Pricing and Costs of Devices for Orthopedics and Physical Therapy

Know pricing and costs of devices for orthopedics and physical therapy before you buy

A rehabilitation clinic requires a range physical therapy equipment to effectively treat patients, and this need generally makes up the bulk of your budget. In addition, though, if you provide a full scope of physical therapy services, you'll need fitness equipment to help your patients' on their road to recovery--adding to your expenses.

When you're determining your budget for your physical therapy business, you need to consider all costs--and understand where you might be able to trim your budget if necessary. To get the most useful devices for orthopedics and physical therapy for your money, you'll want to:

1. Plan out how much equipment you absolutely need and how much would be ideal for the services you offer.
2. Consider whether you need mobility devices for your patients.
3. Determine what types of orthopedic devices you will need to treat your patients.
4. Decide what types of physical therapy devices you will need to rehabilitate your patients.
   

 

Look into devices for physical therapy that are mobile

Though patients are likely to visit the clinic with their own mobility devices, it's a good idea to keep basics like rollators and wheelchairs at your clinic. Rollators can range from around $150 to $300, depending on the make. You can find a manual wheelchair providing quick and easy transport for as little as $100, while power wheelchairs can be as expensive as $5000.
Try: Every Day Medical carries mobility devices including wheelchairs and rollators. 1800Wheelchair.com carries a good selection of transport wheelchairs that weigh as little as 20 pounds.

Assess your patients' needs for orthopedic devices

You'll want to purchase a variety of orthopedic devices for each type of injury. Though relative inexpensive alone, the price for these supports can add up. For example, knee braces and patella stabilizers can range in price from $15 to $30. Orthopedic back supports are a little more expensive, selling for between $25 to $50.
Try: Allegro Medical carries a variety of orthopedic equipment including adjustable knee braces, knee guards and patella stabilizers. Medical Products Online is a leading designer and manufacturer of orthopedic back supports. They have products for all ages, and fitness levels. They also offer a five year warranty satisfaction guaranty.

Determine your patients' needs for physical therapy equipment

It's important to determine what kinds of exercises your patients will need to do in your clinic. For example, you may be working on strengthening. If that's the case, dumbbells and therabands are necessary, and can be had for an investment of less than $100. If you're working with patients on their balance skills, you'll need parallel bars, which range in price from $500 to nearly $10,000 for a power model, and balance boards, which can be found from around $20 and up, depending upon the design.
Try: Tartan Group has both floor-mounted and power parallel bars, as well as other physical therapy supplies for your clinic. You can find balance boards and rockers at Power Systems, which offers a discount for volume purchase online.

 

• Consider buying used physical therapy equipment to save money. However, if you do, make sure you're buying from a company that reconditions the equipment rather than sells it as-is. When you're buying used, it's also important to obtain a warranty. If you can't get a warranty for the equipment, it may not be a money-saver in the long run.

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