Home-built stirrups for use on a bed

I was cleaning out my shed the other day and I came across some stainless steel stirrups that I made. They mount to a 3/4 inch piece of plywood and you slide the plywood between the mattress and box spring. I don't use them anymore because we turn a spare room in our house into a full exam room with exam table. I would like post a picture of theses "portable" stirrups and my question is "How do I post pictures on this website?" I might try to find a good home for them since I don't use them anymore.

This link should hopefully help you figure out how to get your photos into the image gallery. There is also individual member albums that might be better for this though. I'm not exactly positive about how to do this, but if you find a member that has these albums up then they should be able to help you out.

http://www.zity.biz/information/frequently-asked-questions-faqs/how-do-i-post-photos-in-to-member-album-.html

Has anyone come up with a way to make stirrups like on the exam table in Dr's office. Looking to make some that would go on portable massage table. I need something that can be put away and hid discreetly?

Hang in there Ace, help is on the way! My partner and I have rigged up some leg slings that are exactly what you describe, they are foldable, portable and clamp on to any table. Ingenious if I say so myself. I'll be posting pics and a description in the next few days.

I've been meaning to do so for months now, but just haven't found the time. You've given me the perfect excuse to make the time to do it.

Play On!

LadyDoc

Ladydoc - It would be great if you find the time to post your pics and description. I would love to make something like that. I've been working on leg (calf) rests made from sports shin guards but your creation sounds better!

Dear LadyDocIsIn, I agree with the other posters. Please share your stirrups when you get a chance. They sounds wonderful!

Lady Teddy, who needs a pair herself

I tried to do this the other day. I have had a difficult time accessing the gallery, as has everyone lately. Then I found that my photo files are too big to be downloaded to the gallery. As soon as I solve that puzzle, we'll be good to go.

Thanks for asking, and I haven't forgotten, I'm just techno-challenged!

Play On!

LadyDoc

Success, at last! I've just posted an album to the Gallery that has some pics and a description. Unfortunately when I re-sized , I lost a lot of the photos. I'll try again in a few weeks when we play and we'll see if I can get some better shots. You'll get the gist of it though.

Because my description got cut off, here it is in its entirety, for those who like the details!

"For the stanchions, or supports, we purchase two heavy-duty grooming arms from PetEdge. These, for the uninitiated, are what professional dog groomers use to keep critters on the table and marginally under control. The model that we purchased breaks down into three pieces, so the components will fit into the footlocker. For the slings themselves, I used a heavy terry-cloth bath towel and cut it into two 15”x40” strips. For each one, I sewed the ends together to make a continuous loop and then fed the loops into a large heavy-duty carabineer. Each ‘bineer is attached to a double-ended snap clip that clips on the grooming arm, and viola! Completely height adjustable leg slings that we can attach on either side of the end of the table, and then fold down and put away when needed."

Play On!

LadyDoc

Hi LadyDoc, Thanks so much for the information and the photos! I will be calling PetEdge tomorrow! What a great idea!

Lady Teddy

Ladydoc, checked out your album...what a great set up you have....thanks for sharing with us.

Thanks for the compliments. I'm glad to be able to share this information, we searched long and hard to find something that would suit our needs before we came up with this. You know what they say, necessity is the mother of invention!

Play On!

LadyDoc

Juan-

I'd stay away from the cheap ones, if I were you. They're known for bending (or breaking) under weight. As a professional groomer with many years of experience, if you're going to do that, get the best. The ones that we got were about $40 each. And I've never had a second thought about putting all my weight into them, nor has my partner. Even more important, I wouldn't have a second thought about using them with either of my dogs.

I'm happy to post a link for the ones we got if anyone is interested.

Play On!

LadyDoc

Hi LadyDoc, Yes, I would like to see a link to Petedge, if you don't mind posting one. I checked with Drs.FosterandSmith and they were quite expensive at about $85.00 each. So, if you don't mind posting the link, I am sure that others would appreciate it.

Thanks for all of the hard work and dedication to the board that you show every day as a moderator.

Lady Teddy

Here ya go!

http://www.petedge.com/product/Grooming/Grooming-Equipment/Grooming-Posts-and-Arms/Master-Equipment-Foldable-Grooming-Arm/pc/190/c/191/sc/265/45204.uts

I could start a whole other website on how to avoid over-paying for animal supplies, but that's for another day!

