Benefits of Inversion Therapy

Today's methods are more accessible and luckily more comfortable.Set the Teeter Hang Ups® to your desired angle of inversion. Rotate on our precision balance system, which allows you total control of the speed and rotation with simple weight displacement of your arms. Relax. In just a few minutes, the body decompresses, naturally using your body weight and gravity so soft tissue in the joints can hydrate and decompress. Progressive decompression allows each joint to be decompressed by the same weight that compresses it while upright. This "perfect" stretch helps naturally relieve back pain, keeping the weight-bearing joints healthy and allowing the weight-bearing skeleton to align, which can result in better balance, posture, and symmetry.

In addition to the rehabilitative benefits, many doctors, physical therapists, and sports trainers recognize inversion as an effective way to prevent compression fatigue joint injuries. In fact, even the U.S. Army Physical Fitness School intends to include inversion into their worldwide physical training doctrine.

The industry leader since 1981, Teeter Hang Ups® has focused solely on producing the best value inversion equipment with time-proven design features that ensure dependability and user security. Teeter is the only brand certified to UL 1647 and supported by an independent engineer evaluation showing the highest factor of safety and easiest assembly. When you want a natural, in-home solution for a healthier back, try inversion. If you value quality, look to Teeter Hang Ups.

*This is only a tool to help inform you about the benefits of inversion therapy, and should not be considered as medical advice. Always consult your doctor before trying inversion or beginning any type of new exercise regimen.

Using a Teeter helps:

 

• Rehydrate discs
• Reduce Nerve Pressure
• Realign Your Spine
• Relax Tense Muscles

 

Re-hydrate discs: Damaged discs can take a long time to repair since they don't have a direct blood supply. Inverted decompression takes pressure off the discs, allowing them to widen and hydrate with nutrients that help expedite repair. The added cushion helps increase shock absorption and flexibility.

Reduce nerve pressure: Inverting on a Teeter has been clinically proven to increase intervertebral separation[1], helping to open up the passageway for nerve roots and alleviating pain caused by pinched nerves[2]. Those who experience sciatic pain can benefit from this aspect of inversion. Less pressure means less pain.

Realign: The back is supported by hundreds of ligaments and muscles that stabilize the spine but also hold it in compression. When the back moves out of alignment from bad posture, too much sitting, or rotational activities, this support structure holds the body in misalignment. Even while lying down, your spine maintains 25% of standing pressure, especially in your lumbar. In order to decompress, the spine needs a traction force of at least 60% of your body weight, roughly equivalent to inverting at an angle of 60 degrees on a Teeter[3]. This type of progressive decompression naturally re-aligns the weight-bearing skeleton, promoting good posture.

Relax tense muscles: Inverting to as little as 25 degrees for a few minutes can help relax muscles and speed lymph flow. A study conducted by physiotherapist L.G. Nosse found that EMG activity (an indicator of muscle tension) declined over 35% within ten seconds of inverting.[4]

[1] Sheffield, F.: Adaptation of Tilt Table for Lumbar Traction. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 45: 469-472, 1964
[2] Kane, M, et al: Effects of Gravity-facilitated Traction on Intervertebral Dimensions of the Lumbar Spine. Journal of Orthopedic and Sports Phys Ther. 281-288, Mar 85
[3] Nachemson, A, et al: Intravital Dynamic Pressure Measurements in Lumbar Discs. Scandinavian Journal of Rehab Medicine, supplement, 1970.
[4] Nosse, L.: Inverted Spinal Traction. Arch Phys Med Rehabilitation 59: 367-370, Aug 78.

Using a Teeter helps:

• Stimulate circulation by aiding your heart in moving blood from the lower limbs 
• Relieve varicose veins by placing the legs above the heart  
• Move lactic acid of the limbs (since the lymph does not have a pump like the circulatory system) 

The cardiovascular system is your body's transportation system, carrying food and oxygen to your body's cells. Oxygen-rich blood from the lungs travels out through the arteries and waste-filled blood comes back through the veins to be cleansed and recharged with oxygen. Inversion allows your body to work with gravity to ease the circulation process by placing your lower limbs"above" your heart and thus improving your circulation. Some suggest that the improvements inversion has on your circulatory system can temporarily help decrease the appearance of varicose veins. When inverting, you are helping your heart to clear the blood from your feet, legs, and lower body. [7]

Unlike the cardiovascular system, the lymphatic system has no pump. Only the alternate contraction and relaxation of muscles moves lymphatic fluid upward through capillaries and one-way valves to the upper chest for cleansing and flushing. Inverting the body so that gravity works with these one-way valves helps to push the lactic fluid up to the chest. [8]

In her book Beyond Cellulite[9], Nicole Ronsard discusses the role of the lymph system in creating cellulite, and ways in which people can help stimulate lymph flow to reduce cellulite. She explains that when the flow of lymph is slowed down, a stagnation of fluid occurs in the tissues. In areas where circulation tends to be poor and relies almost entirely on gravity to move it back up, as in the hip and thigh area, this stagnation encourages the formation of cellulite. By "reversing" the flow of blood and lymph fluids in the body, you can increase the nourishment of cells and accelerate the removal of wastes. She recommends inversion:"The slant board is particularly effective because it's easy to use, and it allows for long, sustained periods of reversal."

