Edward R. Laskowski, M.D.’s Response Inversion therapy does not give long-term pain relief and is not suitable for everyone. Anyone with high blood pressure, heart problems, or glaucoma should avoid inversion therapy since the head-down posture can be dangerous.
Are inversion tables a waste of money?
Yoga promotes inversions in addition to these devices. Restorative postures are those that raise your legs above your head and lower body to stretch the back and spine and promote blood flow to the brain.
All of these pitches are natural and inviting. It’s simple to visualize gravity pressing down on your head and shoulders, squeezing you until your bones and joints are nearly suffocating. It makes reasonable that flipping yourself would reverse this pressure and allow blood to flow more freely. Unfortunately, researchers who have searched for proof that inversion can accomplish all of this have largely come up empty-handed.
The effectiveness of traction therapies for back pain has been examined by Maurits van Tulder, a professor of health sciences at VU University Amsterdam in the Netherlands. Traction is when a force is applied to separate two bones, allowing more joint space to be created. “According to him, “expanding the joint space between two vertebrae may liberate an entrapped nerve or relieve pressure on.” (Van Tulder’s description sounds eerily similar to those TV adverts.)
His study has demonstrated that traction therapies, whether administered by machines or by the skilled hands of a therapist, are ineffective in the treatment of back pain. According to him, another recent review study found similar unsatisfactory results, and inversion tables that rely solely on gravity to produce separation are unlikely to provide any back pain relief.
“According to van Tulder, “the evidence is fairly convincing that traction is not an effective treatment.” He goes on to say that inversion tables are useful “It’s a waste of money, and it misleads patients.”
It helps to understand how securely the bones of your back are joined to one another to comprehend why hanging upside-down doesn’t deliver all of those spine-separating benefits. “It’s very difficult to create separation and decrease pressure because there is so much muscle and tissue wrapped around the lumbar spine,” says Dr. Edward Laskowski, co-director of Mayo Clinic Sports Medicine and a professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine.
Do chiropractors recommend inversion tables?
If you have back discomfort and wish to undertake inversion therapy, you should consult with a qualified chiropractor first.
Your chiropractor can determine whether inversion therapy is appropriate for you. They will conduct a thorough examination as well as x-rays to determine the source of your back pain. If they believe that using an inversion table can aid in your rehabilitation, they will advise you to try it.
If you go to your free chiropractic consultation and have your heart set on inversion therapy, tell the doctor. Allow them to explain why an inversion table would or would not be appropriate for the type of discomfort you’re experiencing.
Before starting inversion therapy on your own, we strongly advise that you get medical advice. Without a professional evaluation or diagnosis, you risk exacerbating the disease by attempting therapy on your own. Remember, as previously said, there are risks associated with utilizing inversion tables, and without the advice of a doctor, your chances of worsening your injury are significantly higher.
Our skilled doctors at Cobb Chiropractic offer a free consultation so that we can speak with you and determine whether you have a preference for your back pain relief treatment. Our goal is to assist you in your recovery, and we’d like to know if you have any treatment preferences. We’ll always tell you straight up whether or not we think you’re a good candidate for inversion therapy.
If you’re suffering from back pain, now is the time to seek the help of an experienced Chiropractor for pain relief.
To make an appointment with Greensboro, North Carolina’s Top Back Pain Chiropractors, simply click the button below.
How many times a day should you use an inversion table?
What is the best way to use an inversion table? Lie down and secure yourself by strapping yourself to it. Then, until your head is lower than your heart, you can tip over.
You can use one at a clinic or under the supervision of your physical therapist. They can demonstrate how to do it and keep an eye on you while you’re there.
If you’re younger and don’t have any heart problems, you can use one at home as long as you follow these safety precautions:
Have someone keep an eye on you. Hanging upside down on a table without a spotter is not a good idea. If you can’t get back up, ask someone to keep an eye on you.
Don’t lean all the way back. If you’re an older adult, try to tip back at a 30-degree angle, or as little as 10 degrees.
Do it in quick bursts. Try it for 1 or 2 minutes once a day at start to see how you feel. Limit yourself to 5 minutes of inversion table time twice a day.
Gradually raise your head. Return to an upright position carefully when you’ve completed it. You may cause muscle spasms or disk discomfort in your back if you jerk up too rapidly.
Combine the two. If you stretch and stay flexible, this therapy may be more successful. Request stretches from your physical therapist or doctor.
Is E0849 covered by Medicare?
Only if each of the following criteria are met are cervical traction devices (E0840, E0849, E0850, E0855, and E0860) covered: The beneficiary suffers from a musculoskeletal or neurologic condition that necessitates the use of traction devices; and
Can inversion table make back worse?
You can try inversion therapy at home if you’re young and don’t have any other health issues besides back pain. When utilizing an inversion table, those with herniated disks or arthritis in their hips and knees are more likely to be injured. Mullen advises speaking with your doctor before attempting inversion at home and following these safety precautions.
Skip the inversion table if you have uncontrolled high blood pressure or vascular headaches.
If you have cardiovascular difficulties, inversion puts additional stress on your blood vessels, which can raise your risk of stroke.
Don’t lean back too far.
To get a nice stretch from an inversion table, you don’t have to be entirely upside down. Leaning back too far, in fact, can be harmful. Mullen suggests sticking to a 30- to 35-degree angle for younger people and 10- to 15-degree angles for older people.
Don’t hang out too long.
“If you overstretch the connective tissue, your joints will be unhappy,” Mullen added. Begin by using the inversion table for a minute or two once or twice a day. Gradually up to five minutes per session twice a day.
Slowly return to an upright position.
Returning to an upright position too fast after reloading your joints with pressure can induce spasms and exacerbate back discomfort, especially if you have a herniated disk.