The Nubax Trio For Back Pain: Can This Be a Safe Alternative to Inversion Table Therapy?

One device that may be a good alternative to inversion tables is the Nubax Trio.  With this device, you can still get most of the benefits of spinal decompression that inversion tables provide, but without having to suspend yourself in an upside-down or backwards incline position.

The Nubax Trio is a device developed in Australia for back pain relief.  A recent trial at the University of Western Australia is giving back pain sufferers hope because the study did show significant improvements in alleviating low back pain.

Just as with inversion table therapy, the Nubax Trio offers spinal decompression that focuses on the lower back, the SI joint, the lumbar and the thoracic. 

The only drawback is that it does not decompress the upper part of the spine, so it does not help alleviate neck pain as effectively as an inversion table.

Some other features and benefits of the Nubax Trio:

• can be assembled in about 10 minutes
• great for those who are uncomfortable with being suspended upside-down during inversion therapy.  This way, you can still experience the benefit of spinal decompression but without giving up your sense of safety.
• great for those with health issues that prevent them from using inversion table therapy
• as little as 3 minutes in the morning and 3 minutes at night can be enough to start getting relief from back pain.

As with any device or treatment for your back pain, it's best to consult with your doctor first.

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.