Get the Facts on Inversion Tables

Looking for a way to reduce back pain? If you haven’t had effective benefit from prescription pain medication, injections, steroids, physical therapy, massage therapy, and are still suffering, you might want to try an alternative, safe method of improving your life.

The fact is, back pain and nerve pain can be largely attributed to a slow process of compression and mashing caused by an inescapable force of nature, gravity. Over time, the force of gravity causes individual vertebrae to compress, and the fluid filled discs between each vertebra, which act as insulating shock absorbers, are slowly squeezed to the point where they can rupture, or become inflamed causing pressure on nerves which originate from the spinal cord, passing through the spaces between each vertebra.

If you’ve ever experienced lower back pain, perhaps caused by muscle strain or nerve compression, you know the unbearable suffering that can bring you to the edge of sanity. Many people describe severe back pain as “crushing”, “unbearable”, or even so severe, that it can bring you to the edge of consciousness. Many people resort to surgery, including disc replacement surgery and other procedures to correct severe problems that are the end result of many years of suffering.

Can this kind of back pain be prevented, and is there a form of therapy that can reduce existing back pain, that does not involve medication or surgical intervention, and may be an alternative way for you to maintain a healthy back?

Yes, in fact there is…inversion therapy, using a device called an inversion table, which essentially, turns the tables on gravity, by gently turning you almost upside down, stretching the spinal column, allowing compressed discs to absorb fluid and rehydrate. In addition, this device stretches muscles, helps maintain your height, helping to defeat “body shrinkage” which is the result of a lifetime of gravitational effect.

This device can improve circulation, helps the body’s lymphatic system drain accumulated body fluids more easily, causing stiff muscles to relax. Have you ever seen a cat stretch? There’s that satisfying yawn at the end that tells you how effective that total body stretch can be…why not have that experience yourself?

Using an inversion table, safely, and after consulting with your healthcare provider, can help realign the spine, improve posture, and increase your body’s range of motion and degree of flexibility. Note : ALWAYS consult a physician prior to starting any exercise or personal therapy regiment.

There are many options, from inexpensive systems with little or no history or track record, some with minimal safety or operational options, and many are not built solidly. There is perhaps no other appliance or medical device in existence that needs to convey to you the feeling of absolute safety and stability, since you are using the device to invert your body…upside down, safely and securely. After all, the product you choose has to be trustworthy, solidly built with top drawer materials, manufactured by a company that has hundreds, if not thousands of machines in people’s homes, with proven track records.

Definitely Number One on the list: safety. Look for a UL rated product, tested for durability and performance. The product should be classified as medical equipment for use in a clinical setting, like any other piece of durable equipment. Along with safety, durability comes hand in hand; after all, when you are hanging upside down, extra beefy steel, high quality ankle supports, cushioning, and a sturdy floor mount and base.

The Teeter Inversion Table line has undergone testing through up to 50,000 cycles with no damage or failure, while cheaper units failed in as little as 288 cycles. Cycles in inversion table terms means placing a weight to simulate a human being (the Teeter Inversion Table can tolerate individuals weighing up to 300 pounds, varying heights from 4’8” to 6’6” tall, so it is highly adjustable, too) and running the machine through simulated inversions. You also want to be able to adjust the angle of inversion from a slightly more tolerable almost upside down position, especially while you are in the learning curve, to a fully inverted position, to receive the maximum benefit, though even 60 degrees offers a full 75% of the benefit you would receive at a 180 degrees, fully upside down (inverted) workout.

Adaptable, and quick set up features are also desirable. Out of the box, few parts, easy to assemble, folding legs, adjustable ankle locks, are all features that are part of the Teeter Inversion Table product line. This makes the product ideal for home use, and it arrives with a laminated instruction manual, and a CD to provide coaching and motivation and proper use.

Teeter Inversion Tables offer unique engineering, include a controlled lockdown feature while fully inverted for added safety, heat treated steel components, a stable footing, including corner feet, which reduces slipping on any floor surface, and smooth, balanced rotation. I can tell you personally, that I feel safe and secure, while being in a vulnerable upside down position, in the Teeter Inversion Table vs. any other brand I have tried.

Using an inversion table is a proven method of reducing the effects of gravity and compression on your back. With an investment of just 20 minutes a day, you can strengthen, stretch, relieve nerve compression pain, and relax tensed muscles, all in the safety and privacy of your own home.