Early treatment beds were simple padded boards that often made prone lying difficult. Many patients struggled rotating their necks fully for the duration of treatment and so a breathing hole was incorporated as standard in treatment beds after the Second World War.
Ostensibly designed to make breathing easier, the hole also kept the neck in a more neutral mid-position, which meant patients were more comfortable, and treatments could be longer.
The face hole also had a psychological effect, though. As patients could talk about their experiences and express their emotions without feeling the gaze of the therapist. Laying prone for an extended periods is a position of trust, and the accompanying physical touch of the therapist frequently broke down emotional barriers. Many patients would share intimate information during these treatment sessions. Gently joking about the red ring around a patients face following the therapy could also be a useful way to release emotional tension built up during the session.
Maintaining the cleanliness of the face hole has always been important, but has become an even more significant concern during the COVID pandemic, as people are much more conscious of the way diseases are transmitted through contact and breath.
Description provided by Magdo Fourie of South Africa
