​​Does Inversion Help with Back Pain?

You never miss the water till the well runs dry. This is a proverb that shines a very bright light for those who suffer from back pain. Many of us never appreciate the pressure we put on our backs. Heck, we do not even realize we rely on them a whole lot to get through the day. At least not until the pain sets in and the simplest of activities like picking a pen off the floor becomes a strenuous activity. The good news is that technology has come a long way and today, there are numerous ways of treating back pain aside from surgery. Inversion therapy is one of these ways and that is gaining popularity by the day.

Bats, spiders, and monkeys have been hanging upside down on trees and caves for eons. They must have beat humans to the discovery of this form of therapy benefits. But after long years of research, doctors, scientists, and physical trainers have caught on and can without a doubt attest to the numerous health benefits inversion therapy has.

Now, if you are starting to freak out, thinking you will have to actually hang on a tree, you can relax. Whilst your body has to be inverted you will not have to go to such lengths to get its health benefits. As a matter of fact, a position where your head is lower than your heart will suffice. For some, this might involve having your feet above your head as well, though there are other techniques that have been devised that are not too taxing. The Dolphin pose, a yoga pose, is one of the simple positions. Both your feet and head are on the ground but the heart is above the head.

Inversion therapy helps to reverse the harmful gravitational effects on your back making it one of the best treatments there is for back pain. Yes, back pain. In addition to this, it also aids with improving the nervous system, reduces mental stress, strengthens the immune system and even slows down the ageing process.

Modern day therapy is done with the help of inversion tables, gravity boots, inversion chairs or if you are one of the flexible kind, yoga poses including shoulder stands, headstands, and handstands.

Sure human beings have not been using inversion therapy for as long as the monkeys and bats have, but archaeologists have evidence pointing to its use by humans in the Stone Age. Throughout history, men and women in secret societies practiced inversion therapy to help with body strength and give their mental abilities a boost. Some of these societies included the Ninja warriors in ancient Japan. Good thing the secret is out in the open and now you too can relieve your back pain.

How does it work its magic on back pain?

Most often than not, in the world we live in, doctors prescribe invasive surgeries for back pain. The surgeries are painful and require long periods of time to recover. And the worst part is that even after the surgery, the back pain comes back to haunt you two years down the line. It seems unfair that one would have to go through a painful process to get rid of back pain only to end up in square one when all is said and done. Where surgery has failed, inversion surgery works wonders. It gets rid of back pain after a few weeks of therapy, eliminating the need for surgery in most cases without causing pain in the process.

To understand how this is possible, we should first understand the spine.

The spine

The spine (backbone) consists of many separate bones in the form of discs. These discs are stacked on each other to provide you with an upright posture. The discs are filled with nerves and fluid to provide padding and lubrication. With time, however, as a result of poor posture, gravity, and exercises, the spine takes up an unnatural curve exerting pressure on the discs resulting in pain. Inversion therapy works by reversing the direction of the force of gravity. It stretches the body to stretch in the opposite direction relieving pressure and ultimately pain.

Accordion effect

The fluid, useful for lubrication can also build up causing discomfort and inflammation. Inversion therapy with the help of inversion tables can help with this. On a table, you can rock away the built up fluid and relieve the spinal pressure.

Speaking of inversion tables, they are one of the best tools to get started on therapy at home. They are effective and the great thing is that they are not as expensive as you would think them to be. You, however, have to ensure you get the best one in the market for best results. Check them out for yourself.

Research study

Back in 2003, a clinical research that lasted for three years was carried out at the Newcastle University England supporting the back pain relief benefits that inversion therapy has. In the study, a whopping 22 patients experiencing sciatic nerve pain participated. All had surgery recommended to ease their back pain and were hoping to avoid it by all means.

They were split into groups of eleven. One group received physical therapy only while the other received both physical and inversion therapy on  tables. The results received were overwhelmingly in favor of the latter group that received inversion therapy.

78% of the patients that received physical therapy alone had to undergo surgery while only 23% of those who had a combination of the inversion and physical therapy had to undergo surgery. Translation – inversion therapy saved a whopping 77% of the patients.

Bottom line

So does Inversion help with back pain? Yes. The information from the study shared above is enough proof. You should not consider undergoing a painful and traumatic surgery before trying this therapy for yourself. You, of course, should ensure you do not have any underlying health problems like glaucoma that could put you at risk. Consult your physician before you buy your table and experience a pain-free life.