Do Inversion Tables Work for Back Pain?

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Do Inversion Tables Work for Back Pain

With so many inversion table reviews on the Internet, the question most people are asking is do inversion tables work for back pain? To answer this question, it is important for people to understand the causes of back pain as well as some of the non-surgical methods that are used to treat back pain.

Origins of Lower Back Pain

Lower back pain originates from injured ligaments around the bony lumbar spine, discs, internal organs of the pelvis, muscles of the lower back, and displaced discs between the vertebral column among other parts of the lower back. While physical trauma can cause injury or damage to these parts of the body and cause back pain, there are many other causes.

Causes of Back Pain

Aside from a physical injury to the lower back, other causes of back pain include:

  • Overusing back muscles through repetitive movements like in sports and weightlifting
  • Overstretching when working
  • Driving for extended periods without taking a break
  • Sitting in a poor position continuously for several hours
  • Bending awkwardly for long periods
  • Pushing, pulling, carrying, or lifting heavy objects
  • Pregnancy
  • Arthritis

The whole upper body weight is supported by the bony lumbar spine and surrounding muscle tissue. Unfortunately, some people have very little muscle tissue in their lower back. This forces the vertebral column to accommodate the whole upper body weight. One of the best non-surgical remedies for back pain, therefore, is building muscle mass in the lower back.

What Are Inversion Tables?

As the name suggests, inversion tables are simply tables that can be inverted upside down. A person lays down on the table at an angle facing upwards and adjusts the angle of the incline. This changes the orientation of the body. The upper body pulls down the spine stretching it to the limit. This is a form of spinal decompression.

When joints are stretched, they get a chance to realign and stay in position. This helps to relieve the back pain. Inverting the body, as a pain relief method, was not invented in the 21st century.

It has been in use for centuries. Initially, people used to do handstands and headstands to decompress the spine. Others used to hang from a bar with hands apart. All these methods proved to be very effective in offering pain relief. Inversion therapy is based on these pain relief methods.

The main difference is that the patient lays in an inverted position but hanging from the lower abdomen, not the hands, legs, or arms. Some people have claimed that inversion therapy is not effective, leaving many people asking do inversion tables work?

The answer is yes, for most people they do work. If you have back pain, all you need to do to find out whether or not the method works is lie down in an inverted position. Gravity will pull down your upper body stretching your joints and relieving the pain in the process.

Using an Inversion Table

Using an inversion table is very easy and all you really need to do is strap in and lean back. Many manufacturers recommend that an inversion table only be used when there is someone else in the room to offer assistance in case of an emergency.

Individuals who have serious health problems should only use the equipment after speaking to a doctor. For instance, people who have heart disease, high blood pressure, and glaucoma should speak to their doctor about using the device. Expectant mothers should also get permission from a doctor before using an inversion table.

Inversion tables can offer temporary relief. To remedy the problem once and for all, other measures must also be considered. For instance, the back pain patient needs to do some exercise to build abdominal and back muscles. These tissues will help the spine to accommodate the weight that is exerted by the upper body. A healthy diet and resting on a regular basis can also help to soothe back pain.

Do Inversion Tables Work for Back Pain?

In conclusion, inversion tables can work for back pain, just not for everyone. Some people report life-changing benefits while others don’t notice any change and some even claim that inversion therapy made their back pain worse.

All we know is that inversion therapy had a massive impact on our lives and is something we think everyone should consider.

Want to learn more about specific inversion table models? Check out our inversion table guide.

 

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