Inversion therapy makes gravity work for you by positioning your body in line with the downward force of gravity. This therapy method uses the weight of your body to elongate the spine and is most commonly used to prevent back pain. Body weight exercises can also be done in an inverted position.
Definition
Inversion therapy--the act of hanging upside down to apply traction to the spine--is thought to have been invented as early as 400 B.C. when Hippocrates, the father of medicine, performed spinal traction by hanging a patient upside down on a ladder. Inversion therapy may temporarily relieve back pain and reverse the effects of aging and poor posture on the spine.
Methods
There are three methods of inversion therapy. In full-body inversion, the head is suspended and the legs are straight up in the air. Your body is strapped onto a horizontal bar that is secured by a stabilizing frame. The second method uses the same frame but has supports that keep your knees and hips flexed. The third method requires that you lie on an inversion table that gradually tips you into a head-down position. All of these positions allow for exercise by incorporating inversion squats, side twists, leg raises and crunches into the stretching therapy.
Equipment
Inversion therapy can be done with stabilizing chairs, boots or tables. With stabilizing chairs, you are in a 90-90 position with full hip support. The chair provides decompression and extension to the spine and places no strain on the ankles or knees. This piece of equipment is most noted for straightening the lumbar arch--the part of the spine that supports the pelvic bones. Boots allow for 100 percent inversion without the support of a stabilizing frame. Boots have an optional calf loop that creates a two-degree bend in the knees to reduce body weight load. Inversion boots are hooked onto sturdy bars one leg at a time and are made with safety locking clips. Inversion tables are the most popular because they provide a full range of motion for exercise and are user friendly.
Benefits
Proponents say that Inversion therapy increases the space between vertebrae, releasing pressure on the discs, ligaments and nerve roots. According to the Energy Center, an online distributor of inversion therapy equipment, inversion therapy aids in strength, flexibility and cardiovascular endurance. When your body is inverted, circulation is increased and heart rate is gently elevated resulting in a mild cardiovascular exercise. Active inversion--incorporating exercises--allows you to add strength training to inversion therapy with no additional stress to your spine. By encouraging good posture and the natural "S" curve of the spine, inversion therapy aids in the mobility and flexibility of the joints and the spine.
Health risks
When using inversion therapy equipment, seek the assistance of a medical professional. Those with high blood pressure, glaucoma, heart or circulatory disorders and those who are pregnant should not participate in inversion therapy due to the increased blood flow to the head and face and a slightly raised heart rate.
