The goal of inversion therapy is most often to alleviate pain, whether it be in your back or your head. There is anecdotal evidence that inversion therapy may help migraine sufferers by reducing frequency of these headaches. No medical studies exist to back such claims, however. Consult a doctor before trying this therapy for migraines, especially if you have other health conditions.
Theories/Speculation
The theory behind inversion therapy is that it takes gravitational pressure off your spinal discs and nerve roots and increases the amount of space between your vertebrae. It is most often used for back pain. However, under chiropractic theory back issues can lead to problems associated with cerebrospinal and interstitial fluid flow in your brain. Low cerebrospinal fluid levels can cause headaches. In theory, inversion tables improve flow of cerebrospinal fluid and thus may help alleviate headaches.
Effects
The benefits of inversion therapy for migraines are far from certain. If you are a migraine sufferer, the precise reason that you have these headaches remains unknown. There may actually be a relationship between migraines and increased cerebrospinal pressure caused by levels of cerebrospinal that are too high, says H. August M. van Alphen in a study published in the journal, "Neurosurgical Review." Migraines also may be due to abnormalities in the way your arteries dilate and constrict as well as in your autonomic nervous system, which controls many of the muscles and organs in your body, according to "The Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine," by Eric J. Topol and Robert M. Califf.
Considerations
If you want to try inversion therapy for alleviating migraines, you need to do it when you are feeling well as opposed to when you are having an attack. That's because practicing inversion therapy in the midst of suffering a migraine may actually worsen your pain.
Expert Insight
The bottom line is that you need to consult your doctor before trying inversion therapy for your migraine -- especially if you have other health conditions. For example, if you have heart disease or high blood pressure it's best to seek another cure, according to MayoClinic.com. Inversion therapy is risky if you have these conditions because inversion causes your heart beat to slow down and your blood pressure to rise. You also need to avoid this therapy if you have elevated pressure in an eye, such as with glaucoma.
Warning
Another contradiction for inversion therapy is stroke. If you suffer migraines, you have a slightly greater risk for suffering a stroke, though the exact link between migraines and stroke risk is unknown, note the experts at the state of Victoria's The Better Health Channel in Canada. Also, be sure that you are suffering a migraine, not a stroke, before trying inversion therapy. Migraines and strokes often have similar symptoms. These include speech problems, visual disturbances and weakness down one side.
References
- Down Under Chicago: Inversion Benefits Questions
- "The Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine"; Eric J. Topol and Robert M. Califf; 2007
- Electronic Healing: Inversion FAQ
- MayoClinic.com: Inversion Therapy
- Contour Living: Inversion Contradictions
- Dynamic Chiropractic: The Potential Effects of Mechanical Faults of the Spine on Cerebrospinal and Interstitial Fluid Flow in the Brain; Michael Flanagan
