Finding the correct inversion table for you will require doing some research. Every day, we assist buyers in finding the correct inversion table for their needs. We review each, and then we report our findings, helping our customers narrow down their search. With Inversion Table Master, you can quickly scan our inversion table reviews to find the best inversion table model for you.
You will be able to check the reviews of those who have already bought each of the popular inversion machine models, quickly giving you an idea of the pros and cons of each. Here you will also find a comprehensive selection of buying guides and articles, which will help you discover what features to look for, which brands are the best, and which is going to be the best inversion table for you. Once you are able to see what the experience of others has been, you can make a much more informed list of what it is you are looking for in a table, and eventually buy one that will serve your needs for years to come.
What is an Inversion Table?
An inversion table is designed for inversion therapy or turning you upside down. You are turned on an inverted angle, hanging by your ankles, or by your feet. This basically creates a diametrically opposed relationship with gravity than your body has had since the day you were born.
Do Inversion Tables Work?
There are various reports about the efficacy of using inversion tables. Often times, it is very much a subjective situation; each person has a different experience. That being said, there might not be anything more grueling than back pain. It can be such an incapacitating situation, most people will try just about anything. Inversion therapy can be quite effective at providing temporary relief with disc pain, mainly because it provides the space between your vertebrae that most any other therapy will fall short at doing.
Inversion therapy can be quite effective at providing temporary relief with disc pain, mainly because it provides the space between your vertebrae that most any other therapy will fall short at doing.
Best Inversion table brands
There are a number of inversion table brands from which to choose. Some of the most popular models are made by Ironman, Teeter Hang-Ups and Body Champ. Exerpeutic, Innova, Life Gear, and Elite Fitness also make a few inversion table models.
One model that consistently receives great reviews is the Teeter EP-960, with back pain relief kit, which is one of the best inversion tables as reported by users. It is sturdy, has substantial hand-grips, and comes with a 5-year warranty. With inversion therapy becoming more popular, there are more and more companies moving into this space, making their own version of these tables. There are some things you might want to consider before buying an inversion table.
You definitely want to look at the quality of the manufacturer’s product line. You are turning yourself upside down, with your head toward the ground, so you absolutely want to be sure that inversion table reviews, and not just what the company website is saying, speak favorably about the quality of workmanship.
Companies that subject themselves to product-testing by third-party companies are very confident in what they have made, as they know it is going to go through rigorous testing before receiving any sort of certification. Smart companies also use this process to determine if they have fallen short in their manufacturing process.
The materials the inversion table is made of are also a key consideration. In this way, you can be sure you are getting a quality piece of equipment that will last for many years to come.
But you can save yourself a lot of trouble and time because we already did the hard work for you.
Using an Inversion Table
The first thing to bear in mind before using your inversion table is to make sure you are not alone the first few times. It is a good idea to have someone else there with you, just until you get comfortable with using it.
Reading the manual on proper use, or viewing an accompanying CD, is also an important thing to do. When you are ready, your first step is to adjust the inversion table to your height. Your head should comfortably rest in the table headrest, and should not be hanging off the table. It is important to go over the instructions on height adjustment again if needed. This is the most important step in the process.
You should also have an idea of how far you want to invert before starting. Many beginners start at 90 degrees and slowly work up to the full 180-degree tilt. A number of tables come with straps that allow you to adjust your angle while using the table. If your table has these, it is good to familiarize yourself with how to use those before you get started.
Breathing correctly when on an inversion table is important. You want to breathe deeply, and always inhale through your nose, and exhale through your mouth. Getting your breathing right is very important, and many beginners start out inverting just 2 to 3 minutes. This allows time to work on breathing and technique, so as to build up to lengthier sessions.
While on the table, use the opportunity to stretch your back. You can do this by engaging your abdominal muscles, and allowing your shoulder blades to slide downward. You also want to reach your hands behind your head, so that they are toward the floor, and in this way, you will get maximum stretching in. In the fullness of time, you might be able to do crunches while on your inversion table, which is a great added benefit indeed!
When you are done with your inversion therapy, it is very important that you very slowly return to an upright position. Dizziness can easily occur if you do this too quickly and be sure that you are feeling steady before unlocking the footrests and stepping away from the table.
