Inversion table therapy is sometimes used to combat back pain. Gravity and poor posture can cause your spine to compress. By inverting your body, you release your spine from the effects of gravity to find relief from your back pain. Inversion therapy is not for everyone. Your doctor may warn you against using an inversion table or chair if you have certain health condition, notes MayoClinic.com. Once you've gotten the OK from your doctor, you can incorporate inversion therapy into your daily pain management techniques.
Talk to Doctor
Before you make the investment in purchasing an inversion table or chair, it's imperative that you schedule an appointment with your doctor to talk about the possibility of inversion therapy, notes the Spine Universe website. If you have certain conditions, including high blood pressure or a condition that causes pressure in your eyes, inversion therapy could do more harm than good. Other conditions incompatible with inversion therapy include fractures, middle ear infections, osteoporosis, pregnancy or spinal injuries.
First Time
Ask a friend or family member to come and help you the first time you use your inversion table. You may have difficulty getting on and off of the chair or table, so it's helpful to have a spotter or someone who can lend a steady hand. At first, you'll want to invert only until you feel the stretch in your spine. While you can invert further, it's best to gradually work up to a deeper degree of inversion. Invert only for a short period of time at first -- five minutes should be tolerable. As you become more accustomed to your inversion therapy, or as your doctor directs, you can stay inverted for a longer period of time. Stop inverting if you experience blurred vision or headache.
Invert Incrementally
An inversion table or chair typically has the ability to complete a full inversion, which means your head is closest to the floor. While your equipment may be able to accomplish a full inversion, it doesn't necessarily mean you should use a full inversion. In general, you should never invert more than 60 degrees, notes Spine Universe. This ensures that you garner the benefits of inversion therapy without causing a dangerous change to your blood pressure or causing injury to any other part of your body. Work your way up to 60 degrees by inverting more each time you use your table or chair.
Take Precautions
Inversion therapy may help your back, but it can also cause more dangerous side effects. When you are done inverting and come back to your starting position, you may notice that you feel dizzy or lightheaded, warns the book, "The 7-Day Back Pain Cure." This is normal, but can be dangerous if not cared for. Wait a few moments while still adhered to your inversion table before you release the straps and attempt to walk. This allows your blood pressure to regulate to decrease the chance of dizziness.
References
- MayoClinic.com: Inversion Therapy
- Spine Universe: Turning Back Pain and Sciatica Upside Down
- "The 7-Day Back Pain Cure: How Thousands of People Got Relief Without Doctors, Drugs, Or Surgery": Jesse Cannone; 2009
- Harvard Medical School: Do Inversion Tables Work?
