Back pain and injury is a common problem for many adults. Roughly 31 million Americans are believed to suffer from some type of back pain at any given time, according to the American Chiropractic Association. The ACA further states that at least $50 billion is spent each year on the treatment of back pain and injuries. One drugless and non-invasive form of treatment available is inversion therapy. During inversion therapy, gravity is used to decompress your spinal discs.
Features
While using an inversion table, you first stand against a backboard and then clamp your ankles to the board. The backboard is attached to a supportive frame and you can recline yourself slowly backward by hand. More expensive inversion table models have motors that rotate the table, which you control with a remote. When treating back injuries on an inversion table, it is common to be inverted somewhere between 20 and 90 degrees beyond horizontal.
Function
Inversion tables are best used for back injuries related to your spinal cord. While you are inverted on the table, the effects of gravity are essentially reversed on your spine and your discs are pulled apart rather than compressed. This can reduce the pressure on nerve endings in your spine, thus reducing pain from spinal back injuries. Authors Kenneth Knight and David Draper state in their book "Therapeutic Modalities: The Art and the Science" that you can improve the benefits of your inversion therapy by relaxing your back muscles and breathing rate while inverted. This allows your back and spine to stretch more easily.
Considerations
Depending on the severity of your back injury, inversion therapy may be difficult for you to accomplish alone. Many inversion table models require you to sit up somewhat after being inverted so you can reach the handle or strap that will put you back on your feet. If you have difficulty bending forward due to your back injury, inversion tables may not be the best form of therapy for you unless you can find an assistant to help you on and off of the table.
Significance
MayoClinic.com rehabilitation specialist Dr. Randy Shelerud states in his article "Inversion Therapy: Can It Relieve Back Pain?" that using an inversion table may provide you with temporary relief from your back pain, but there is little research to indicate that it will heal the cause of your pain. He notes that if you are healthy enough, inversion therapy may be used as part of a wider rehabilitation program to treat your injury.
Warning
Your blood pressure can increase if you remain inverted for more than a few minutes, meaning that inversion therapy is not a safe back injury treatment if you have high blood pressure or other heart and circulatory problems. It can also be dangerous for anyone who suffers from glaucoma, retinal detachment, osteoporosis, bone fractures, ear infections or obesity. You must consult with your doctor before attempting to use an inversion table.
References
- "Therapeutic Modalities: The Art and the Science"; Kenneth L. Knight and David O. Draper; 2008
- Sports Injury Clinic: Inversion Therapy
- SpineUniverse: Turning Back Pain and Sciatica Upside Down
- MayoClinic.com: Inversion Therapy--Can It Relieve Back Pain?
- American Chiropractic Association: Back Pain Facts and Statistics
