If you’ve heard about inversion therapy, or you’re thinking about trying inversion therapy for the first time, then this article will help you to understand the advantages and disadvantages of inverting your body upside down.
Inverting the body has been around for hundreds of years – and has always been referred to as having a positive effect on the body. Current, and previous research, has shown that the effects of gravity take a toll on the human body and cause us to experience pain throughout the body (although pain mostly occurs in the back).
Inversion Therapy involves placing your head above your body, essentially reversing and counteracting the effects that gravity would usually have on your body. As scientists has shown, inversion therapy has an advantageous effect for people who suffer from spine pain.
In 1978, researchers and scientists proclaimed that regular use of an inversion table effectively lengthens the spine and reduces muscle activities. While this study has never been associated with being conclusively correct, we know that there is a high likelihood of this being correct.
The anti-gravitational effect achieved by inversion therapy helps to relieve painful muscle spasms and painful compressive forces that occur within the spinal area. In fact, inversion therapy is believed to be so effective that doctors and physical therapists regularly recommend inversion tables based on their own, personal opinions.
It’s understood that regular use of an inversion table provides a reduction in the symptoms related to spinal conditions such as disc herniations and spinal stenosis.
And, because inversion therapy can be done within the comfort of your own home, it has proven to become an increasingly popular method of relaxation.
However, with so many inversion tables on the market, it’s extremely important to read inversion table reviews to help you understand which tables are best for you – and which have proven to be the most effective for inversion therapy.
What Is An Inversion Table?
An inversion table is a device that essentially allows you to hang upside down safely. They are known as aggressive devices, because they provide you with an aggressive way to minimize and reduce the effects of gravity. However, it’s important to note that you don’t have to completely tilt upside down on an inversion table. You are able to choose what degrees you are inverting at.
A typical inversion table consists of a strong, durable and sturdy platform made of metal. There is a cushioned pad (usually made from leather) for you to lie down on, as well as straps that tie around your waist and ankle area.
The idea is that you strap yourself in, and tilt upside down to begin reversing the effects of gravity’s pull on your body. In essence, you are repairing the damage caused by gravity by tilting in an unnatural position – essentially stretching and strengthening your spinal cord.
Other features to look out for are ab-building functionality. These inversion tables also double up as home exercise tables, and are most commonly found on Ironman Inversion Tables.
There are other devices available to you though, such as Inversion Chairs. Inversion Chairs allow you to place your head below your feet while being in a seated position, as opposed to lying down.
Some people believe that chairs are more comfortable because they place less pressure on your leg joints, as well as stabilizing your blood pressure better. However, it is known that inversion chairs are not as effective as tables, and only offer up to 70% of the anti-gravitational effects that a table would offer.
In the end, it boils down to which option is best for you, and how serious your back-related problems are. If you would consider your back-pain or problems to be serious, then an inversion table would most likely have a better effect on reducing, or even eliminating the pain.
If you believe that you are starting to develop back-related symptoms, then a chair may be best as it will be more comfortable and may alleviate the initial symptoms.
Must Read Article: 10 Benefits of Inversion Therapy
What To Check Before Doing Inversion Therapy
As with any medical-related devices, it’s always best to take precautions to ensure that you are doing the best for your body. As a precautionary measure, we always recommend:
- Consulting a doctor prior to inversion therapy. Your doctor may be able to suggest safer and less-strenuous methods to alleviate your back-pain. Your problems may not be serious, and may be resolved by simpler methods such as massaging.
- Reading in-depth information about your specific symptoms. Sometimes, your pain or back-related problems may be related to your lifestyle; and it’s important to eliminate this first of all. If your lifestyle is causing the problems, then you may be able to take a pro-active approach to rectify this.
If you believe that inversion therapy is the best option for you, we recommend checking our Inversion Table Comparison Chart. Our comparison chart allows you to compare the benefits of all of the leading models on the market – and provides you unbiased opinions and reviews. You’ll be able to see the pricing of each table, our rating and review, and how we score each table over numerous factors (durability, affordability, effectiveness etc).