May 14, 2006

By: Jesse Cannone
Website: http://www.fitness-equipment-101.com

Inversion Therapy… Is It The Answer To Your Back Pain or Sciatica?

If you suffer from back pain or sciatica it’s likely that you’ve heard of Inversion Therapy or inversion tables before… and even if you haven’t, by the end of this article you will know everything there is to know about it…

While inversion therapy has been around for a long time, it has only started to really take off in the last few years. So what in the world is all the excitement about? Is inversion therapy truly effective for treating back pain?

Well, before we take on that question let’s first briefly describe what inversion therapy is and how it works…

What is Inversion Therapy?

Inversion therapy is a method of treating back pain by attempting to reduce compression of the vertebrae and discs by eliminating gravity and allowing the muscles and ligaments that encase the spine to relax.

This is typically performed on what’s called an inversion table. The table allows you to lay on your back relaxed, in an inverted position and this position eliminates some or all of the gravitational compression depending upon how far back you position your body.

The Combination Of Muscle Imbalances And Compression Of The Vertebrae And Discs Is What’s Responsible For Nearly Every Single Case Of Back Pain And Sciatica!

If you’ve already read our Back Pain Advisory, you understand how big a role muscle imbalances play in creating back pain and sciatica and that failure to address them will almost guarantee you’ll struggle with back pain forever.

If you haven’t read the advisory yet, you need to stop right here and go read it first… you can find it here: http://www.losethebackpain.com

What Is Spinal Compression And What Causes It?

From the moment we are born, our bodies are exposed to gravity and as time goes by it’s forces continuously create pressure and stress on all of our muscles, bones, joints and ligaments…

But by far, the part of the body that it is affected the most is the spine. The combination of gravity and muscle imbalances force the vertebrae together smushing the discs and very often, the pressure is not distributed evenly…

Your discs were not designed to withstand this uneven pressure and sooner or later it will be too much for them to withstand and they will bulge, herniate or even tear!

The only way to prevent your condition from getting worse and further damage is by addressing both the muscle imbalances and work on decreasing the compression of your spine.

You’d be amazed at how much you can improve by working on increasing the space between the vertebrae… even the slightest improvement can be enough to allow a herniated disc to pop back into place or relieve pressure from a nerve…

The most effective way of decreasing spinal compression is a combination of targeted, corrective exercises and stretches that are specific to you and your physical condition and muscle imbalances AND inversion therapy.

First, let’s talk briefly about the exercise portion of your treatment…

Everyday generic exercise like the ones typically recommended by your doctor will NOT work because they may or may not be the ones you need to be doing!

If you have back pain and don’t know what imbalances you have the likelihood that you will get rid of your pain is near impossible. For example, you can get all cortisone shots you want and no matter how many you get, the fact is the imbalances are still there and they will continue to be the underlying source of your pain!

While addressing the imbalances you have with targeted, corrective exercise and stretches is typically enough to wipe out your back pain, for some people it isn’t and inversion therapy can be the missing link…

The reason is, the more severe the muscle imbalances are, the more likely the corrective exercises may not be enough to allow for decompression of the vertebrae and discs.

It’s also very important to note that while inversion therapy alone can be beneficial, it doesn’t make to ignore the muscle imbalances as they will continue to pull your body out of balance and alignment which means you’ll always have problems.

You MUST address the muscle imbalances first and then add in inversion therapy!

So Does Inversion Therapy Really Work?

Maybe you’re questioning whether or not inversion therapy really works… Well, the fact is researchers have been studying it’s effectiveness for over 40 years! We’ve listed several studies at the end of this article that have proven the effectiveness of inversion therapy…

But what does a study mean to you? Nothing probably… but what should convince you is all the success stories from people who have gotten relief from adding inversion therapy to their treatment plan…

Here’s one example:

• I am a diagnostic radiologist who has abused his back through sports, hard work and horses for years. About seven years ago, I began to experience back and left leg pain that progressed rapidly. An MRI revealed a lot of degenerative changes in my lumbar spine with two intervertebral discs that were herniated and for all practical purposes "worn out". I've been on antiinflammatories for at least five years with some minimal relief. Five years ago I began to experience numbness in some of my left toes with sciatica in the left hip and leg. This progressed to the point of constant pain and loss of feeling. Six months ago I began to have loss of motor function in my left toes. I have seen the poor results of surgery on a daily basis on MRIs of lumbar discectomy. That was not an option.
• A friend who is a sales rep for radiographic equipment, whom I have known for 15 years, told me about the inversion table. My friend had suffered back problems for years and I had seen him many times at the hospital in terrible pain, so I knew he had tried everything. He told me how he had become pain free in about two months using an inversion table. If it had come from almost anyone else I would not have believed it. I ordered one that day. In one week of use, twice to three times per day, the numbness in my toes improved 100%. During the second week I slept my first pain free night in five years. I'm starting my third week tomorrow. This probably won't work for everyone, nothing does, but it is helping me greatly. I'll give you a follow-up in a couple of months.”

