In combination with increasing age, the effects of gravity over time may cause your spine to compress. This can result in the squeezing--and subsequent degeneration--of the malleable and fragile disks located in the intervertebral spaces of the spine. These disks can then swell or displace and impinge on nearby nerves, resulting in several adverse symptoms. Inversion table therapy is a nonsurgical intervention that can help you manage the uncomfortable manifestations of cervical radiculopathy, or a pinched nerve.
Indications for Inversion Therapy
Pain associated with cervical radiculopathy originates in the neck, particularly when you are moving your neck. Other symptoms include radiating pain to the arms, as well as pain around the shoulder-blade area. You may notice that sudden movements--like sneezing or coughing--intensify the pain. You may also notice that the pain is worse at night. Additionally, depending on the location of the cervical radiculopathy, you may notice weakness of certain muscles. Unlike surgery, use of an inversion table will not likely result in long-term symptom relief. However, repeated use over time may result in measurable symptom improvement.
Suggestions for Use
It may take some time for you to get used to using an inversion table. Building up a tolerance to being inverted, or upside down, is crucial, as initially using the table too often and for too long can actually cause increased back discomfort. The primary aim of inversion therapy is pain reduction. Slowly increasing the duration and frequency of inversion until you realize maximum improvement is important. Results are varied and personal.
How It Works
Because you are suspended upside down, inversion tables use the same gravitational force--in a converse manner--that causes spinal compression over time. Gravity and the weight of your body work as spinal traction to gently lengthen and stretch the spinal column. Intervertebral space widens, resulting in decreased compression of the disks and alleviation of the symptoms of cervical radiculopathy. The results are temporary, and you will notice recurrence of your symptoms over time. However, you can repeat the therapy as often as necessary and develop a unique regimen for your specific needs.
Precautions
As is the case with many interventions, use of an inversion table is dangerous for some individuals. Those with certain conditions, such as obesity, or women who are pregnant, should not use inversion tables. Other contraindicated disorders include recent bone fractures, hiatal hernias, history of stroke, ventral hernias and hypertension. Also, if you have glaucoma, avoid using an inversion table. The same is true if you have heart disease or circulatory impairment. Ensure that inversion therapy is safe for you by discussing the treatment option with your doctor.
