I saw this mentioned on a thread about scoliosis, but wanted to ask directly if anyone has experience with inversion tables and whether you recommend them. I acquired a bulding disk in my neck from a car accident a few years back, and have some mild scoliosis myself, and wonder if something like an inversion table can help mitigate the damage I do to myself sitting down most of the day. I'm going to get a standing desk, but even so, I'd like to know if there is more I could be doing. So does anyone know of any actual benefits, or potential negatives, or have any anecdotal evidence of their efficacy? Thank you in advance.
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I have an inversion table in my office and use it therapeutically with patients suffering from sciatica. I have recommended home-use this type of device for dozens, if not hundreds of patients. An inversion table, when used properly and carefully for the proper reasons/conditions, can be a phenomenal, effective and inexpensive spinal-health-benefiting device for many people, by helping to counter or mitigate the many detrimental, chronic, bio-mechanical stressors of modern living. That being said, it has virtually zero effect on the cervical spine (neck). Its primary impact is on the lower part of the lumbar spine (the lumbar-sacral junction) and its effect decreases as you move upward on the spine. Once you are at the level of the Thoracic spine and above, it has very little effect, if any. Therefore, any scoliosis, disc problems, etc. that are located at or above the thoraco-lumbar junction would receive very little effect or benefit. For disc problems in the neck, you might want to look into using a simple device called a Denneroll (google it). Of course I am assuming you have been examined by a good chiro. As for risks, there are some minor risks for folks who are already suffering from substantial health problems. I rarely to never use or recommend the device on people who are: obese, have high blood pressure, are beyond the age of 70 (or so), etc. In general, if a person is healthy enough to walk briskly up a stairs, they can probably handle an inversion table with no problem. Helpful hint: do not go beyond 45 degrees past horizontal (not necessary in most cases). Good luck. |
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I bought an inversion table in an attempt to alleviate som chronic back pain I've had for years that hasn't been reduced by doctors, drugs, injections, chiropractors, massage, acupuncture, physical therapy, or trigger point therapy. Or the inversion table. Your mileage may vary, of course. I only bought it because of the wealth of positive anecdotal feedback in dozens of reviews around the internet. I decided to overlook the negative reviews. |
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Possible downsides: blood pressure etc. just as for headstands and handstands. I have also seen claims that inversion/traction actually increases pressure on vertebral disks because of the natural stretch response. My colleague Galen Cranz, who's book 'The Chair' launched much of the standing desk/furniture reform talk nowadays, reduced her scoliosis from 90% --her x-ray showed a curve like a question-mark-- to less than 60% after a few years work with the Alexander Technique. Look it up. |
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You may drown in your own blood. |
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