The Many Benefits of Inversion Tables
An inversion table provides fantastic relief of back pain for thousands of people; but few realize that use of an inversion table benefits far more than just the back. As you will see below, inversion benefits the entire body.
What Causes Back Pain and How Does an Inversion Table Work?
First, know that back pain can be caused by any number of factors: poor posture; a damaged back due to overuse of certain sports, an accident that damaged the back, certain spinal birth defects, and certainly just plain old gravity taking its toll on the spine.
The concept behind inversion tables is simple and has been around since the days of Hippocrates, the acclaimed Father of Medicine. In brief, the spine's vertebrae are separated by a cushy material called a "disc". This disc allows smooth motion of the spine and holds the vertebrae apart. Due to any of the factors that cause back pain, as mentioned above, the vertebrae can compress on the discs, and therefore the discs lose their integrity. Without proper functioning of the discs the vertebrae can lock in place instead of having their full range of motion. This causes the supporting muscles to tighten, spasm, and/or become inflamed. Nerves that pass through the vertebrae can get impinged, producing severe pain or numbness.
The common factor to all this is pain, and often times chronic, unrelieved pain. Depending on the severity, there are very few alternatives to relieving back pain. If minor, sometimes pain pills or certain exercises will help; but for people with severe chronic pain, there is very little outside of surgery or simply living with it. An inversion table is one excellent choice that is known to produce fantastic results to the greater number of people who use it.
Some Inversion Table Benefits: The body is allowed to stretch and realign itself. By inverting, the vertebrae are realigned and the vertebral muscles and ligaments relax, relieving pain. In general, backache is relieved, as the constant pressure on the vertebrae is lessened. This frees the intervetebral discs, impinged nerves and the facet joints. The intervertebral discs, that is, the discs between the vertebrae, are decompressed. This allows them to regain their elasticity and resilience.
Inflamed muscles around the spine begin to heal and soften. When inverted the body's muscles relax, which promotes permeation of tissues and organs with oxygenated blood. This is vitally important as not only are the internal organs nourished, but also the body's periphery such as skin, hair and nails. Muscular inflammation is relieved. Ligaments are strengthened.
Aids in venous circulation which helps relieve varicose veins. Overall the body is oxygenated, which improves cellular function. Halting the constant gravity pull on the internal organs allows those organs to relax and even decongest. Good posture is restored. When doing core exercises while inverted, muscles are strengthened especially muscles that support the spine, while at the same time other muscles become appropriately relaxed. A realignment and stability is restored to the body which is evident in improved posture.
Oxygenated blood flows to the brain, bringing calm and greater clarity. Decompressing the cervical spine (neck) relieves headaches and tension in the head caused by tight neck and shoulder muscles. The blood and lymph nodes receive accelerated cleansing due to improved circulation. Lymph fluid often becomes stagnated in people, due to not having its own circulatory source. Inversion creates a reverse gravity that induces the lymph fluid to drain, decreasing stagnation. Draining lymph is vital to the removal of waste products, and in the transportation of white blood cells which are the major component of the immune system.
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