[7] Wilkins, R et al: Circulatory effects of the head-down position (negative g) in normal man, with a note on some measures designed to relieve cranial congestion in this position. Journal Clin. Invest. 29: 940-949, 1950.

 

[8] Jahnke, Roger. O.M.D., The Lymph. June 19, 2000. http://www.healthy.net/scr/Article.asp?Id=993.

[9] Ronsard, N. Beyond Cellulite. p 12, 146. New York: Villard Books, 1992.

Using a Teeter may:

• Lower your heart rate through rhythmic rocking on the table 
• Reduce muscle tension by lowering EMG activity (an indicator of muscle tension) 
• Provide a full-body stretch 

Inversion therapy offers an enhanced version of a full body stretch, which is rejuvenating and can also help to reduce muscle tension and overall soreness. The Nose studyfound that EMG activity declined over 35% within ten seconds of inverting, which suggests that inversion can help to relieve tension and pain in your muscles that are caused by stress.[5]

For centuries, yoga practitioners have recognized the concept of turning the body upside down to find relaxation. The head stand position is a form of "postural exchange" (reversing the direction of gravity). While a headstand may not top everyone's list of favorite activities, inversion can provide all of the benefits with minimal practice or effort.

Inversion therapy is an extension of the way a body naturally relaxes. With an inversion table, you have the ability to rock slowly up and down. This has been shown to decrease heart rate[6] and can induce a state of relaxation, much as one might rock a baby back and forth to sooth him.

[5] Nosse, L.: Inverted Spinal Traction. Arch Phys Med Rehabilitation 59: 367-370, Aug 78.

[6] Wilkins, R et al: Circulatory effects of the head-down position (negative g) in normal man, with a note on some measures designed to relieve cranial congestion in this position. Journal Clin. Invest. 29: 940-949, 1950.

Using a Teeter helps:

• Provide oxygen to brain cells, which may improve mental acuity
• Stimulate surface blood supply to improve skin tone and hair health 

Your heart must work against gravity to pump blood up to your brain, which is the body's largest consumer of oxygen. Although it is only three percent of the body's total weight, the brain consumes 25 percent of the body's oxygen intake.

Win Wenger, in How to Increase Your Intelligence, noted that "only those brain cells which are close to an ample capillary blood supply are thoroughly developed. Away from such source of supply, brain cells remain undeveloped and useless." Wenger describes "upside down activities" to increase oxygen supply to the brain. He states, "In short, you can improve the physical state of your entire brain."

Peter Russell notes in The Brain Book that the deterioration of the brain is not directly linked to age alone. Rather, this deterioration is caused by hardening arteries and high blood pressure, both of which decrease the supply of oxygen to the brain. Thus a major step in reducing mental deterioration (or senility) over time may simply be increasing the oxygen supply to the brain. Keeping the brain active and well-supplied with oxygen may help maintain your brain function and mental acuity throughout your entire life.[10]

Some people claim that increasing the circulation of blood to the head through inversion may also improve the color and tone of your skin, stimulate mental alertness, and improve hearing and vision. In addition, some claim that hair will be healthier, and may even grow again if the scalp is well supplied with blood.

[10] You should talk to your doctor about inverting if you have uncontrolled high blood pressure. Consult our website for other contraindications.

 

Using a Teeter helps:

• recover lost height due to thinning discs in the spine 
• return organs that have settled in the midsection to their normal position -- and reduce inches from your midsection.

 

Height Maintenance

Most people will lose between 1/2" - 2" (1-5 cm) in height during their lifetime due to thinning discs. As a baby, your discs are 90% water. However, the water content in the discs decreases to 70% by age 70. An active inversion program can help maintain more of your original height.

Help Prevent Body-Shape Change

As the body ages, internal organs (kidneys, stomach, intestines) begin to prolapse as a result of the constant downward force of gravity. "Middle-age spread" (that spare-tire around the waste), apart from weight gain, is due to the relocation of internal organs. Digestion and waste elimination problems are also common symptoms of organs going south. A regular program of inversion may help ease the strain on prolapsed organs or even help them resume their normal shape and place in the body.

