Metal or Plastic Stirrups - Influence on wearing socks

Was a bit of a random odd thought, but having seen variations of bare metal/steel stirrups and plastic coated ones, does it have any influence of if you think about a barefoot exam ?

Do you wish they stayed the old fashion style of bare metal foot rests rather than being coated in plastic ?

I think there is a place for both, but the idea of bare metal on bare feet seems like it might send a few more goosebumps up your spine once asked to set your feet into the stirrups and scoot toward the end of the table.

As part of that question, I wonder how many gyn offices have the stirrups already extended when the patient walks into the exam room. and do you women have a preference as to them being extended or collapsed into the table when entering the room? KB

In a professional Real practice I feel it is related to the type of practice. If the physician is a specialist OB/GYN then it would not only be acceptable but almost expected for the stirrups to be extended when the patient enters the room. However a Family Practice should never leave the stirrups extended other than when they are in use, in my opinion. I feel that leaving the stirrups extended in a General Practice is in bad taste, as much so as demanding the patient get fully undressed, even though their complaint is only a hangnail. Regardless, many GP's do leave the stirrups in whatever manner they were last used and it reflects on the nursing assistants as being thoughtless while preparing the room for the next patient.

Admittedly bare metal stirrups are usually ice cold, a desired characteristic in a play exam, but usually not for real. Vinyl coated stirrups are the most sensible in my opinion as they are easy to clean and "warmer" than bare metal.

Stirrups should be disinfected between patients. One would wonder how many are. While great effort is taken to use disposable gowns, sheets, and instruments, some practices throw on a pair of oven mitts or Drug Rep advertising and let countless patients exchange foot fungus and bacteria. In a real practice it is one of the most common cross-infection hazards. If the stirrup covers were laundered after each patient there would be no risk. However in a real practice no one knows for sure how many patients have used them before you. My suggestion to the Ladies, is that if you see covers such as oven mitts on the stirrups in a real practice, keep your socks on.

Foot fungus and foot bacteria, another resounding reason to keep my socks on and change into a clean pair of socks after the exam. Also another reason that emphasizes the lack of cleanliness of the exam room and the exam table. Exam rooms are generally filthy just like the waiting room, the nurse station, reception etc. I call it a VIRILE PETRI DISH. Interesting, I refer to my sister in law and her kids and home in the same context, as well as commercial airline planes and jetliners.

... Offers wet wipes and hand sanitizer to all on the forum ...

As for the stirrups already being extended in the OB/GYN office, very appropriate. In regards to a GP, FP or internal medicine office,it is appropriate to have them tucked into their space in the table when they are not in use. A medfet person probably does not mind seeing them, they may hope that the physician has a reason to use them during the exam. For a non medfet person, many prefer to not see them and dread the thought of them being seen or used at all.

As for the stirrups being metal or vinyl coated, the vinyl are warmer. I am one who is always cold in the exam room. I enjoy the speculum and other items such as the stethoscope to be cold. When it comes to my feet, if they are cold, I am cold. I keep my socks on until I am asked to remove them or my physician removes them and then puts them back on my feet.

I love the looks of the shiny metal stirrups, however I love the feel of them plastic covered. As I had told you several years ago I much prefer heel stirrups to leg holders.

As for having them extended as I walk in Yes I like that best. My main doctor always does the pelvic exam first. The other doctors in his group do it last.

I totally agree with you Dr McKenzie. I am very much a fan of the shiny metal stirrups. Bare feet in them is a crucial part of the eroticism of the exam for me.

My doctor has soft padded covers on the stirrups.

Ideally covered specially witn some surgical looking green or blue pads

They are padded with ads for different compaines and drugs om them