- Ken Hamilton, M.D.

And here’s another one:

• “In May, I herniated the L5-S1 disc. My doctor recommended drugs and pain management to start with but the meds made me sick and I had a several week wait to go to pain management. The pain was intolerable and I was having a hard time being pleasant at work. Home was a whole other story! I was telling a neighbor about it and she suggested I come to her house and try her inversion table. The first time I tried it, the pain down my leg almost completely disappeared.
• I borrowed her table and as long as I use it, I feel good. I have gotten better and better. I take Aleve when I do have pain, cancelled pain management and am my sweet old self at home and work. Since I can't keep my neighbor’s table for ever, I have purchased my own and have a couple of friends anxious to try it. I am sooooo happy. I am 60 years old and never expected to feel this well again.”
  J. Grieder, The Villages, FL

Look…

Inversion therapy works… and it works even better when it’s part of a well rounded treatment plan that addresses the specific muscle imbalances you have.

So your next question is where can I get one and what type should I look for, right?

Well, we have spent the last 3 years testing every single inversion table and device on the market and we have finally found what we feel is the best…

It’s the most sturdy, durable inversion table we tested and it’s also the safest and easiest to use. Plus it comes with a 5 year warranty!

But the most important feature in our opinion is that it allows you to go back to full inversion if you choose… Many inversion tables don’t allow you to go all the way back and that severely limits it’s effectiveness.

Included with this particular inversion table is a laminated user manual and an instructional video on DVD.

We loved this product so much that we wanted to start sharing it with as many people as possible… we even contacted the manufacturer to set up special pricing for the hundreds of thousands of back pain sufferers who have read our advisory…

So now you can get the absolute best inversion table available directly from us for only $299! The regular price is $359! That’s $60 OFF!

But, if you are one of the next 25 people to order we will take an additional $20 off because we need to make room for a new shipment in our warehouse asap!So click here to order your inversion table now

Shipping Information

Shipping is only $30 and that’s to anywhere in the U.S. If ordering from Canada shipping is $75. Sorry, no orders from outside the US or Canada at this time.

Here’s a recap of why we’ve selected this inversion therapy system:


• Allows for full inversion
Super sturdy and durable
• 5 year warranty on all parts!
• Instructional video and manual
• Quick and easy assembly – put it together in less than 5 minutes!
• Folds for easy storage
• Storage dimensions: 28W x 16L x 66H

Product Specs:


• Height capacity: 4’8” - 6’6 (142 - 198cm)
• Weight capacity: 300 lbs (136 kgs)
• Assembled dimensions: 45 x 28 x 58 (114 x 71 x 147 cm)
• Packaged dimensions: 50 x 30 x 5.5 (127 x 70 x 14 cm)
• Packaged weight: 65 lbs (29.5 kgs)

And incase you still aren’t a believer, then read the additional information on inversion therapy and it’s benefits below. Plus, feel free to post your questions on our back pain discussion forum

Inversion Helps Provide Care and Feeding for the Discs

Your discs have three jobs: to separate the vertebrae, provide flexibility to the spine and to act as shock absorbers. Disc separation is especially important since all communication between the brain and the body is via nerves that pass between each vertebra. Insufficient distance between the vertebrae can result in nerve root pressure and pain.

The inner core of your discs is made of jelly-like material that provides the flexibility and "cushioning" in your back. When you are sitting, standing, or exercising, which I'll term "weight-bearing activities", fluid is squeezed out of your discs and into adjacent soft tissue (just as you would squeeze moisture out of a sponge). As a result, your discs lose some of their moisture and height. To prove this fact, measure yourself in the morning and then again at night. You will lose 1/2 to 3/4 in height by the end of the day. This lost fluid translates into your discs loosing some of their cushioning effect.

When you are sleeping, a non-weight bearing activity, your discs (or intravertebral sponges) expand as they soak up fluid and nutrients and increase the length of your spine by as much as 3/4. But you don't gain the full height back, accumulating to a total of 1/2" to 2" in height throughout your lifetime.

