If you suffer from a herniated lumbar disc, then you're probably ready to try anything that promises to help relieve the excruciating pain. Proponents of inversion therapy claim it not only reduces pain, but it prevents further back problems. Studies are mixed as to whether these claims are true, but if your health care provider gives the okay, it may be worth the effort under supervised conditions.
Identification
The vertebrae in your spine have protective cushions, or discs. When one of these breaks open, it's called a herniated disc and it can be painful and debilitating. The worst cases may require surgery, but one of the non-surgical treatments recommended by some health practitioners is inversion therapy, a technique that dates back to 400 B.C. Although there are several forms, one of the easiest is the inversion table, where you lie down on a table and are gradually tipped backward into a head-down position.
Claims
The theory behind inversion tables is that inversion takes gravitational pressure off nerve roots and discs in your spine and increases the space between the vertebrae. It also supposedly allows the discs to recover lost fluid that helps expedite repair and return the discs to their original shape. The reduced pressure on the discs in turn reduces pain.
Expert Insight
Researchers in Turkey compared inverted spinal traction to conventional traction -- which uses a weighted harness or manual manipulation -- in treating herniated lumbar discs in a study published in 2006 in the journal Physiotherapy Theory and Practice. Patients were randomly assigned into either the inversion or conventional traction group for 10 sessions. The researchers evaluated the efficacy of the treatment based on clinical parameters and CT scans before, immediately after, and three months following treatment. Both traction methods were found to be clinically effective. Although there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups, the CT scans showed slightly more improvement in the conventional traction group than the inverted spinal traction group.
Considerations
According to MayoClinic.com, inversion therapy can be risky for anyone with high blood pressure, heart disease or glaucoma. Other contraindications include pregnancy, hernias, retinal detachment, conjunctivitis, recent stroke, cerebral sclerosis, swollen joints, osteoporosis, unhealed fractures, surgically implanted supports, use of anticoagulants, an ear infection or obesity.
