Massage therapists, like all business owners, are constantly forced to weigh the costs of upgrading their equipment against the effect on their bottom line. In a struggling economy, is it wise to make do with the same old massage table or invest in the new technology that offers greater comfort for the client and more options for the practitioner?

While it is certainly understandable that many people are concerned with the state of the economy, it is also encouraging to note that there are professions that are not simply holding their own but actually growing. Perhaps it’s an example of dark clouds having silver linings that the career prospects for massage therapists are growing faster than the average for other professions. As stress levels rise, massage is seen as less of a luxury and more as a necessary coping and survival tool.

The American Massage Therapist Association estimated that massage therapy was a $16-20 billion industry in 2009. As more people hit dead ends in their current occupations, it is expected that they will explore the option of becoming massage therapists.

Opportunity and competition go hand in hand. While there are many excellent reasons to turn one’s back on the corporate rat race and pursue a career in massage therapy, it is important to recognize that it is still a business and treating it any other way can spell disaster. Not only is it necessary to acquire the necessary training and skill set to provide an excellent service, it is crucial that clients receive the best overall experience available.

Nothing will do more to elevate the experience of your clients than the quality of your massage table. The difference between a massage on a traditional, older style model and one of the newer state-of-the-art massage tables is like night and day. The instant your client stretches out on your table and realizes that he’s not going to have to fidget and fight for a comfortable position, whatever it cost to upgrade your table just paid for itself. Not only will the comfort of your client allow him to receive more benefit from your techniques but the perceived value of the experience will be increased.

Massage therapy is a profession that is heavily dependent on repeat business. As such, the question is not whether you should consider upgrading the quality of your massage table. The real question is whether you can afford not to.