Back pain is an extremely common complaint, and if you only suffer from a sore back once in awhile, you may not want to take medication or go through intense or invasive orthopedic procedures to correct the problem. Inversion therapy offers drug and procedure-free relief from back pain in some people, though you'll want to discuss it with your doctor before purchasing and using an inversion table.
Function
Tilting back on an inversion table alters the pressure of gravity, which normally presses down on your spine and pushes your discs and vertebrae together. Leaning back or fully inverting decompresses your spine and increases the space in between your vertebrae. The inverted position also increases circulation of blood and lymphatic fluid, which helps remove waste products from muscles and other soft tissues.
Benefits
Using an inversion table can help relieve back pain and inflammation by temporarily alleviating the pressure of the vertebrae on the discs and nerves that surround the spine. Tilting back and forth on an inversion table using handles or dials that allow the table to move back and forth helps move lymphatic fluid through your body more efficiently, which can help relieve pain and inflammation from built-up waste products in the back muscles.
Considerations
Using an inversion table for a sore back may provide temporary relief, but it does not usually result in long-term pain relief. If you suffer from back pain only occasionally or have a minor temporary injury, inverting may provide the relief you need. If you suffer from a chronic spinal or disc abnormality, your doctor will likely suggest other treatment methods, such as medication or physical therapy, in place of or in conjunction with an inversion table.
Warning
Though inversion tables may seem like a natural and harmless way to help reduce back pain, people with certain conditions should not invert. Reclining onto your back or tipping upside down if you are pregnant puts excess pressure on your uterus, so stay away from inversion tables if you're an expectant mother. Don't invert if you have heart disease, blood pressure problems or eye pressure problems since your blood pressure and eye pressure increases after several minutes of inversion. If you have osteoporosis or any other spinal conditions, talk to your doctor before using an inversion table. Spinal decompression can make some conditions worse.
