers for versatility when treating patients. For example, a hi-low table adds adjustable height, which assists therapists, allowing them to work at safer positions. These types of physical therapy tables also make patient transfers much easier.

A high-low mat table is a specialized and motorized, or hydraulic, electrically adjusted, wide treatment platform designed for enhanced physical therapy. It lowers to wheelchair height for easy patient access and rises to a comfortable height for therapists to perform exercises, manual therapy, and examinations. 

Key Features and Usage Examples of Hi-Low Mat Tables

Controls  

Hand control, Foot switches, bar-activated, or full-perimeter foot controls. 

Usage 

This type of therapeutic table is used for exercises, massage therapy, joint mobilization, and postural adjustments. 

A good example of a highly effective hi-low mat table is the Barihab™ XS by Therapeutic Industries. The XS transforms into several therapy devices that enable multiple therapies without transferring the patient from one apparatus to another.  The hand control allows the therapist to adjust the motorized seat lift and table height without manually lifting or repositioning the equipment.

What is a Treatment Table?

Treatment tables for physical therapy are designed for clinical positioning, exams, manual therapy, or focused treatment. They also facilitate postural drainage. A physical therapy treatment table is also known as a PT table, a physiotherapy table, and a treatment couch.

How Traditional Mat Tables Fall Short 

Standard, static mat tables can fall short in modern physical therapy settings, especially regarding accessibility for patients with limited mobility and ergonomics for therapists. They are known to have limitations having to do with standing activity, bariatric support, patient fear, and requiring multiple pieces of equipment. 

This type of therapy table is also lacking in the following ways:

Safety Hazards

The lack of adjustability increases the risk of patient or therapist injury during transfers. 

Limited Functionality

Standard tables are mainly used for mat exercises like stretching and bridging, while lacking built-in tools for traction or gravity-restricted exercises. 

Therapist Injury

If a table is too low or too high, it causes ergonomic strain on the therapist during manual techniques. 

When a Treatment Platform Makes More Sense

Treatment platforms in physical therapy enhance patient care by increasing access, boosting engagement, and providing personalized, data-driven treatment. These platforms improve flexibility for patients and allow for real-time progress tracking, ultimately improving recovery outcomes and lowering costs.

Higher-Assist Patients

When patients need added support for transfers, sitting balance, standing activities, or early mobility work.

Transfer-Heavy Therapy Environments

When reducing unnecessary movement between separate pieces of equipment can improve safety and workflow.

Need for Measurable In-Session Progress

When therapists need objective feedback for positioning, partial weight-bearing, or progress documentation during treatment sessions.

Limited Therapy Gym Space

When one adaptable system can reduce the need for separate equipment such as a mat table, standing frame, parallel bars, scale, or other therapy tools.

The Barihab™ XS Provides the Ultimate in a Treatment Platform for Physical Therapy

The Barihab™ XS by Therapeutic Industries is much more than a hi-low table. The XS transforms into several therapy devices that enable multiple therapies without transferring the patient from one apparatus to another. Charting improvement and providing feedback is easily achieved using the four digital displays and the weight scale built right into the Barihab™ XS Treatment Platform.

Designed for safety, productivity, and versatility, the 4-foot by 7-foot treatment surface is the perfect size to treat most patients. The Barihab™ XS hand control easily maneuvers the motor seat lift and the height of the table – all in a hands-free environment for the therapist – effortlessly transitioning patients from a sitting position to a fully upright standing position. 

How to Choose the Correct Table Based on Your Facility

Whether you need a mat table, a hi-low table, or a treatment table at your rehabilitation hospital, skilled nursing facility, long-term care facility, outpatient clinic, or education/training program, will depend on the types of injuries and medical conditions your therapists are treating and your facility environment. Each of these physical therapy tables offers distinct advantages and benefits to both staff and patients, depending on your facility’s setup and the needs of your patients. 

Factors that Affect Which Physical Therapy Table is Right for Your Medical Facility

How do you know what type of therapy table is appropriate for your health-care facility? Consider the following factors:

Patient Mix

The types of injuries or medical conditions that your patients present will dictate which table will serve your needs.

Staff Capacity

The ratio of staff to patients, how much overtime is allotted for employees, and the size of your staff all will have a bearing on the type of therapy tables you will need at your facility. 

Transfer Frequency 

How often you transfer patients will have relevance for which table will best meet your needs. 

Treatment Goals

Knowing the treatment goals of your patients will guide you as to which therapy table will be most appropriate for your healthcare facility. 

Space Limitations

The rehab environment, specifically limitations in the space you have to treat patients, will have a significant consequence on which table you will choose for your medical facility.