Physical Therapy Supplies

Running a Physical Therapy or Physiotherapy clinic is one of the most stressful and work intensive job to do. And it is even harder starting up a physical therapy clinic for the first time. To help you out, here are the essential supplies you need to run a basic physical therapy clinic.

This list below is also helpful as a checklist for existing running physical therapy clinics, in case you are missing essential supplies.

Physical Therapy Treatment Tables 

This is essential for you to treat clients and patients on. For a basic bed, you can buy a portable massage table which can do the job fine. There are also manual and electric treatment table which are more expensive to buy.

Towels 

Buy as many as you can, because you can use it to lay your clients down, act as a cover or to provide physical coverage/privacy for the client, clean ultrasound or massage oils/creams and many other jobs.

Massage Oils, Creams and other liniments 

Essential for hands-on treatment of clients for massage, mobilization or any other manual  physical therapy techniques. Also good for relaxation for clients. Voltaren, ice gel or any ant-inflammatory creams is also essential.

Electrotherapy Equipment 

Essentially all physical therapy clinics should at least have one ultrasound machine and interferential machine. Short Wave Diathermy, laser, TENS, massager, infra-red, wax baths or magnetic therapy units are all good additions to the clinic if you have the money.

Electrotherapy accessories 

Most or nearly all electrotherapy equipment needs accessories. Ultrasound gel and interferential pads are essential to the clinic that you must have. You may also need to sterilize the electrotherapy equipment, so alcohol wipes and detergent are needed.

Hot and Cold bags/packs 

You should have at least one hot and one cold pack. Always needed at least once a day in a busy clinic.

Bandages 

Sports tapes and fixomol should be essential for all clinics. You need them to strap up strained joints or to help stabilize them.

Dumbells and weights 

You should have many weights and dumbells in all variable weights so that you can show or let borrow/sell to clients for exercises.

Theraband 

Essential supply to do exercises. Best to buy the lightest to medium if you're short on cash. You can use the medium theraband to be strengthen more by adding folding it to add resistance.

Tissues and Alcohol wipes 

For general purpose use for the patient/client and for the clinic and therapist. Always best to buy a good amount of supply as these run out fast.

Stationary 

Pens, pencils, paper, eraser, liquid paper, ruler are needed to write notes and other business issues.

Scissors 

For cutting tape, bandages and other general uses.

Goniometer and ruler 

To measure joint ranges.

Face Cushion 

If treating your clients on the bed, you can buy a cheap face cushion for about US$10 for extra comfort and support.