GStirrups vs. Ritter/Midmark Stirrups
Midmark exam tables (long known by the legacy Ritter name) are on more OB/GYN and urology exam-room floors than almost any other brand, and their standard stirrups are the strap-and-post hardware that ships with them. This is the closest apples-to-apples comparison on this site: both systems mount on the same office exam table. The difference is what holds the patient's leg in place once they're positioned.
Same table, different support
Standard Midmark/Ritter stirrups are strap-and-post hardware: the foot rests in a support and the leg is held up largely by the patient's own muscle control, same as candy cane stirrups on other table brands. For a healthy patient in a short exam, that's sufficient. For a patient with Parkinson's, MS, essential tremor, or post-stroke weakness, it is exactly the capability the strap design assumes and the patient does not have.
GStirrups install on the same Midmark exam table in under 15 minutes and support the full leg mechanically, so position doesn't depend on the patient holding it.
Why this comparison matters more than the OR-grade ones
Most practices asking about GStirrups already own a Midmark or similar exam table with its stock stirrups installed — this isn't a question of switching table ecosystems, just the leg-support hardware on the table you already have. That makes it a lower-friction upgrade than replacing OR-grade boot systems, which assume a surgical table environment your office doesn't have.
The economics
Stock exam-table stirrups are typically bundled into the table price or cost a modest add-on. GStirrups are $2,995 for a single unit (volume pricing to $2,500) — the cost of equipping the rooms that see patients who can't use strap stirrups, not a table-wide replacement. Eligible small businesses may recover up to 50% through the IRS Disabled Access Credit (Form 8826) — consult your accountant.
GStirrups vs. Midmark (Ritter) stirrups at a glance
| Feature | GStirrups | Midmark (Ritter) stirrups |
|---|---|---|
| Support style | Full-leg support | Foot strap suspension |
| Position held by | The device | Patient's leg muscles |
| Table compatibility | Standard exam tables, incl. Midmark | Ships mounted on Midmark exam tables |
| Tremor / spasticity patients | Designed for them | Position drifts; staff reposition |
| Setup | Under 15 minutes on your existing table | Already installed |
| Typical cost | $2,995 (volume to $2,500) | Bundled with table or modest add-on |
| IRS 8826 Disabled Access Credit | May qualify (consult accountant) | Unlikely to be a qualifying access improvement |
Where Midmark (Ritter) stirrups win
- Already mounted on the table — zero incremental setup
- Lower upfront cost for practices with no mobility-limited patients on the schedule
- Familiar to staff trained on the table's stock configuration
Frequently asked questions
- Do GStirrups replace our Midmark exam table's stock stirrups entirely?
- Most practices keep the stock stirrups for routine exams and add GStirrups for the rooms and patients that need full-leg support — it's not an all-or-nothing swap.
- Will GStirrups fit on a Midmark table without modification?
- GStirrups are built to install on standard exam tables in under 15 minutes without permanent modification. Confirm your specific table model with our team before ordering.
- Is this the same company as Ritter?
- Midmark acquired the Ritter brand decades ago; "Ritter stirrups" today generally refers to Midmark's standard exam-table stirrup hardware.
Keep exploring
- GStirrups vs. candy cane stirrups
- Positioning patients with Parkinson's
- Gynecology positioning
- IRS Form 8826 tax credit
Upgrade the stirrups, not the table
Buy a single unit online for $2,995, or request a 15-minute demo for your practice.