Play On!

LadyDoc

Do a google search for "wide area craigs list search" and you will find something like search temptest. Select that and you can search all the CL's in the US at once.

If you search for exam tables or stirrups.

I found a couple sets of stirrups today for under $100 and a few exam tables for around $100, one for $75.

If you find a cheep table you can ask if you can give them what they want for the table for just the stirrups.

I have seen knee stirrups made out of 8 or 10" PVC plumbing pipe that has been cut in half and bent into an L sort of shape. Pipe flanges were bolted on the bottom and pieces of conduit or steel pipe held them to the table. They looked really good for home brew.

That idea with the plywood sounds clever. What did you make the stirrups themselves out of?

As a humorous aside, I used to have a waterbed and under the padded rails I had a series of screw eye's positioned around it. We used to have some fun tying things to them. One time my mom came up for a visit and was not feeling well after the long car ride so we let her take the water bed for the night. Nothing like a warm waterbed to fix a hurting back. I had not thought about it, but when she came out the next morning she was feeling good but I noticed that she made our bed. Something we pretty much never did. She never asked about the hooks but she had to have seen them. Too funny. At least your plywood would slide all the way under! And if anybody asked you could just say it stiffens up the bed for your back!

My play doc wants to give me a proper gynecological exam, and I really like the idea of having my feet up in stirrups. However, our bed doesn't have posts , or much of a frame to attach anything to. Any ideas of how to make make-shift stirrups that can come out only during play? We have a large, solid wood dining room table to work with as well. Thanks

When my wife and I play doctor we use the kitchen table as the exam table. I have found that the backs on the chairs are just the right height to use as makeshift stirrups. I put towel over the back of the chair as padding and then she puts rests her knees on them. You can then move the chairs as wide apart as you wish to spread her legs. I usually restrain her in this position which makes it even more fun

I used the chair method too for stirrups, except instead of towels, I used two thin bed pillows. I folded them over the tops of the chairs, then secured them with a bungee cord.

I have a canopy bed and I am thinking of some sort of sling to use as stirrups... Any other ideas ..?

Does anyone have any experience with getting two dog grooming arms and attaching a leg sling for an exam? I want to purchase these to secure on the end of a folding table, but I am not sure if the arms will extend over the table too far. Any thoughts or suggestions would be welcome!

I never thought about making a set, I've been using ropes to keep her legs apart

There is so much surplus out there why not check out sites like that

Sounds like a wonderful idea. I have to think about how I can create se sturrips for on our bed. It will make it nocer for my wife's exams.

Dr bob

Hello, all. Second post counting my introduction. I am in the finishing stages of making a pair of slings, for lack of a better word, to attach to my portable massage table. All that's left is to set it up and test it. I work in a mechanical trade, so mine are mild steel, in three pieces that weigh maybe 6-7 lb., total. I searched the net for countless hours and have used ideas from all over. The two that brought my project together were using the existing holes for the face rest and using ab straps for the actual leg rests. I don't want to be long winded, so if anyone would like a more detailed description, I'll be glad to post, along with pictures (when I get a chance to take them).

Your slings sound like a great idea. I do have a portable massage table that I use for exams and I would love to have some attachments for play use. I would enjoy seeing your photos when you can post them.

ILoveGYN: I love your idea of the portable dog grooming tables. I wonder if that would work? Has anyone tried this? I already own a dog grooming table, so I am at least half way there.

Lady Teddy, who has shown a lot of dogs, now leaving to examine her dog grooming table more closely 😃

Gang, any insight on where to buy a surplus set of stirrups for less than the $150 they seem to run on ebay? Thanks!

Edward, if you just want stirrups you should surf Craigs list and find someone selling or giving away an old exam table. You should be able to pick up a used table for in the $25 price range. Don't be shy about making a low offer. Believe it or not, turning an exam table into cash is not an easy task. There does not seem to be a really big market for them. Anyway, the stirrups are pretty easy to remove. If you are lucky the person you are buying the table from will keep the rest and try and re-sell it. In the other event you might need to sell it off yourself or god forbid, drive it to the scrap yard. One other thought it you might post it on here. My regular table has a lot of plastic parts, all the drawers for example are plastic. Somebody here may need some parts or pieces...

I'm looking for a particular stirrup. May need to check that out.

We use a pair of chairs placed next to the bed which acts as the exam table. Works great for us.