When your discs are compressed and thinned, your vertebrae potentially place more pressure on these nerve roots. More pressure equals more pain. As you relax, your spine begins to stretch. The space between each vertebra will increase, thus decreasing the pressure on the discs between each vertebra. This encourages fluid movement back into the disc, helping to keep your discs plump and happy and decreasing the pain in your back.

In fact, the only time in your life when you are giving your discs a break is when you are inverting. See graph. The medical study that generated this graph measured the pressure inside the 3rd lumbar disc-it was assigned a baseline pressure while standing of 100%. The study reported that even when you are lying down, the disc pressure remained at 25%. The hundreds of ligaments and muscles that encase and mobilize the spine act like a bunch of rubber bands holding the spine in compression equal to 25% of standing body weight. Inverting to 60° is necessary to reduce the disc pressure to zero². Inverting is the most effective posture that allows your discs to recover from the constant pressure placed on them during your daily activities.

Inversion Helps to Relieve Stress

Your body will let you know when you are stressed out - back and neck pain, headaches and muscle tension is your body's way of protesting against stress and forcing you to slow down.

If nothing else, Inversion is a great way to take a break and relax. The full body stretch can be rejuvenating and can also help to reduce muscle tension. A study conducted by physiotherapist LJ Nose found that EMG activity (a measure of muscle tension) declined over 35% within ten seconds of inverting. Inversion, therefore, is helpful in relieving tension and pain in your muscles that may have been caused by stress.

In fact, for centuries yoga practitioners have recognized the concept of turning the body upside down to find relaxation. The head stand position is a form of "postural exchange" (reversing the direction of gravity). Not everyone wants to do headstands, so inversion on Hang Ups equipment creates an easier alternative with the added benefit of joint decompression.

Inversion Helps Improve Circulation and Accelerates the Cleansing of Blood and Lymph Fluids

The cardiovascular system is made up of the heart, veins, arteries, and capillaries. It is your body's transportation system, carrying food and oxygen to your body's cells. Your heart pumps blood through the system: oxygen-rich blood from the lungs goes out through the arteries and waste-filled blood comes back through the veins to be cleansed and recharged with oxygen. The cardiovascular system also retrieves blood from your legs and lower torso, carrying it upwards against the force of gravity. Inversion allows your body to work with gravity to ease the circulation process.

Unlike the cardiovascular system, the lymphatic system has no pump. Only the alternate contraction and relaxation of muscles moves lymphatic fluid "uphill" through capillaries and one-way valves to the upper chest for cleansing. Inverting the body so that gravity works with, not against, these one-way valves helps to push the lactic fluid up to the chest. The faster the lymphatic system is cleared the faster the ache and pain of stiff muscles disappears.

Inversion Helps Increase Oxygen Flow to the Brain

Your heart must work against gravity to pump blood up to your brain, which is the body's largest consumer of oxygen. Although it is only three percent of the body's total weight, the brain consumes 25 percent of the body's oxygen intake.

Win Wenger, in How to Increase Your Intelligence, noted that "only those brain cells which are close to an ample capillary blood supply are thoroughly developed. Away from such source of supply, brain cells remain undeveloped and useless." Wenger describes "upside down activities" to increase oxygen supply to the brain. He states, "In short, you can much improve the physical state of your entire brain." A brain that is better nourished simply works better.

Some people claim that increasing the circulation of blood to the head through inversion may also improve the color and tone of your skin, stimulate mental alertness, and improve hearing and vision. In addition, some claim that hair will be healthier, and may even grow again, if the scalp is well supplied with blood.

Inversion Helps Reduce the Effects of Aging Caused by the Force of Gravity

Height Maintenance

Most people will lose from 1/2 - 2 (1-5 cm) in height during their lifetime due to thinning discs. As a baby, your discs are 90% water. However, the water content in the discs decreases to 70% by age 70. An active inversion program can help maintain more of your original height.

Decongests Internal Organs

As the body ages, internal organs (kidneys, stomach, intestines) begin to prolapse as a result of the constant downward force of gravity. Middle-age spread (that spare tire around the waste), apart from weight gain, is due to the relocation of internal organs. Digestion and waste elimination problems are also common symptoms of organs going south. Inversion helps prolapsed organs resume their normal shape and place in the body.

