There’s much debate among both people in the healthcare fields and those of us whom are just laypeople – inversion tables do they work? Some experts say no and they caution that some people may be at a greater risk to their health if they are hanging upside down using these apparatuses.
People with heart disease or glaucoma are at a higher risk level for having a stroke. They probably should find some other way to relieve their back pain or other problem instead. There is also some controversy that being in an inverted position alone can increase the pressure on the lower back instead of reducing it. This is especially supposed to affect men whom normally have a larger proportion of their body weight in the upper halves of their body. The idea is that turning individuals upside down for inversion therapy might be putting more strain on their spines.
Other medical experts stress a word of caution too. Again the most problematic area of concern for most health experts is the increased blood pressure to the neck and eyes that occurs when one’s body is turned into a 180 degree position. In theory, the apparatus is supposed to help relieve back pain by removing gravitational pressure off the nerve roots and disks in the spine. This increases the space between the vertebrae. Some people found this treatment as most useful for temporary relief. The table gradually tips someone into a head-down position. This is the way that gravity attempts to stretch the spine (spinal traction) so that at least some temporary back relief can be achieved by the individual. Another adverse side-effect of this action is that within a short time a person’s heart rate does slow down. and This is accompanied again with increased blood pressure going to the neck and eyes.
People that use these devices truly believe that they are gaining some positive health effects, at least in the area of being relieved from back pain on a temporary basis. The decompression of the spinal disks from being in an upside down position is what seems to help most back sufferers that utilize this method for relief. Many people swear that by using the device as little as 5-10 minutes a couple of times a day or just before bed for 10-15 minutes the pressure that is relieved from their discs makes the usage of this equipment beneficial. In addition these same users also claim that their sleep has improved, as well as their posture, their flexibility and their level of mental agility too.
Inversion tables do they work? The answer to whether or not they do lies within the eyes of the users of theses apparatuses. Many back sufferers claim that they do help to gain relief on a temporary basis. While others, especially in the healthcare field caution the use of these tables because of the possibility of adverse health effects, especially by those with heart, blood pressure and eye disease problems. Everyone can agree that before anyone uses one of these devices. Seek the advice of your trusted doctor before using it so that your level of health is appropriate for its usage.