Dangers of Improper Use of Inversion Table Therapy: What You Should Know Before Using Inversion Therapy for Back Pain

Although inversion table therapy has many proponents touting the health benefits, especially for those looking for back pain relief, it's important to point out some of the potential hazards and health risks, especially if you are thinking about buying an inversion table for home use. 

Dr. Andrew Haig (from the University of Michigan Spine Program) states that one of his patients, before coming for treatment with Haig, had slipped while attempting inversion therapy and became a quadriplegic.  These types of injuries are extremely rare, but it helps to point out that users must use caution when using inversion therapy, especially when if it is in-home use and is not supervised by a medical professional.

So, to prevent any type of injury, you need to follow the product manual exactly and not take any shortcuts when using an inversion table for back pain.

But not only is it important to use an inversion table correctly to prevent serious injuries, it's also important to do your homework when shopping around for the right inversion table to relieve back pain. 

Don't let price influence your buying decision when choosing an inversion table.  Remember, you are using your inversion table to suspend upside-down. Even if you adjust the angle so that the suspension is only at a gradual incline, make sure your inversion table is of high quality and sturdy enough to support your body weight without any risk of injury. 

Riley Teeter, owner of Teeter Hang Ups, warns that cheap inversion tables may not be as sturdy.  There is a risk that with just several months of use, these lower quality devices can have mechanical failure that can cause serious bodily injury.

Benefits to Using Inversion Therapy

You've probably heard that one major benefit to using inversion table therapy for back pain is that it can help decompress the spine, or increase disk space. However, in a Harvard Women's Health Watch report, Dr. Robb-Nicholson describes how inversion table therapy actually provides something referred to as "traction" to the spine.

Traction of the spine causes the lengthening of the muscles and ligaments near the spine, which can reduce muscle spasm. It is this process of "traction" that has helped many users to find short-term relief for back pain.

Traction is purported to help restore fluid to load-bearing joints and disks. This can improve posture and flexibility resulting in relief from back pain, even if relief may only be short-term.

Some users have found inversion tables to help reduce back pain, most likely because it can relieve disc compression and muscle spasms.

Other accounts of users include experiencing an increase in mood apparently from the increase in blood flow and oxygen to the brain.

Sources:
"Turning exercise on its head with inversion therapy." Chicago Tribune (Chicago, IL). April 20, 2007 pNA.

"By the way, doctor: Do inversion tables work?" Harvard Women's Health Watch 1 Nov. 2009. General Reference Center Gold. Web. 20 Jan. 2010. .

Sellers, Dave. "Hang Ups F5000 Inversion Table: $389.95: www.teeterhangups.com; (800) 847-0143." Runner's World Mar. 2002: 75. General Reference Center Gold. Web. 20 Jan. 2010. .

Inversion Table Therapy for Back Pain: Is This Therapy for Everyone?

Recently, the use of inversion tables for treating back pain has gained a lot of attention in the mainstream. However, a recent report in the Harvard Women's Health Watch details the main concerns or potential risks when using inversion tables for alleviating back pain.

If you've been considering the use of an inversion table to help your back pain, you may want to become familiar with some concerns and risks listed below.



First, let's briefly review why inversion tables have become so popular in treating back pain. Then, we will cover the important information shared by Dr. Celeste Robb-Nicholson in her report in the Harvard Women's Health Watch.



Here are some of the benefits claimed by proponents of inversion table therapy for alleviating back pain:



• Inversion table therapy has been claimed to relieve back pain by decreasing pressure, caused by gravity, on the spine.
  
  
• Proponents also report an improvement in posture, flexibility, and an increase in blood flow to the brain.
  
  
• Other potential benefits: it can relieve varicose veins and help abdominal organs correctly re-position themselves.


  
  Dr. Robb-Nicholson's concern with the purported benefits listed above is that, up until now, no scientific evidence has supported these claims.


  
  

Probably the most important clarification by Robb-Nicholson is in the benefit of inversion tables on the spine and lower back pain. It is believed that inversion therapy can help increase the space between the discs, which can help alleviate back pain.

But Robb-Nicholson, as well as other experts, points out that inversion table therapy is probably just stretching the muscles around the spine. So, more than likely, any relief from back pain from using inversion therapy will be short-term since the stretching of muscles can alleviate or reduce muscle spasms.



Dr. Robb-Nicholson also points out the potential risks of inversion table therapy: a decrease in heart rate, increased blood pressure, and increased pressure of the eye.

Inversion table therapy can also cause bleeding of the retina, headaches, and blurred vision.

Who should not use inversion table therapy: if you're pregnant, or have been diagnosed with heart disease, high blood pressure, glaucoma or any other eye disease.

To summarize, inversion table therapy can provide short-term relief of back pain. However, there are potential risks involved, especially for individuals diagnosed with high blood pressure, glaucoma, or other heart and eye diseases.

Source:
"By the way, doctor: Do inversion tables work?" Harvard Women's Health Watch 1 Nov. 2009. General Reference Center Gold. Web. 20 Jan. 2010.