Back Pain Inversion Table Therapy - Can it Bring Relief ?

Back Pain Inversion Table Therapy (Hanging Therapy) is something I’ve been fortunate to do ever since my first week in Chiropractic College.

There was a Chiropractic supply business next to Palmer College of Chiropractic. What interested me right away were the Inversion chairs, benches, and tables.

The owner of the business would let us students hang on the tables whenever we were in his store.

I fell in love with hanging upside down! I loved feeling the release of pressure from my neck, middle, and lower back. I hung on that table at least once a week for the 4 years of Chiropractic school.

I graduated in 1984 and started my own practice. As soon as I could afford to, I bought one of these back pain inversion tables for patients to use in my office.

But the best part was I got to use it whenever I wanted!

What is Inversion Therapy?

Inversion Therapy is hanging at an angle with your head toward the floor and your feet higher than your head. You can also hang completely upside down.

Every day of your life gravity is constantly compressing the discs in your back. As we age the compression of gravity causes the discs in our backs to shrink. This is why we get shorter with age. Some people lose many inches of height as they get older.

That is why hanging either partially or fully upside down feels so good! Back Pain Inversion therapy stretches the back muscles and removes the pressure of gravity from the discs and joints in your back.

Benefits of Inversion Therapy

Back Pain Relief Inversion uses the force of gravity to take pressure off the joints, discs, and nerves in the back. Reduced pressure on our back gives you pain relief.

Improved Circulation Circulation improves with this therapy, especially to the head and brain. With the head lower than the heart it’s easier for oxygen rich blood to get to the brain.

Stretches tight back muscles Back Pain Inversion Tables allow your whole body to stretch, which relaxes muscles and reduces muscle pain.

Relieves Stress Stretching all the stressed out muscles from the neck to the low back relieves stress which reduces the tension in these muscles in a way no other therapy can.

Improved Posture Back Pain Inversion Tables help you recover proper spinal alignment which is needed for better posture. Good posture prevents and eliminates back pain.

Corrects minor spinal misalignments Hopefully you get started with this therapy before the misalignments have a chance to put pressure on nerves and impair health.

Improves Flexibility As the muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints and discs are stretched improved flexibility of the back is a beneficial result.

Relieves Varicose veins Hanging with your legs up helps the blood flow out of your feet and legs—which drains blood from varicose veins.

Improves Core Muscle strength Strong core muscles (abdominals, internal and external obliques, and lower back muscles), are needed for healthy posture and good back support. Many of the ways people try to exercise core muscles can put too much stress on the low back. Exercises can be done while hanging that will not put unhealthy stress on the spine.

Who Shouldn’t Use Inversion Therapy?

Most people can benefit from Inversion Therapy because the angle that you hang at can be set at an individual’s preference. In other words, you don’t have to hang straight upside down or at an angle that’s not comfortable for you.

However if you have any of the following conditions, consult your health care provider before using this therapy.

Osteoarthritis This is a disease that weakens bones. So the change of gravity pulling in an opposite direction than it normally does may not be good for this patient.

Pregnancy Pregnant women should ask their physician before using this Therapy.

Eye Problems If you have Glaucoma with elevated pressure in the eye, you should not use hanging therapy, as it will also increase the pressure in the eyes.

Also if you have Conjunctivitis or Retinal detachment you should not use this therapy without asking your doctor first.

Middle ear infection If you have a middle ear infection or any pain in the ear, consult with your doctor before trying Hanging Therapy.

High Blood Pressure Don’t use Hanging Therapy without consulting your doctor first.

Heart and Circulatory disorders If you have any condition involving the circulatory system, ask your doctor before trying this therapy.

Inversion Therapy can be done on specialTables, Benches,Chairs or with with Gravity Boots hanging from a bar.

Dr. Cliff’s Recommended Home Treatments for Back Pain

In addition to a back pain inversion table, over the years I have found many products that my patients have used with great success for back pain relief.

The links below will bring you to websites that have excellent products that I have used for myself, my family, and my patients.

Dr. Cliff's recommended Back Ice Wrap

The Memory Foam Cervical Pillow Dr. Cliff uses

Dr. Cliff's Recommended Chair for Back Pain

The allergy-free Orthopedic Pillow Dr. Cliff's wife uses

Dr. Cliff's Recommended Posture Brace

Best Mattress for Back Pain

Back Support Pillow.

Infrared Heat Heating Pad

Portable Infrared Healing Belt

The Fibromyalgia Fix Program

Free Trial of Inversion Table