Any body here use an inversion table?
 

I'm doing physical therapy exercises for my lower back pain. The therapist said an inversion table might be helpful. Does anyone here in the brain trust have/use one?

Search for threads....lots of us have them, but they're not for everyone. I use mine when I need to....very rarely, but it works for me.

Ha! I should have known. Is there anything that hasn't been discussed here?

I have had mine for almost 3 years. It was instrumental in helping me recover from a sciatic nerve injury. I use it every now and then when I feel that I have overworked my back. My wife uses it also, and we both are glad to have it.

Degenerative disc disease, arthritis I couldn't move because of the intense pain in my lower back 5 years ago. I used an inversion table for a year, the hanging didn't seem to help much, but I used it to do inverted sit ups, to build up my core muscle strength. That seemed to help along with stretching. Mountain biking done at least weekly, has totally eliminated my lower back issues.

Have one and don't use it. I find stretching and core exercise to be more beneficial.

I have one and use it two or three times a week. It's a great way to wind down after a long walk but you have to be fairly fit to get the most from it.

You may feel nausea at first but you'll soon get used to it.

The PT technician gave me a list of about 6 exercises to do twice a day. I'm doing those now instead of yoga. Good to know they have some chance of helping.

Tried it once and felt like my head was gonna explode. Now core strengthening and stretching has reduced my back pain.

like others, my chronic low back pain is entirely due to a weak core. I have a core strengthening and stretch routine I do 3x per week, and I am trying to get about 50 miles of cycling in per week as well.

When I keep up with the routine, I am pain free.

No, nothing; it is a modern Library of Alexandria


I use one occasionally, you want to be careful, I believe there are certain lumbar spine problems can be aggravated by using it.

Mine has been a Godsend over the years. Go ahead and try it. I purchased mine, used, on Craigslist for $60. No need to buy a new one...

I used one when I was doing more bending and stooping; physical work. It does work, I find it relaxing. But I arrived at a point where I'm not doing the same type work so the pain subsided.

Eventually I quit using it as I didn't need it. I tried selling it - could not, I tried giving it away, could not. So I carted it to the dump at the trash / treasure drop / pick-up area.

They do work - my experience - but try to find a used one 1st in your area.

As your core gets stronger go back to yoga. I do a session on youtube (yoga by Celeste) for herniated discs. Strengthening your core is the key, just don't overdo it. I find that stretching my hamstrings and a piriformis stretch tend to keep me from getting lower back pain. Just make sure you're doing the stretches and strengthening as much as the PT says to do it or a bit more if you can. I was supposed to go in for a microdiscectomy 3 years ago and have avoided it by stretching and core strengthening. I haven't been doing my exercises like I should but when I start feeling tight in my lower back I just do the leg stretches and piriformis stretch and it normally goes away pretty fast.

I purchased mine used from a former co-worker (w/ serious back issues....no good for him), and used it when I "tweaked" my lower back. Haven't used mine in ten years.....25 lbs lighter and a LOT more flexible too ;). I just stay busy in retirement....after sittin' on my fat azz for too long :).

Did yer back bother you tho? ....it works ;)

Those are two of the exercises they have me doing. The hamstring stretch is by standing in front of a chair and putting my heal on the seat of the chair and leaning forward. It's similar to one of the yoga positions I do.

Don't know if your PT has you doing these, but I found the "nerve glide" was very helpful for me. See the section of the link entitled "Release of the Sciatic Nerve Via Nerve Gliding"


https://www.dynamicchiropractic.com/mpacms/dc/article.php?id=46029

Try it out first. Some are just flimsy, some are difficult to rotate back, and some have uncomfortable ankle holders

as mentioned earlier, try to find one used. Gravity is gravity, haha. I bought one for $25 on craigslist. A few years ago I landed funny on a jump while mountain biking. Didn't crash, but it felt like someone shot me in the back on landing. Had to walk home. 9/10 pain for a few days before I found the inversion table. Within 5 minutes of hanging upside down, my pain was down 50%. 3 weeks later I rode Moab pain free. YMMV, and I suppose it really depends on what pathology is really going on, but it can be a cheap trial.

That being said, and not knowing how old you are, just make sure you get checked out by a doc if not better in a week or so. Not all back pain is just arthritis, a pinched nerve or a muscle strain.

feel better!