Benefits of Inversion Table
There are many, many benefits to inversion therapy, not the least of which is giving your body a good stretch in the opposite direction. The back pains that inversion therapy may help with, include those from herniated discs, sciatica, those from surgery, and even osteoarthritis. This therapy can also help with fibromyalgia symptoms and headache reduction.
A major benefit of inversion therapy and that which is not talked about much is that it helps clear your sinus cavity, allowing you to breathe easier. Those who suffer from allergies, and have added inversion table therapy to the way they manage their conditions, almost unanimously report feeling relief from this process. For this reason, inversion therapy can also improve lung function.
Inversion therapy has also been known to improve heart function, circulation, improve lymphatic system function, which carries the added benefit of improving your immune system.
Joint pain is often caused by tendon reduction, and bones just moving closer together, as is the case with knees for instance. Just like the space that is provided between vertebra when inverting, the same space will be created between joints that have been aching, which leads to greater posture, flexibility and joint health.
The reason inversion therapy is often equated with better sleep is because it reduces stress. This will, of course, improve sleep quality, decrease fatigue and therefore help keep you more alert.
Some people have even reported regaining lost height through continued use of inversion therapy. This can also lead to revitalizing your organs, which were losing space while you lost overall height as you age.
What is Inversion Therapy used for?
This type of therapy is generally used for people with back problems, specifically disc problems. Essentially what it does is take the gravitational pull off of your spinal disks and nerve roots thereby increasing vertebral space. This is referred to as “stretching” your spine, or spinal traction, and it has been used to relieve back pain for many years.
The studies surrounding the use of inversion tables for pain relief are mixed, yet most reveal that getting at least short-term relief from back pain is more often the case, than is not. Many people use this in conjunction with other therapies in an attempt to relieve the pain from spinal disk compression.
A few things to remember when using an inversion table is that your heartbeat slows, while your blood pressure concurrently increases. You will also likely feel tremendous pressure around your eyes while inverted.
That being said, most who start inversion therapy grow to love it and make it a part of their daily routines.
Inversion Therapy
The first key factor with inversion therapy is it is just about the only therapy that involves putting your head above your heart. Traditional yoga poses, like headstands and shoulder stands also provide this benefit. A number of studies show that your brain runs more efficiently while you are inverted, so it might come as no surprise that across the vast spans of time, several secret societies have used some sort of inversion therapy to increase mental capacity.
When you are turned upside, inversion therapy can help with back pain and other pains, as this is the only time you are turned upside down, and your aching joints have a chance to move away from the source of friction and pain.
Some studies have even shown that inversion therapy can help reduce blood pressure. Oscillation, or rocking back and forth on your inversion table, has been shown to both help with blood pressure as well as help you get used to inverting. Eventually, you will become more comfortable, and maybe even enough to do some stretches while inverting.
Some gentle stretches that can be done while using inversion table therapy are gentle and designed to decompress your spine. Slowly rocking your pelvis forward and backward while inverted will help to release tension in your lower back area. Many people experience upper back pain from stress and tension, and deep breathing exercises performed while inverted can help relieve that tension. You can also rotate your head from side-to-side to relieve neck tension during inversion therapy.
With all the stretching you can do while inverted, it is important to know how long to invert for, and this will change as you gain experience with this therapy. Beginners should start by inverting for just 1 to 2 minutes per day for the first week. As time goes on, most experienced inversion table users will invert from 5 to 20 minutes per session, and do this a few times per day.
Your body will tell you everything you need to know about how long to invert, and that is the only thing you really have to be aware of. Just because you did 20 minutes on Tuesday, perhaps you ate a lot of sodium on Tuesday night, are retaining some water, and now might have greater pressure in your head when inverting. Unlike running or biking, the length of time you can invert may change from daily. Just proceed with caution and you will have great success developing lengthier inversion sessions.
Unlike running or biking, the length of time you can invert may change from daily. Just proceed with caution and you will have great success developing lengthier inversion sessions. There is no set time on how long a person should invert, so use your best judgment.
If you are looking for one of the top inversion tables for the money you definitely need to read carefully each of our inversion table review.
Inversion therapy will likely become one of the best things you do for yourself, and although the benefits might not be immediately apparent, rest assured your body is benefiting from this activity in some way. Again: to practice inversion therapy you will need to find the best inversion table for you, for that you will need to read each of our inversion table reviews.