Inversion Tables and Inversion Therapy

[admin]

Inversion tables are widely available, you can find them at Costco, Walmart, Target and many other stores, starting from under $100. Yet there seems to be very little information about them in the medical profession. Wikipedia in its opening comments says inversion therapy is "rarely regarded as a serious treatment for back pain."

Reviewers that I've seen have made very positive comments after buying them including:

"I have had 3 surgeries on my spine at L4-5, & S2-3 to remove tumors & a cyst in 2006 & 2008. I have had back pain for a long long time. And recently experiencing terrible pain in my neck and arms. This is the first and only thing that helps me feel better. I recently had an MRI for my neck and after using this and starting to feel better, I canceled my appointment with my neurosurgeon!"

"My brother had been suffering with his back and sister-in law with osteoporosis. They are in their 50s . I told my brother about this inversion table and he ordered on the same day. Recently they visited us on a moving trip south and he told me it has helped him like nothing else with his back pain. also my sis-i-law said it helps her. Her posture seemed improved from using it."

"After suffering back & knee pain for years and spending $330 at the chiropracter I got this device as a last ditch effort to help with the pain.I was amazed to say the least.After one week the pain is all but gone.I can walk normally again.I will always use this machine even when I become pain free.Just 5 minutes three or four times a day is all it took."

One table I saw had over 120 reviews from buyers, with a net 5 star rating.

[admin]

The research on inversion therapy is pretty skimpy in the professional medical literature. Most of the research seems to be over 20 years old and includes:


Adaptation of Tilt Table for Lumbar Traction.
Sheffield, F.J.
Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 45: 469-472, Sept 1964
In this study 175 back pain patients were treated. The patients were unable to work due to back pain. After eight inversion treatments, 155 of the patients were able
to return to their jobs full time. The study concluded that the main basis for improvement was the stretching of the paraspinal vertebral
muscles and ligaments and possibly the widening of intravertebral discs. The study found significant improvements in a variety of diagnosis including spondylolisthesis, herniated discs, lumbar osteoarthritis with sciatica, and coccygodynia.


Inversion devices: their role in producing lumbar distraction.
Gianakopoulos G, Waylonis GW, Grant PA, Tottle DO, Blazek JV
Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 66: 100-2, 1985
Twenty people with chronic low back pain participated in a study to evaluate the effects
of gravity traction. The periods of traction did not exceed 20 minutes. There were improvements of low back symptoms in 13 of the 16 symptomatic patients.
Although several patients also had side effects including headaches, blurred vision and contact lens discomfort, and the study suggests use of the inversion devices should only be under medical supervision..


Effects of Gravity-Facilitated Traction on lntervertebral Dimensions of the Lumbar Spine
Kane MD, Karl RD, Swain JH.
Journal Orthopedic Sports Phys Ther. 1985;6(5):281-8
This study looked at 15 male patients who were fully inverted for 10 minute periods. It found that they had increased separations between verterbra after inversion.
The conclusion "If increases in intervertebral dimensions play a role in the relief of low back syndrome, then gravity-facilitated traction may be an effective moda1i;y in the treatment of this condition."


The effects of inversion traction on spinal column configuration, heart rate, blood pressure, and perceived discomfort.
Ballantyne BT, Reser MD, Lorenz GW, Smidt GL.
Journal Orthopedic Sports Phys Ther. 1986;7(5):254-60
This found that segments of the spine increased in length.
It concluded "lnversion can be an effective means of spinal traction but due to elevated blood pressure, inversion may be contraindicated for some patients."


Even though it's old, the net comments are very positive. What's your experience been with them?

[Highlander2000]

Newcastle University recently published research findings into the effectiveness of inversion therapy for treating bulging disks / sciatica. The results appear to be very positive. The University is planning a bigger study in the future. I suffered from frequent lower back pain and sciatica prior to purchasing an inversion table. The sciatica disappeared within about a week of using the inversion table. I still suffer from lower back pain from time to time. However the frequency and degree of pain has reduced significantly since using the inversion table.

[BP4MS]

I bought one - second hand through craigslist - and while I don't use it that often, I do like to get on it when the pain starts to kick in.

Anyone else have experience of using one?

[arnott67]

I do. I tried one out at a physiotherapist and then bought one, which I use every day. Helps me no end.

I have written about it in my blog - More back pain and lumbar decompression