 

Nearly every physical activity involves compression of the spine. The compressive effect of gravity is compounded by activities such as walking, running, weightlifting, gardening, skiing, biking, and golf, all of which can exact an incredible toll on the spine, discs, and back muscles.

Skeletal misalignments can occur at even the slightest provocation. Most often these misalignments are nominal and will readily correct themselves given the opportunity. Inversion with movement (such as side-to-side bends, back arches, and a partial sit-up or two) provides that opportunity.

One-sided activities can be particularly troublesome for two reasons: The body will tend to over compensate for the strong-side muscle groups, pulling the spine out of alignment; and one-sided activities usually involve rotation of the spine, often under incredible loads. Examples of these activities are golf, water skiing, tennis, bowling, racquetball, and baseball. Inversion after physical activity may help to realign the spine and keep athletes performing at higher levels for longer periods of time.

Still other physical activities tend to create tension in the muscles due to a contraction of the major muscle groups for long periods of time. Housework, gardening, bicycling, and rollerblading are examples of activities which tend to create a great deal of lower back strain. Anyone who is faced with weekend chores, or enjoys an occasional bike ride can receive a tremendous boost from daily inversion therapy. 

Ligaments are the fibrous strips that hold your bones together. Ligaments are flexible but not very elastic, and can tear when they are stretched too much. Ligaments that are not moved regularly in the right way become stiff, inelastic, and more easily torn. Inversion can help strengthen your ligaments and may help prevent injury. The gentle reverse loading and movement that occurs while you invert strengthens ligaments and connective tissue, and helps to protect the athlete from serious injury.

Inversion helps to develop balance awareness, which occurs when the upper regions of the inner ear are stimulated. Skydivers, gymnasts, springboard divers, and scuba divers find that inversion therapy fine-tunes the body and inner ear to the inverted world. Inversion therapy has also been used to normalize the ear canal as a treatment for motion sickness.

A proper work-out includes elements of cardio exercise, strength training, and stretching - combining to form the "triad of fitness".

Decompression aids in joint lubrication by altering the pressure and suction forces within the joint, helping to stimulate the synovial fluid that nourishes cartilage.

The restored moisture in the soft tissue promotes the longevity of joint performance.

Hydrated joints offer better cushioning.

Using a Teeter encourages realignment of the spine, which helps correct posture.

Don't wait until you're in pain - inversion can be preventative!  To remain youthful, you take care of your skin and teeth, you work out for your heart and muscles... but what are you doing for your back and your joints? Like any other part of your body, proper maintenance can result in longer-lasting, more youthful function. Use the Teeter Hang Ups Inversion Table for a balanced, more flexible body now and see the payoff as you age.

It's no secret that we lose height as we age. Height loss is partially due to thinning discs in the spine and spinal curvature. Discs lose their nutrients and their cushion, causing a compressed spine and shorter stature. Inversion helps restore nutrients to the discs and decompress the spine, which can help return lost height to the skeleton. More importantly, rejuvenated joints provide better flexibility and shock absorption.

 

Strong abdominals, internal and external obliques, and lower back muscles are vital for proper support of the torso. Inverted crunches or sit-ups on the tables and back extensions on the DEX are a challenging way to develop and define the core muscles.

Most training activities designed to build core strength must be performed with great technical accuracy or they can injure the back. Inverted exercises can target every core muscle without adding risky, compressive loads to the spine.

Inverted squats on the tables provide a unique leg workout, strengthening the hamstrings and quads while sculpting the glutes.

The process of building muscle occurs when muscle fibers are torn down and replaced with more and better cells. After a workout, thousands of destroyed cells need to be trucked away to make room for new growth. Inversion helps to increase lymph flow, which gets rid of the wastes more rapidly and allows the body to focus on building new muscle tissue.

Athletes prone to stiffness or muscle spasms after a workout can benefit from the lymphatic wash provided by inversion. Intense muscle activities cause a build up of large amounts of lactic acid and carbon dioxide, which results in sore muscles. The faster this waste is cleared, the faster the pain and stiffness disappear.

During a high-impact workout, your joints and especially discs will lose fluid, resulting in a temporary height loss of up to one-half to three-quarters of an inch! Inversion has been proven to increase intervertebral separation, which reduces the pressure on the discs and helps them to re-hydrate. Decompressed joints are able to recover faster for better shock absorption and reduced pain. 

When inverting, you are helping your heart to clear the blood from your feet, legs, and lower body. This allows the blood in your limbs to circulate more easily, which may help to temporarily drain blood from varicose veins.