Inversion table therapy places you in an upside-down position, which theoretically takes pressure off the nerves in your spine by stretching and decompression. The traction that takes place may provide temporary relief from back pain, but it doesn't offer long-term relief, according to the Mayo Clinic, which claims that inversion therapy may be helpful as part of a comprehensive program for back pain relief. Inversion therapy isn't recommended for anyone with certain types of heart or eye pressure diseases. Consult your doctor before attempting inversion therapy.
After Working Out
After doing any type of strenuous workout, you may find that inversion therapy provides relief and relaxation afterward. High impact sports can put pressure on your joints. Turning upside down allows gravity to remove some of the pressure and soreness of the muscles. People who participate in sports and activities that require more use of one side of the body than the other may find that inversion helps realign the body.
Lymphatic System
Muscle soreness after a workout comes from the build up of lactic acid and other waste products. These are flushed out of the body through the lymphatic system. When you invert, the lymph system is able to clear. Clearing out this lactic acid can help provide some relief from soreness, according to the Natural Arthritis Relief website.
Circulation and Internal Organs
Inversion table therapy allows gravity to pull blood back to the lungs and heart. Doing so, assists circulation in the legs, since in a normal standing position, the blood has farther to flow. According to the Natural Arthritis Relief website, inverting helps all the organs in the body. It reverses the gravitational pull, enabling the blood to flow back to the heart, thereby decongesting the organs.
Balance
Hanging upside down can assist in normalizing the pressure in the inner ear. Since your balance is controlled by the inner ear, you may find that inverting helps your sense of balance. The Spine Universe website claims that inversion may also assist in relieving motion sickness.
Back Pain
The reversal of gravity through inversion table therapy decompresses the vertebrae and spinal discs, according to the Healthy Back Institute. Doing this takes some of the pressure off the nerves, and allows the muscles around the spine to loosen and relax.
Posture and Height
Since the inversion table allows gravity to pull and stretch your spine, you'll maintain some of your height that typically diminishes as your spine compresses with age. This same stretching can help improve your posture and prevent you from having a hunched-over appearance that adds even more pressure to your spine and joints, according to the Healthy Back Institute.
