Inversion Tables: Benefits, History & How They Work

Inversion tables are gaining a lot of popularity these days in homes and clinics all around the world. Everyone from athletes to weekend warriors to recreational golfers are resorting to this contraption for comfort, pain relief and just all around well-being.

History

• Inversion therapy was originally started around 400 B.C. by Hippocrates when he hung a patient upside down by his ankles. It introduced in America in the early 1960s.

Significance

• The main function of an inversion table is to decompress the vertebrae in the back and spinal column. This offers relief from pain and a better flow of nutrients through the body.

Back Pain

• When lying upside down on an inversion table, the spine gets elongated, which puts less stress on the roots and nerve endings. This in turn puts less pressure on the back, alleviating pain.

Stress

• Sore neck, shoulder and upper back muscles are often the result of too much stress. Lying on the inversion table will help reduce muscle tension, which can relieve stress.

Lymph System

• Inverting also helps with lymphatic drainage and circulation. When the body is upside down, gravity helps to flush lactic acid towards the chest. This also eases the circulation process.

Oxygen

• Hanging upside down sends a lot more oxygen to the brain. This results in better better mental acuity, better vision and better hearing.

Shrinkage

• As you age, the vertebrae loses water, thins out and ultimately shrinks. Lying on the inversion table can keep the vertebrae elongated, minimizing this shrinkage.