Whether you rehabilitate individuals healing from ACL reconstruction surgery, support patients recovering from strokes, or train top athletes, biofeedback devices – like digital force plates and dynamometers – can take your practice from good to great. Unlike manual muscle testing (MMT), which provides valuable but imperfect data, biofeedback devices give PTs, strength and conditioning coaches, and trainers the objective, quantitative data they need to make better-informed care and training decisions.
Compared to their analog counterparts, biofeedback tools can come with a hefty price tag. Investing in biofeedback equipment is just that: an investment. Choosing between the myriad options and brands on the market can be challenging. Determining whether to buy or lease devices can add a layer of complexity to the decision.
Buy or Lease?
Some biofeedback device brands do not offer the option to purchase devices outright. Instead, devices and software are generally bundled and rented out with fixed terms. Other brands, KINVENT, operate using a different model: devices are available for purchase, and the connected software is offered on a flexible subscription basis.
The decision to buy or lease devices will be largely dependent on your budget and needs – but purchasing equipment has definitive upsides. The top five benefits of buying biofeedback equipment are outlined below.
1. Ownership
Ownership is one of the primary benefits of purchasing biofeedback equipment. When you buy a device, it becomes a capital asset. Owning cutting-edge equipment can help build the equity of your practice or clinic and increase its value if you ever plan to sell.
2. Flexibility
When you lease equipment, you will have to sign agreements that govern proper use, which can limit how you use the device(s). When you purchase equipment, you have far more flexibility and can modify and repair devices without the fear of accruing additional charges. Further, when you purchase equipment, you are free from contractual obligations that penalize you for breaking a lease early if your needs change.
3. Lower Long-Term Cost
The initial price of leasing is generally lower than buying. While this may be attractive to some, it is almost always more expensive to rent equipment in the long run. If you’re planning on using biofeedback devices as a routine part of your practice, renting isn’t a cost-effective long-term solution: renewing leases and paying associated fees can add up – and quickly surpass the price of a purchased device.
4. Potential Tax Benefits
Another financial incentive for purchasing devices comes in the form of tax deductions. Certain devices used for medical care are tax-deductible, which can help to offset a higher upfront price.
5. Streamlined Budgetary Approval Process
Most organizations are more likely to give budgetary approval for a one-time expense than a recurring fee (especially if the fee is subject to change, as is common with leased biofeedback equipment). Because of that, it is often faster and easier to purchase equipment than to enter into a year-long rental agreement.
Schedule a KINVENT Demo
If you’re ready to purchase biofeedback equipment, read our blog about how to balance considerations about cost and quality.
While the right solution will vary by practice, KINVENT is highly regarded among physical therapists, strength and conditioning coaches, and athletic trainers. The brand’s state-of-the-art equipment and the connected KINVENT Physio App have revolutionized the way care and training plans are delivered to patients and athletes. With KINVENT’s ecosystem, eyeballing and guesswork are things of the past. The flexibility and accuracy of the devices empower clinicians and trainers to deliver superior and more engaging treatment and training – and can deliver a significant return on investment.
For more information about which equipment might be right for your practice or clinic, read our guides comparing:
If you’re ready to see the future of physical therapy and athletic training for yourself, contact one of JLW’s biofeedback device experts. We carry the entire line of KINVENT sensors, which includes force plates, dynamometers, a goniometer, and an EMG sensor.
