Problems With Inversion Therapy

Perhaps you saw gravity boots in the blockbuster film American Gigolo and thought they were cool or downright silly. Though favored by some, inversion therapy is not for everyone. According to Dr. Randy A. Shelerud of the Mayo Clinic, inversion cannot guarantee more than temporary relief from back pain. And even just a few minutes of hanging upside down will increase blood pressure and decrease heart rate.

History and Description

"Inversion therapy has been used to relieve back pain since about 400 BC when Hippocrates (father of medicine) strung up a patient on a ladder with ropes and pulleys and allowed gravity to do its work," says Dr. John Daugherty, a Colorado chiropractor. Yet in the United States the concept of inversion did not take off until the 1960s. It started as a way to provide spine decompression, prevent pooling of fluid in the extremities, improve circulation, release tension on the spine and maintain good health. By 1982 the inversion business was pulling in over 70 million dollars and had thousands of followers, explains Dr. Daugherty.

Inversion Therapy Types

Inversion can be accomplished with inversion tables, benches, chairs, swings, and gravity boots. The Gravity Guidance Inversion Table was one of the original devices for inversion. There are now numerous brands of inversion devices that range in price from under $100 to $400. Yet poorly built equipment can also result in problems with inversion. Do your research before buying.

Problems

Some people intensely dislike the feeling of being upside down and should avoid it. Others need to be careful about the angle at which they hang. Being inverted more than 30 degrees from the floor does not provide any additional therapeutic benefit, according to Dr. Gottesman, a Colorado chiropractor. Even well-conditioned athletes do not need to invert to this extent. Do not use gravity boots for inversion because they jeopardize spine stability. Without this stability, twisting and torquing can lead to other spinal problems.

Contraindications

According to Dr. Gottesman people with high blood pressure or heart disease, pregnant women, those who have had back surgery, those with glaucoma, and stroke victims should not be inverted. Inversion increases blood and eye pressure. Dr. Daugherty further recommends that you get approval from your physician before inverting if you have skeletal implants, a hiatal hernia, extreme obesity, or retinal detachment.

Benefits

Inversion works with gravity instead of against it. For the lymphatic system, which has no natural pump, being upside down can help eliminate toxins. According to Dr. Daugherty it can also relax muscles, lessen stress, and provide ligament mobility. Being inverted can lengthen the spine, and it places less pressure on the discs than lying down. Dr. Gottesman says it is also a great alternative to more expensive therapies or surgeries if you can tolerate it.