Have you ever wondered why people talk about an inversion chair for pain relief? An inversion chair is used in inversion therapy. However, the question remains, what is inversion therapy? Inversion therapy is a process where your entire body is suspended upside down. This is done to relieve back pain by stretching the spine. The basic theory for this technique is that if you use gravity to shift the body, it will provide traction for the spine and slowly ease off the pressure from the lower back area.

There are many people who claim that inversion therapy has helped them to alleviate sciatica, scoliosis, poor circulation, and chronic lower back pain. Studies are inconclusive at this point about whether this type of therapy actually works. However, there are many who support inversion therapy and believe that the stretching of the spine benefits circulation as well as preventing many future related health issues.

The theory behind inversion therapy exercises includes decreasing inflammation, removing waste from the spine area, increasing blood circulation around surrounding muscles, and creating additional protective fluids that surround spinal discs.

A recent study had 47 participants try inversion therapy for chronic low back pain. Each participant in the study was asked to sit in an inversion chair during various three-minute sets. The inversion chair was placed at a different angle for each set. This particular study deduced that the chairs were effective at a 60° angle. The study showed that after 8 weeks, torso strength and flexibility improved as well as a reduction in lower back pain.

The theory behind this study showed that inversion therapy was able to improve spinal health by relieving the pressure of the spine and by improving the spatial distance between spinal discs. Certain activities such as running, sitting, and bending can place an extra amount of pressure on spinal discs. This increased pressure can result in collapsed vertebrae, lower back pain, and other spinal complications.

The study suggested that a daily routine of inversion therapy is also beneficial for flexibility. The reason for this is that a series of micro-movements in the spine area can help a person’s body to become stronger. The increased strength helped people make it easier to reach and bend. Also, it can help improve posture which is especially important if you have an office job and work at a desk.

The study also suggested that inversion therapy has a zero-gravity nature which may reduce compression issues. The potential of this type of therapy to prevent disability from lower back problems may also help to reduce the need for spinal surgery.

In fact, a recent study from Rehabilitation and Disability discovered that people who suffer from the lumbar disease were able to reduce their need for surgery in only 6 weeks after regularly doing an inversion therapy program.

However, it is important to remember that lower back problems, or any issues with the spine, are complex. Inversion therapy does not claim to offer a 100% guarantee of no surgery. Some people use it as an alternative treatment for lower back pain but it is always best to talk to your family doctor before trying any new form of exercise or therapy.

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