Increases Oxygen to the Brain

Peter Russell notes in The Brain Book that the deterioration of the brain is not directly linked to age alone. Rather, this deterioration is caused by hardening arteries and high blood pressure, both of which decrease the supply of oxygen to the brain. Thus a major step in reducing mental deterioration (or senility) over time may simply be increasing the oxygen supply to the brain. Keeping the brain active and well supplied with oxygen may help maintain your brain function and mental sharpness throughout your entire life. (NOTE: If you have high blood pressure, consult your physician before starting an inversion program.)

Relieves Varicose Veins

When inverting, you are helping your heart to clear the blood from your feet, legs, and lower body. This allows the blood in your limbs to circulate more easily, which may help to drain blood from varicose veins.

Medical Studies

Sheffield, F.: Adaptation of Tilt Table for Lumbar Traction. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 45: 469-472, 1964.

175 patients who were unable to work due to back pain were treated. After eight inversion treatments, 155 patients were able to return to their jobs full time. Study concluded that the main basis for improvement was the stretching of paraspinal vertebral muscles and ligaments and possibly the widening of intravertebral discs.

Study found significant improvements in a variety of diagnosis including spondylolisthesis, herniated discs, lumbar osteoarthritis with sciatica, and coccygodynia. Patient experienced traction in a modified hip flexed position.

It is worth noting that previous to his use of inversion therapy, Dr. Sheffield regularly used mechanical traction with weights and pulleys. He considered inverted traction much more effective than mechanical traction.

Nosse, L.: Inverted Spinal Traction. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 59: 367-370, Aug 78.

Study found emg activity (an indicator of muscle pain) declined 35% within the first 10 seconds of inversion. Study found that inversion increases the spinal length. Study concluded there is a correlation between a reduction in emg activity and an increase in spinal length.

Gianakopoulos, G, et al: Inversion Devices: Their Role in Producing Lumbar Distraction. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 66: 100-102, Feb 85.
Study found all subjects experienced intravertebral separation in the lower lumbar vertebrae. Study concluded that although mechanical traction has been used for centuries, only gravity assisted traction (inversion) offers an effective means of achieving pelvic traction at home.

·  Ballantyne, Byron, et al: The Effects of Inversion Traction on Spinal Column Configuration, Heart Rate, Blood Pressure, and Perceived Discomfort. Jour of Orthopedic Sports Phys Ther. 254-260, Mar 86.

Study concluded that inversion can be an effective means of spinal traction. Subjects inverting in the hip flexed position experienced greater separation between the lumbar vertebrae.

Kane, M, et al: Effects of Gravity-facilitated Traction on Intravertebral Dimensions of the Lumbar Spine. Jour of Orthopedic and Sports Phys Ther. 281-288, Mar 85.

Study found gravity-facilitated traction (inversion), produces significant intravertebral separation in lumbar spine. Study concluded gravity facilitated traction may be an effective modality in the relief of low back pain.

Goldman, R, et al: The Effects of Oscillating Inversion on Systemic Blood Pressure, Pulse, Intraocular Pressure, and Central Retinal Arterial Pressure. The Physician and Sports Medicine. 13: 93-96, Mar 85.

Study concluded that full inversion using oscillation procedure presents no risk to normotensive healthy subjects.

Dimberg, L, et al: Effects of gravity-facitliated traction of the lumbar spine in persons with chronic low back pain at the workplace.

116 people were enrolled in the randomized controlled trial which lasted for 12 months. A randomized controlled trial with two training groups and one control group was conducted to asses the effect of gravity inversion on pain level and absenteeism due to LBP.
Average age = 44 years.
77% men
Group 1: used inversion for 10 minutes 1/day
Group 2: used inversion for 10 minutes 2/day
Group 3: control group

Results after 12 months of training program:


• 1. The employees in Group 1 and 2 decreased sick days due to back pain by 33%.
• 2. Average sick days to due back pain fell by 8 days per individual in the treated group.
• 3. Inversion is an efficient and cheap way to improve employee health and possibly reduce sick day costs to the employer.

Nachemson, Alf, et al: Intravital Dynamic Pressure Measurements in Lumbar Discs. 1970.

Study measured internal disc pressure (in the 3rd lumbar disc) through a range of activities, including standing, sitting, bending and vertical and supine traction. The study suggests that a traction load of 60% body weight is sufficient to reduce the residual pressure of 25% standing body weight to zero.

Also see: Fitness Training



Author Notes:

Jesse Cannone contributes and publishes news editorial to http://www.fitness-equipment-101.com.  As an individual who has always been concerned with personal health and fitness I constantly search the Internet for credible information and advise.