It’s easy to forget how important back function is. That is, until one little ache causes even the simplest of tasks to be excruciatingly painful. According to the American Chiropractic Association, as much as 80% of the American population will suffer from back pain at some point in their lives.
One way to help alleviate back pain is with the inversion therapy. Inversion therapy works by putting my body into a position where your head is lower that your heart.
The inverted position reverses harmful effects of gravity and is one of the most effective treatments for back pains, joint issues, is said to improve the nervous system, reduce stress, and strengthen your immune system, and many more benefits.
But how can you practice inversion therapy? Inversion tables are incredibly beneficial for back pain and long-term spinal health. Here are our top 10 benefits to inversion tables:
1. Avoid Back Pain Surgery
As common as suffering from back pain is, many doctors prescribe invasive surgery as treatment. This type of surgery can be very painful, and require months to recover, and unfortunately rarely work long term.
Inversion therapy can ease and eliminate back pain in many cases, saving you time and money and the stress of expensive surgeries. A study conducted by Newcastle University studied 22 patients suffering from sciatic nerve pain due to disc protrusion.
The group was split evenly into two groups. One group received physical therapy alone and the other received physical therapy and inversion table therapy. The results showed an overwhelming advantage for the group that practiced inversion therapy.
Talk to your chiropractor before starting inversion therapy and educate yourself on best practices. Give it a try before turning to surgery. There are many more benefits listed below.
2. Repair Herniated Discs & Relieve Herniated Disc Pain
A soft disc separates every vertebra in the backbone. These discs act as shock absorber and give space for the nerves from the spinal cord to exit the backbone without being pinched.
As you walk around and sit throughout the day, gravity tends to pull down on your vertebrae and discs. This often will result in compression of the discs as the vertebrae are pushed closer together.
Herniated discs occur when the center part of the disc bulge out of place between two vertebrate, which often puts pressure on the spinal cord. Herniated discs are also called slip discs and can be very painful!
Inversion table therapy can gently decompress the vertebrae, often encouraging the slipped disc to move back to its proper place.
3. Relieve Sciatic Nerve Pain
The sciatic nerve is a very long nerve that runs through the lower back, travels across the buttocks, and down the leg. Sufferers of sciatic nerve pain can experience an uncomfortable tingling sensation to numbness and even intense pain across this section of the body.
Sciatic nerve pain also comes from slipped discs and can be cured or alleviated drastically by inversion table therapy for the same reasons as herniated discs.
Decompression of the spine can help vertebrate fall back into place, relax muscles surrounding the spinal canal, and revitalize discs by encouraging the flow of spinal fluid, nutrients, and oxygen to the area.
4. Reduce Osteoarthritis Pain & Prevent Osteoarthritis
As reported by the Arthritis Foundation, about twenty-seven million Americans suffer from osteoarthritis pain. Arthritis occurs the wearing down of cartilage in joints, caused by inflammation from normal physical use.
Suffering from arthritis can result in daily discomfort, and fortunately a few minutes of inversion therapy can significantly reduce the pain. Using an inversion table can stop the progression of osteoarthritis!
5. Correct Scoliosis & Reduce Pain
The National Scoliosis Foundation states that the exact cause of 85 percent of all scoliosis cases are unknown. Unfortunately, this makes finding treatment very difficult.
However, using an inversion table has a huge advantage as it works on several fronts at the same time. To learn more you can connect with other scoliosis sufferers through online forums hosted by the National Scoliosis Foundation.
6. Ease Fibromyalgia Symptoms
The exact cause of fibromyalgia are not completely clear to doctors, which makes it unclear why inversion therapy seems to help. It is suspected that people who suffer from fibromyalgia have high levels of cortisol (a stress hormone) and lower than average serotonin (feel-good hormone) levels.
Inversion therapy is known to positively affect neurotransmitters, balance out hormones, and make people feel happier and less sensitive to pain.
Inverting is also believed to improve the function of the endocrine system, which regulates hormones. It is certain that for some inversion tables make people feel happier for many reasons.
7. Improve Lung Function
In the upright position you stand or sit in all day, blood can often pool in your lower lungs. When you invert, the blood is redistributed through your upper lungs, providing more oxygen and improving your overall lung function.
8. Clear Your Sinuses
There are two different ways that inversion tables help clear stuffy sinuses:
- When you are upside down the blood will temporarily flow into your head to help flush out your nasal passages.
- The increase in your circulation helps to supply your nasal passages with high quality fully oxygenated blood. This also helps your nasal passages stay moist and work more functionally.
9. Improve Circulation
While in inversion positions, your heart does not have to work as hard because gravity helps blood flow from the extremities toward the heart. It is much easier for blood to flow to the brain while inverting as well.
The reverse effect of gravity flushes out the blood that has pooled in the body, and cleaner blood circulates more freely. Most inversion tables are created to help you stretch your back in a variety of angles.
The variety of angles relieve pressure and help cure many physical ailments associated with back pain. With some inversion tables you can even exercise with an inversion table, depending on the brand.
Some people choose the model that lets them do torso rotations and ab crunches. Inversion table costs vary by the number of features. Some come as little as $100 and can cost upwards of $400.
Before undergoing any expensive surgeries, look into trying out an inversion table that may quickly and easily ease your pain. In this in-depth guide you can read how to select the best inversion table for home use.
