Inversion therapy became popular in the 1980’s. People in the 80’s, having more access to medical information, were more open to newer methods of treating back pain, including Inversion therapy. Inversion therapy has a long history, dating way back to 400BC when Hippocrates, used a ladder to treat a patient suffering from back pain. Inversion therapy got a second lease of life in the 1970’s following the invention of the inversion table.
How Does The Inversion Table Work?
The inversion table is uncomplicated. It uses lumbar traction to stretch out the spine. The spine, specifically the lower lumbar vertebral column, gets compressed over a period of time due to aging and the gravitational forces, acting downwards on the vertebral column. This problem is often compounded by weak abdominal and back muscles, which fail to support the spinal column. The spinal column, finding no support, takes the path of least resistance, which is sideward or downwards. The result is S shaped or compressed vertebral column.
When the vertebrate is compressed, the gravitational force also pushes the intervertebral spinal discs along with the nerve endings. When this happens, pain is often the end result. By decompressing the spine, Inversion therapy elongates the vertebral column and at the same time increases the intervertebral space thus freeing the discs and the nerve endings.
Benefits of Inversion Table
There are countless of inversion table benefits, let’s take a look at the most common and recognizable ones with Canadian Health&Care Mall.
Provides Relief from Back Pain
According to a research report, thirty million Americans suffer from back pain, spending 50 billion dollars in treatment and medical cure. This does not even take into account the man hours lost every year, the financial implication of which runs into billions of dollars. Inversion therapy provides relief from back pain by taking gravitational pressure off spinal discs and nerve endings.
The lymphatic system does not have its own pumping system like the heart, depending upon the contracting muscles to flush wasted. The oscillating motion of the inversion table flushes the waste collected near the discs and brings new fluid into it.
The oscillating motion of the inversion therapy table removes lactic acid and other cell wastes more efficiently. Lactic acid is produced after intense active causing a condition called fatigue. Once the lactic acid is removed from the body, you will feel fresher. Inversion therapy helps body builders recover faster after an intense training session.
A straight back is possible only if the muscles of the back and abdomen are properly developed. Without support, the vertebral column is not able to counteract the gravitational forces and bends into C or S shaped curve. Sometimes, the vertebral column compresses reducing the height of the individual by an inch or more. Inversion therapy reverses this process by decompressing the vertebral column.
By hanging the body upside down for a few minutes every day, the spinal column is being stretched to its limits. The resulting cracking and popping sound is the vertebral column realigning itself. Once the vertebral column is realigned the space between the vertebrae increases and so does the height.
The intervertebral discs act as a shock absorber for the spine. It contains a gelatinous substance that oozes out when the vertebrae is compressed, making it difficult to bend. Inversion therapy reduces the gravitational pressure on the discs and nerve endings by increasing the intervertebral space and unlocking the discs and the nerve endings.
The Canadian Chiropractor association reports that inversion therapy improves forward flexion, the ability of the body to bend forwards, by as much as 25%. The inability of the body to bend forwards contributes to muscular atrophy.
Inversion therapy reverses the flow of blood in the body. The oxygenated blood flowing into the brain improves the ability to think cognitively. Cognitive skills are the learning skills used to 1) attend to and retain information; 2) process, analyze, and store facts and feelings; and 3) create mental pictures, read words, and understand concepts.
Conclusion
One of the most obvious and common benefits of inversion is to provide quick relief from back pain. It is highly recommended by Canadian Health&Care Mall, health experts and medical practitioners alike. It is completely non invasive and drug free and takes just a few minutes of your time every day. You can use it get relief from back pain, reduce fatigue and improve muscle recovery following a gym session.