Inversion Tables for Back Pain

An inversion table is a piece of medical or physical therapy equipment that consists of a flat, padded table placed on a fulcrum. After strapping your feet to the table and laying flat against it, you can use your arms to manipulate the handles to flip yourself upside down. This treatment is referred to as inversion therapy.

There are many approaches for deciding the optimal frequency or duration of inversion traction. Most clinical studies focus on session lengths of anywhere from two to twenty minutes. The duration of your inversion therapy depends on how well you can tolerate the side effects.

You can vary the angle you hang at based on the table configuration and inversion degree necessary for pain relief. Some research suggests that a steeper 60-degree angle is more effective than a moderate angle like 30 degrees (2). However, not everyone can withstand the side effects of a steep inversion, especially those who have conditions involving their heart or blood pressure (3).

Gravity Boots and Other Options for Inversion Traction

Tables aren’t the only inversion devices available for patients who want to stretch out their spines. Inversion chairs employ a similar concept but allow operators to sit instead of lying down. Inversion or “gravity” boots securely attach users to an elevated point that they can hang from, like a rod mounted on top of a doorway. You can also attain the effects of inversion traction through certain yoga poses and headstands. The specific method you choose to obtain spinal traction will depend on your budget, preferences, and physical abilities.

By relieving pressure on nerves and increasing circulation to muscles inversion traction can treat several spine and back conditions, including:

• Sciatica: The compression of the sciatic nerve in the leg and lower back which results in feelings of pain and numbness in the lower back and possibly one leg. Sciatica can also cause pain sitting or squatting. It’s most commonly caused by pressure from a herniated disc on the sciatic nerve, the largest spinal nerve in the human body.
• Disc degeneration disease: The deterioration of the cartilage discs between adjacent vertebrae which allow the spine to rotate and absorb shock from force on the back. When these discs slip or burst, it can place pressure on nerves in the spinal column, leading to muscle pain or stiffness. Studies suggest inversion tables combined with physical therapy can reduce the likelihood of surgery being required for patients with this disease (4).
• Increased mobility and flexibility: Studies show that spinal traction improves flexibility in the lower extremities (5). Research in the Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association also suggests that inversion therapy can bolster trunk and spinal mobility (6).
• General lower back pain: Spinal traction through inversion therapy can improve radicular lower back pain, or pain associated with nerve compression and inflammation (7).
• Muscle tightness: Since inversion therapy reduces pressure on the nerves that control muscles in the back and lower body, studies have shown reduction in at-rest muscle tension (8).

It’s important to remember that research on inversion tables is mixed, and not every healthcare provider encourages the use of inversion traction. Much of the available medical research on inversion tables is older or more anecdotal in nature.

Additionally, inversion therapy has only been shown to be effective in the short-term. It’s not a good option for patients looking to achieve long-lasting relief from spinal issues (9).

While inversion tables can be helpful for back problems related to the spine, muscle tension and overall health, hanging upside down for prolonged periods isn’t healthy for everyone. Clinical trials have shown a few common side effects of inversion traction:

Headaches

Some inversion therapy patients suffer from persistent headaches after using inversion tables or upright suspension devices like gravity boots. Increased blood flow to the head can cause uncomfortable pressure for some people (10).

Increased Blood Pressure

Evidence connecting elevated blood pressure to the use of inversion tables is mixed. Some studies have linked inversion therapy with significant increases in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Other studies, however, have shown no significant differences in heart rate and blood pressure before or after inversion (11). If you have hypertension, you may not be a good candidate for inversion therapy. 

Blurred Vision

Some people may experience blurry vision as a consequence of inversion therapy. Use of inversion devices can also cause discomfort for contact lens wearers (12).

For certain patients, especially those with optical conditions, a tear or detachment in the retina of the eye is a potential side effect of inversion traction. This is rare and typically only occurs to inversion therapy patients who have a history of myopia, glaucoma, or eye surgery (13).

Research on the effectiveness of inversion tables and gravity boots for back pain is mixed. Current research suggests that inversion tables may relieve pain and stiffness associated with nerve compression due to slipped or ruptured spinal discs, but more substantiation is needed. Inversion therapy has also been linked to improved flexibility and mobility. They are best for short-term relief; for lasting results, you’ll probably need to incorporate more comprehensive lifestyle changes such as a regular physical therapy routine.

However, inversion tables carry serious potential side effects, especially for patients who also have problems with circulation, high blood pressure, or eye conditions like glaucoma or a detached retina.

If you believe using an inversion table may help your spine or back pain, talk to your doctor about whether you’d be a good candidate for this kind of treatment. Only a medical professional should make the decision about whether or not you should use inversion tables or similar devices for improved spinal health and relief from lower back pain.