Back Inversion Tables

Back inversion tables provide an excellent means for combating recurring lower back pain and muscle fatigue. Whatever your occupation, daily routine, or level of physical activity, back pain seems to be a problem that we all face at some point during our life span. Years of improper posture, inadequate footwear, or physical over-exertion can play havoc on one�s lumbar spine, vertebrae, discs, and ligaments. Anyone who has experienced a back spasm or the stereotypical �I�ve throw my back out� incident will tell you that if your back is out of commission, you are out of commission � and without proper rehabilitation and strengthening of the affected areas, a �bad back� isn�t going to miraculously heal itself. In all actuality, without taking some measured steps to impact the source of chronic back pain and muscle fatigue, you are only looking at downward spiral that may include various forms of medication and surgery.

Back inversion tables as we know them today were first introduced to western society by orthopedic specialist Dr. Robert Martin during the 1960�s, but it wasn�t until the 1990�s that gravity inversion as a form of therapy was finally accepted by the general public. Throughout the span between the 60�s and 90�s, much debate existed within the medical community regarding the true therapeutic benefits of back inversion tables and other types of inversion therapy equipment (i.e. gravity boots, inversion racks, back stretchers, etc.), but by the turn of the 21st Century, there hardly exists and legitimate argument against the therapeutic benefits of inversion therapy equipment.

With a back inversion table, the user lies down on a flat table-like piece of equipment that gradually tips backward until the user is in an inverted position. Various types of back inversion tables exist on the market today, boasting a diverse level of design features and quality of craftsmanship. What all of these pieces of equipment have in common is their ability to truly relieve body aches and chronic back pain for thousands of satisfied users.

What is Inversion Therapy?

Inversion therapy is the concept of using gravity to passively treat the root causes of pain within the body associated with compressed spinal discs, joint inflammation, and ligament fatigue. Just as the name suggests, inversion therapy involves inverting the normal position of the body so that gravity has an opposite affect on the body than what is regularly experienced throughout the day.

Most of us have normal routine on a given day, and even if your daily activity changes from day to day, gravity is a constant downward force that exists on your body at a fairly constant distribution. For instance if you work in an office environment, a significant portion of your day is spent sitting at a desk, typing at a computer, reading, or completing paperwork. Other activity may involve walking to various offices in your building or sitting in on meetings or traveling to and from work. Throughout each day, your body most likely has an average amount of time devoted to each action. The same can be said for just about any other job regardless of the rate of physical demand placed on the body.

Inversion therapy is primarily designed to alleviate the effects that come with the constant level of downward force on the body. As the body remains in the inverted position, gravity pulls in the opposite direction of what is normally experienced throughout the day - removing pressure on the nerve roots within the spine, reversing spinal disk compression, increasing space between vertebrae. Some critics claim that little long term benefits exist from inversion therapy alone, but the short term benefits in terms of pain reduction are undeniable, and these same critics agree that inversion therapy is definitely beneficial as part of a comprehensive treatment plan.

Whether you want to reduce the stress and fatigue you may experience on a daily basis or if your goal is to simply increase and stimulate circulation within your body, a back inversion table at your home or office is a great tool for reducing the effects of stress on your body.

Good luck!