The short answer to this question is that, when used correctly, an inversion table may provide some temporary relief from back pain. Let’s discuss what an inversion table can do for joint and muscle pain, why it provides some temporary assistance when used properly, the risks of improper use, and some alternatives.
Inversion Tables – What They Can and Can’t Do for Your Joints and Muscles
An inversion table does exactly what it says in the name. It allows a person to be fully inverted. This can help relieve joint and muscle pain by taking pressure off of the joints. It won’t give you a feeling of weightlessness. But it does reverse gravity for your body. So the pressure that is usually on your joints and muscles throughout the day is temporarily removed.
However, there are some downsides to the use of inverting tables. First of all, there is no evidence to support the notion that inversion tables provide long-term help for disc or nerve issues. This is not a treatment. It is simply a way to get some temporary relief.
That said, an inversion table can also make matters worse if you don’t know how to use it properly. For example, you could become dizzy if you use the table incorrectly, for too long of a period of time, or if you have a health condition that makes use of an inversion table unwise. Additionally, recall the fact that the inversion table is flipping gravity for your body – not removing it. The inverted pressure placed on joints, muscles, nerves, or other structures of the body could potentially have the opposite effect of increasing pain or creating new painful spots.
So Is It Worth Using an Inversion Table?
If you understand the risks and benefits of using an inversion table and have the ability to use it correctly, then you may find that it is a useful way to find temporary relief from chronic pain without having to resort to pain medication. However, it is important to keep in mind that there are many other ways to find relief from joint and muscle pain and even nerve or disc pain. For example, a medical professional can provide you with stretches to perform that can provide temporary relief, perhaps even similar relief to what you get from the inversion table but with less risk.
Joint, Muscle, Nerve, and Disc Pain Support in Fairfax, VA
Ward Chiropractic & Rehabilitation is the place for you if you are dealing with chronic pain. Dr. Ward can provide chiropractic care to keep the joints properly aligned while also showing you the best stretches to help relieve your pain. Contact us today at 703.672.1661 to schedule an appointment, or you can request an appointment online.