I’ve been considering one. I have lots of pain in my upper back between my shoulder blades. Not sure if it would help or not?

For the between the shoulder blades pain, you may find that if you put your elbows out, palms up, thumbs under your jaw, fingers around the back of your head and gently distract, pull your head straight up, you will get relief.

You don't have to have your head pointing straight down for it to be therapeutic, try it at a 45* angle, rather than 90* to the ground.

I'm sure the PT tech told you this but keep your body square to the chair and make sure you keep your back as straight as possible. I do something similar but I put my heel on the 2nd or 3rd step to my second floor and bend forward at the hips keeping my back straight and body square to the steps. It doesn't take much bending to really feel a pull. My advice is don't give up on the PT. Give it several weeks and make sure you're doing the stretches properly. It's like weight lifting, without proper form you won't do much good. Good luck and hope the PT works well for you.

Listen to the doc :)...

My issues were always a lower back "tweak". That seems to be where they are effective, as stated, almost immediate relief from agony...in 1/2/3 days...5 min....YMMV.

Yes. And it helped when nothing else was. That said I use it when I am feeling issues and then it only takes a few minutes each day until things feel good again.
Mostly mine is a towel rack, except when I really need it, and then I really need it.
Craigslist or a garage sale would be a good plan.

Wish you were closer. I have a nice one that hasn't been used in years. I would give it away.

I'm picking up a Innova ITM4800 tomorrow that is "like new" (used once or twice) for $50 on CL. The doc said try it at a really shallow angle for a week or so and let her know how I feel.

Be sure to have yer phone witcha the first time....

"Help me....I've inverted and I can't get back up" :)

I've never hung totally verticle....no need to for me....mebbe 45 degrees or so. I've also used my dad's....for regular use...the feet/ankle clips do matter and vary...I like mine better than his....but gravity is gravity.

Good luck....back pain sux.

I’ll come get it!

This. For some, they work really well. The only way to know if it helps you is to try it.

I used mine for some time, moved on, and eventually gave it to a guy who really wanted one.

be advised that the position of your body on an inversion table can have some fairly profound effect on blood pressure

I have one. Use it regularly. Will do inverted stretches and sit ups.

I love how when I get off it I feel just a bit taller for the first couple of minutes.

Check your local Facebook for sale pages.

You can regularly find $200-300 units for $50-75.

Ops missed that.

That looks like a nice unit. Those ankle supports work so much better than the style on the first table I had where your feet were wedged between two rollers. Was not very comfortable.

Take the time to set it up properly for your height before you get in.

It's a center of balance system so when set correctly you should never get stuck upside down.

If you don't set it right you'll either have trouble getting inverted or it'll turtle you instantly and you'll be stuck.

I discovered why the previous owner did not like the Innova and only tried to use it twice. It was assembled incorrectly and the most shallow angle it would tilt to was about 60 degrees.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1564943077.jpg

The tilt limiter was on the left side (right side of the picture).

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1564943077.jpg

The limiter pin is supposed to contact a pad to stop the tilt. The arm was on the wrong side and the pin was contacting the back of the pad. It let the the arm swing about 1 1/4 inches further than it is supposed to.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1564943077.jpg

I moved the tilt limiter to the other side.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1564943077.jpg

Now the limiter pin contacts the stop pad properly.

Fifteen degrees is the most shallow tilt setting it has. It doesn't look like much - almost horizontal, but it's plenty for me for now.
This is easy to use and easy to tilt back up to vertical, even from 85 degrees.

You'll find that buy adjusting the height setting for the user you can change the ease or difficulty of inverting as well as coming back to upright.

Yes, when set for users height getting it to invert should only require raising your hands above your head.

Much the same I guess. I occasionally use my Gravity Boots https://www.amazon.com/Teeter-Gravity-Boots-EZ-Up/dp/B000DLB8RU You hang upside down, off a bar, by ankle supports. If I have a sore back that won't go away this really works.

I'm not sure I've ever been on one where I set it at 6' and had it work the way it should.

Life is just easier fer engine-ears who don't need no stinkin' manual....and much cheaper too :).

Wait till Patrick is stuck upside down with his phone in his hand posting on Pelican that he can't get it up.