The upsides and downsides of inversion

Inversion therapy is said to relieve back pain, let your joints decompress, allow more nutrients to reach your discs, and boost circulation. Inversions are regularly practiced in yoga for their ability to relieve stress, elongate the spine, and aid the body's circulatory system. Inversion tables provide similar benefits without having to balance on your head or hands.

Many physical therapists and doctors recommend inversion therapy because of its ability to provide a traction force that decompresses the spinal discs. With regular use, symptoms from spinal conditions like disc herniations, spinal stenosis, and degeneration can improve. Best of all, inverting can be done at home with an inversion table, inversion chair, or even yoga poses.

Inversion tables are the most common devices used to hang upside-down. Hanging completely upside-down from ankles strapped into anti-gravity boots is very aggressive. One hundred percent inversion is not really necessary for achieving the benefits of an inverted position. In fact, the most benefit to the spine comes from inversion of less than 45 degrees.

A better option for some is the inversion chair, which allows you to place your head below your feet while in a seated position. This position is more comfortable for many, with less pressure on the leg joints. Being seated allows for safer transitions, better balance recovery, and blood pressure equalizing.

On the downside of inversion, research studies have found that it increases pressure in the eye. Patients with glaucoma or detached retinas should not try inversion therapy. Other conditions including conjunctivitis (pink eye), pregnancy, extreme obesity, uncontrolled hypertension, hernias, congestive heart failure. Recent surgery or fractures are also considered contraindications for inversion therapy. Finally, patients taking blood-thinning medications are discouraged from using an inversion table, as well.

As a chiropractor, I endorse activities that safely promote spinal health. The potential upsides of counteracting the effects of gravity are less spinal disc pain, less joint pain, and less painful muscle spasms. If you decide to try inversion therapy, as a rule, start slowly at a small degree of inversion (no more than 15 degrees) for no more than five minutes at a time. Less is more when it comes to inversion.

For more information, contact Dr. Wendy at haydenhealth@gmail.com.