Inversion Therapy: Anyone try it, or know someone who has?
April 28, 2009 - 2:22pm
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I have been doing some research on pain management for hips and back, and one suggested remedy is "Inversion Therapy", where the individual hangs upside down in gravity boots. It is supposed to realign your hips, spine, core muscles.
Anyone try this, or know someone who has?
Sounds dangerous, or at least, uncomfortable to me! However, a lot of mainstream therapies that are seen as credible used to be classified as "strange" and "alternative".
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I've often thought about inversion therapy, as well, even shopped for an inversion table. They're not terribly expensive.
A friend of mine, who suffered a back injury in a serious accident several years ago, goes for occasional inversion therapy and says it feels great.
On the other hand, the medical community has its doubts. Here's what Mayo Clinic has to say about inversion therapy, and it's not entirely positive.
Hope this helps.
Were you considering inversion therapy for yourself, or just curious about it?
I have tried it and I am glad I tried it . I have lower hip pain going trough the groin area (a sciatica case). I have been doing this for over 4-5 months time. My pain levels have dropped by more than 75%. I donot take any more medicines more importantly no more doctors visit. When I told this to my doctor he was of the opinion that it is just working as placebo and the pain will come back. Well that is to be seen...... I am putting my money on inversion therapy.
Few things to consider....which I incorporated trying to perfect my inversion therpay practice.
1. Relax
2. Make a routine to do this daily. I do it 20 minutes in morning and 20 minutes in the evening. Do it empty stomach.
3. Do it gradually to reach the full inversion position. This is important to get accustomed to blood rush in your head. As you do gradually to reach full inversion position you will experience more benefits.
4.Do stretching exercises before get on the table. Yoga is the best.
5.Inversion takes little time to take effect as I saw my first month was more or less no impact kind of stage, I thought of returning my table many times over. So be patient. I am no sales person for the inversion tables.....you can also use the inversion yoga slings instead of the table. The table is just more comfortable and reassuring for a beginner.
6. Take in nice deep breaths...meditate...melt away your pain...Relax Relax Relax ...(I cannot overstate how important Relaxation is, almost took me 2 months to relax in inverted position. I believe this where lot of people fail)
I take it you have your own inversion table?
Do you think it's hard to learn to relax because of the fear of falling?
Inversion has been around for such a long time. I remember seeing inversion boots sold umpteen years ago - you were to strap on the boots and hook onto a bar that you could - supposedly - suspend in a doorway. Now, THAT would make me afraid of falling on my head!
I take it you have your own inversion table?
Yes I have inversion table. First one I bought through craiglist cost about $50. Noticed some rust as I was using it ...so for safety reasons bought a new Teeter table for around $250. If you are buying a used one please check the equipment for rust , wear and tear.
For starters I would not recommend gravity boots, because you should gradually incline yourself. I reached the full inversion state over a period of couple of months. This is not possible using gravity boots or even the yoga slings.
Do you think it's hard to learn to relax because of the fear of falling?
Yes this one is little tough. Imagine your brain and mind is used to a set of orientation, then you reverse it, on top of it telling your brain to calm down and your mind to focus. But with practice and deep slow breathing you should be fine. Check out youtube there are many videos there, most of them are sales pitch but few are really nice ones.
I also have a friend with chronic back issues and he loves the inversion table. (I think it's a lot less scary than those old ones where you hung in the doorway!) It actually makes sense to me. We spend our whole lives with our spine in one direction, and the force of gravity constantly pulls it down. Seems like tilting upside down and letting gravity work the other way would let those joints stretch and let the discs in between adjust. I've never tried it, but I would!