Are you someone who suffers from neck and back pain on a regular basis? Have you tried everything you can? Maybe not! Inversion therapy is a relatively new technique that has seen great success in relieving back and neck pain for many individuals.
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What is Inversion Therapy?
Inversion therapy is a technique that is being used to combat the effects of gravity on the human body’s back and neck. Obviously, to combat the effects of gravity, the pressure is going to have to be alleviated from your spine. In order to that, inversion is used. What this means is hanging upside down, or at an inverted angle, to force the body to relieve the pressure that is constantly placed on your spine when you are standing.
The next question is obvious. How can I do this? The answer is simple; with the use of an inversion table. These inversion tables are easy to use, and place you at an inverted angle, which allows the user to gain all the benefits that inversion therapy has to offer.
What are the Benefits of Inversion Therapy?
Inversion therapy comes with more benefits than just reducing back and neck pain. Research has shown that it can also improve circulation, posture, and flexibility among others.
Reduced Back Pain
One of the main uses of inversion therapy is to reduce back pain, specifically lower back pain, for individuals. Inversion therapy reduces back pain by relieving the downward stress that gravity puts on the human spine over time. Over time gravity compresses the spine and the vertebrae and can lead to back pain and aches, this compression can also place pressure on the discs in your lower back and cause herniated discs. These herniated discs are what then causes the back pain that many experiences.
Inversion therapy can reverse some of these damaging effects of gravity by stretching the muscles and the ligaments surrounding the spine. This opens up circulation and allows the muscles around the back to relax. This stretching of the muscles in the back allows the spine to realign and the increased circulation also allows the discs in the lower back to receive better hydration and prevents hernias.
Blood Circulation
As mentioned above, blood circulation is improved by inversion and is another benefit that you see from this form of therapy. By being upside down, blood flow is improved throughout the body as the blood travels to the upper body with less resistance than when the body is upright, this includes improved blood flow to the brain, which can provide the body with mental benefits as well. This inversion allows the blood pressure to increase and heart rate to lower, allowing the circulatory system to clear and reduce any clots in the vessels.
Mental Health
The mental benefits that inversion therapy provides are one of the key benefits that not many are not aware of. The improved blood flow to the brain provides it with more oxygen allowing it to have an improved function and cognition and is proven to reduce stress and anxiety. This is also a popular treatment for migraines and headaches as these are often a result of a lack of blood flow to the brain.
Improved Posture
Posture is a problem that is becoming increasingly common in the modern world where many sit down for much of the day. This common office job is causing many to suffer from poor posture, reducing their physical appearance and leading to back pain. Inversion therapy improves posture by realigning the spine and realigning your hips to ensure correct blood flow and correct posture is assumed. Inversion therapy also relaxes the muscles and released a lot of the pressure that will have built up over time, this release of pressure also contributes to good posture.
It is for this reason that people with posture problems are recommended this form of treatment. For example, people who suffer from scoliosis are often told by doctors to try out this form of therapy because it will slow the rate of their spinal curve and will also offer temporary pain relief. This is also the same for people who suffer from sciatica, they are recommended this technique as a form of pain relief.
Improving your lymphatic system
Your lymphatic system is crucial to the body and is often overlooked by many as focus more on respiratory system health or cardiovascular health. The lymphatic system helps the body to remove waste and unwanted toxins from the blood. It also transports lymph, which carries white-blood cells to fight infection, throughout the body and so is crucial to your bodies immune system. The lymphatic system does not have a pump and only flows in one direction, this means that a build-up can occur in some areas of the body. Therefore, being inverted, even for just a few minutes, can help the system to clear up and improve flow throughout the body.
Conclusion
In summary, there are many beneficial effects that can be seen in inversion therapy. This is why it is becoming more popular for doctors and chiropractors to recommend this therapy for those who suffer from back pain. It is also important to remember that this technique does not only offer relief from chronic back pain, but you see many other benefits ranging from mental benefits to improved posture. The use of an inversion table is simple and it only takes a few minutes of your day to achieve these results.
People must be aware that if they suffer from conditions such as high blood pressure or any form of a heart condition, this technique should not be used and people considering this technique should consult their doctor beforehand.
The benefits from this technique are endless and for people suffering from back pain, it is a godsend. As a relatively new technique, there is not much research to support any claims so the best thing to do if you are suffering from back pain is to just try it out and see if this works for you like it has for so many others.