Using an inversion table while you are pregnant is dangerous, as are any other types of inversion therapy in which position the body is in an upside-down pose to alleviate back pain. Using inversion therapy during pregnancy can cause blood pressure to rise, which may have dangerous consequences for mother and baby, especially in women who already have high blood pressure. While back pain is common during pregnancy, there are other, safer ways to relieve back pain while you are pregnant.
Contraindications
Pregnancy is a contraindication of inversion therapy, which means that it is inadvisable to use inversion therapy while pregnant. Other contraindications for inversion therapy include heart disease, hypertension, glaucoma and other eye disorders. Using an inversion table can cause bleeding into the retina, headaches and an increase in blood pressure. Even if you are not pregnant, medical experts including Mayo Clinic physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist Randy A. Shelerud, M.D., and California-based orthopedic surgeon Dr. Gary Brazina, both warn that inversion therapy is a dangerous and largely ineffective way to relieve back pain.
Preeclampsia
As your blood pressure rises after being inverted for a few minutes, using an inversion table is especially dangerous if you have a pregnancy complication that causes high blood pressure. An elevation in blood pressure may worsen preeclampsia, a complication of pregnancy characterized by hypertension that can cause life-threatening complications for both you and your baby if severe. Women with mild preeclampsia may not know they have this condition as its early symptoms -- nausea, aches and pains -- are also common to healthy pregnant women. Therefore, it is inadvisable for anyone to use inversion therapy while pregnant.
Back Pain During Pregnancy
Certain self-care remedies may help safely relieve your pregnancy-related back pain. Simply sleeping on your side instead of your back and practicing good posture when you are standing and sitting may help relieve back pain when pregnant. Staying fit throughout your pregnancy with regular physical activity, including pelvic tilt exercises, is also beneficial for back pain during pregnancy. Heat therapy, cold therapy and taking acetaminophen -- with your doctor's approval -- are additional safe methods of relieving back pain while pregnant.
Other Complementary Treatments
While it is unsafe to use an inversion table to relieve back pain during pregnancy, other types of complementary medicine may provide safe back pain relief for pregnant women. Complementary treatments such as acupuncture and chiropractic are likely safe to use for low back pain relief during pregnancy as long as you are receiving good prenatal care. According to a study published in "American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology" in 2008, results of three clinical trials indicate the usefulness of acupuncture, in addition to standard treatment, for relieving pelvic and back pain during pregnancy, although further high-quality trials are necessary to support the efficacy of this complementary therapy.
Considerations
Although back pain is a common complaint with pregnancy, it is important to take this symptom seriously as it may indicate an underlying problem. A low, dull ache in the back may signify preterm labor, whereas a severe backache or a backache accompanied by a vaginal discharge or bleeding may also be a sign of a serious problem. You should call a health professional if you have a concerning back pain during pregnancy to rule out a serious complication. It is also important to consult your doctor before taking any over-the-counter pain medication during pregnancy.
