In a rehab or physiotherapy clinic, every piece of equipment is touched by one patient after another. Reformers, Cadillacs, plinths, barres and small apparatus are wiped down between appointments, sometimes dozens of times a day. Over months and years, that routine tests every part of the equipment: the upholstery, the seams, the timber finish and the joints.
This article explains what to check when choosing equipment for a clinic, what “antibacterial” upholstery does and does not mean, and how timber can be kept hygienic. Exercise programmes should always be set by a qualified physiotherapist.
What healthcare guidance asks for
NHS England’s Health Building Note 00-09, on infection control in the built environment, gives a clear starting point. It recommends smooth, cleanable, impervious surfaces in clinical areas, and work surfaces that are free of fissures and unsealed joints. Soft furnishings should be chosen for ease of cleaning and compatibility with detergents and disinfectants, and covered in a material that is impermeable, preferably seam-free or heat-sealed. It also notes that fabric that becomes soiled and stained cannot be adequately cleaned and will need replacing.
Those principles apply directly to Pilates and rehab equipment.
Cleaning comes first
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention distinguishes cleaning, which removes dirt and germs from surfaces, from disinfecting, which uses chemicals to kill germs. Disinfectants should be used according to their label, including the contact time the surface must stay wet. A surface that is not cleaned properly first cannot be disinfected properly.
So the most important hygiene feature of any equipment is simple: it must be easy to clean thoroughly, every time.
Upholstery
Upholstery is in direct contact with skin, sweat and sometimes wounds or dressings. Check:
The cover material. A comparison published by the Chemical Fabrics and Film Association notes that PVC is not subject to hydrolysis to any significant degree and rates good to excellent for use with disinfectants. Polyurethane rates lower, and the same source reports early failures when polyurethane was cleaned with quaternary ammonium cleaners. Match the cover to the clinic’s actual products.
Seams and edges. Seams are where liquids and dirt collect. Fewer seams, placed away from the main contact areas, and edges that are tightly finished, make cleaning more effective. HBN 00-09 prefers seam-free or heat-sealed coverings where possible.
Colour. Pale tones show marks and staining sooner. A mid or darker tone stays presentable for longer, although it should never be a reason to clean less.
Replacement. A split or cracked cover cannot be cleaned properly, and it lets moisture into the foam. Choose equipment with covers that can be replaced easily, and replace them as soon as they are damaged.
What “antibacterial” means
Many upholstery fabrics are described as antibacterial or antimicrobial. That usually means an additive in the coating is intended to reduce the growth of bacteria on the surface.
Such claims can be tested. ISO 22196 sets out a method for evaluating the antibacterial activity of plastics and other non-porous surfaces. A sample is inoculated with a set concentration of bacteria, typically Staphylococcus aureus or Escherichia coli, incubated under controlled conditions and compared with an untreated control. The difference is expressed as a logarithmic reduction.
Two practical points follow:
- Ask for the evidence. If a fabric is described as antibacterial, ask which test was used, against which organisms and with what result.
- It does not replace cleaning. An antibacterial coating is an additional property. It does not remove dirt, and it does not replace the clinic’s cleaning and disinfection routine.
Timber and finishes
Timber is porous, so its hygiene depends on the finish. The Wood Handbook from the US Forest Products Laboratory explains that a finish slows the rate at which water enters and leaves wood, and that liquid water enters end grain 10 to 100 times faster than other faces. Every face of a clinical piece, including the ends of rails and the feet of frames, must be sealed.
Look for:
- A sealed, non-porous finish with no untreated open grain.
- No deep recesses or crevices where dust collects and cleaning cloths cannot reach.
- Tight, sealed joints, in line with HBN 00-09’s preference for surfaces free of fissures and unsealed joints.
- A finish tested against liquids. Resistance of furniture surfaces to liquids is assessed under BS EN 12720.
Round Fit finishes its solid hardwood and plywood in a matt lacquer designed for daily cleaning. A matt finish does not show streaks and wipe marks, so clean surfaces look clean.
Check the products before the brief
Different clinics use different products. Ask your infection prevention and control lead for the list of cleaning and disinfection products used in the treatment rooms. Share it with the equipment maker at the brief stage, so finishes and upholstery can be chosen to suit them. It is much easier to choose the right materials at the start than to discover later that a disinfectant clouds the lacquer or stiffens the vinyl.
A short checklist
- Smooth, sealed, impervious surfaces with no unsealed joints.
- Upholstery compatible with your disinfectants, with few seams.
- Evidence, such as ISO 22196 results, for any antibacterial claim.
- Covers that can be replaced easily.
- Every timber face sealed, including end grain.
- Your cleaning product list shared with the maker at the start.
See our solutions for rehab clinics. To check finishes and upholstery against your clinic’s products, contact us.
