If you are looking into starting an inversion therapy program, then it is worth a moment to take a step back and decide which type of inversion equipment is going to be best for you, as there are several options for you to choose from, and each option has it’s own benefits and disadvantages.

First, please make sure that you speak with your doctor. I know you will probably read this everywhere when researching the advantages of an inversion table, but it is important. Do not start an inversion program if you already have back pain without speaking with your doctor. Different types of injuries require different types of therapies, and when it comes to your back you want to make sure you are doing what is best as living with back pain is possibly one of the most uncomfortable conditions to live with.

Ok, so that being said, which equipment should you buy – the inversion table or the inversion chair? The answer to that question really will depend on what you want and what you are comfortable with, and first you need to have a basic understanding of how to use inversion tables and the basic benefits of doing so.

Advantages of Inversion Therapy:

Please read my other hubs: for more information, but the basic benefits of using inversion chairs or tables for inversion therapy are as follows:

• Increased blood flow to your head. Studies have shown that your brain is much more developed near the regions in your brain that have the most blood flow. Will you become a genius overnight by using an inversion chair? No, but there is some reason to believe that inversion therapy can help you retain your mental capabilities better because of the increased blood flow to your brain.
• Inversion therapy will decompress your spine and discs. Over time, gravity and other physical activities will wear and tear on your joints, spine, and discs. As gravity pulls you down, your back will compress, thus blocking the flow of nutrients and also causing you to shrink over time. Yes, your Dad really is shorter than he used to be J. Inverting on an inversion chair or an inversion table can help you reverse and/or reduce this effect.
• Inversion therapy will also help you strengthen and stretch your joints and ligaments.
• Inversion tables and chairs are great back stretchers, which is one area of your body that many people find hard to stretch effectively.

Choosing an inversion chair or an inversion table:

Using the best inversion chair will allow you to take advantage of most of the benefits of inversion therapy. The main difference between an inversion chair and an inversion table lays in the fact that you have more control with inversion chairs. You are sitting in a chair, and as such when you invert you will not be able to hang as freely as you would with an inversion table, and certainly you will not be able to hang as freely as you would with gravity boots. A typical inversion chair will only allow you to invert about 70%, instead of the 100% allowed by other inversion equipment.

This extra stability can be beneficial for people who find that an inversion table is just too painful on their ankles or that they just aren’t comfortable with freely hanging upside down. In addition, people who have certain back conditions or heart problems should also consider using an inversion chair instead of the other inversion equipment options. Again, I would very strongly ask that you consult with a doctor if you fit into this category before taking any advice regarding inversion therapies.

Bottom Line: if you are just a little nervous to use an inversion chair, and have never used one before, I would recommend going to a gym and trying one under supervision of a certified trainer. I think you will find yourself “adjusting to the best inversion chairs” much better than you think. Then, if you are looking to purchase an inversion chair, be sure to read inversion chair reviews beforehand. Reading inversion chairs reviews will give you a great starting point and help you understand some issues that other people have already found out.

However, if you have tried an inversion table and cannot get used it, your ankles hurt too bad and you have spoken with a professional to make sure you are using the table correctly, or if you have certain physical conditions that would prevent you from inverting 100%, then I would recommend trying an inversion chair since you still will get almost all of the benefits of inversion therapy.