Thursday, January 30, 2014

Choose the right equipment for Inversion Therapy

Ironman Gravity Inversion Table
Gravity Inversion Table
A gravity inversion table is a health equipment that is designed for those who seek higher levels of physical wellness. Gravity inversion has also been shown to be effective in relieving body pains, especially back pain. Inversion tables allow a person to hang upside down, or at an angle, against the direction of gravity. It is believed that gravity compresses the discs in the spine, thereby leading to reduced lubrication between discs (just like squeezing out a sponge). This leads to increased friction between the spinal discs, leading to back pain. Decreased lubrication also causes the chances of nerves getting pinched, spinal misalignment, and reduced flexibility. Inversion therapy helps in reversing this effect of gravity. By hanging upside down, the pressure on the spine is released, and the distance between the vertebrae is increased. This relaxes your spinal area, and relieves back pain. Even if you do not experience back pain, inversion therapy can help you stay fitter and more flexible. Inversion therapy is also known to improve blood circulation.

There are many types of inversion tables available that you can use for your inversion therapy sessions. Below is a list of the various types that you can choose from.

1.         Manual gravity inversion table
These are the conventional inversion tables that have a comfortable backrest as well as ankle holders to hold you securely while inverting. You need to first adjust the table according to your height, adjust the angle of inversion, secure your feet onto the table using straps, and move to the inverted position by pushing the backrest. These tables require you to always keep your arms above your head, to maintain the incline.

2.         Motorized inversion table
Motorized inversion tables have push-button controls for rotating the table. These tables are quite sophisticated, with some interesting engineering innovations. The tables have interlocking gears to hold the table at any angle of your choice. The inversion with the motor is slow and smooth. What’s more, when using motorized inversion tables, you do not need to keep your arms above your head at all times. Just lay down on the table, secure your legs, and push the button. The table does the rest. These tables are more expensive and range from $1.600 - $2.200.

The most recent advancement to inversion tables has been the integration of infrared therapy with inversion therapy. In such tables, the backrest has built-in carbon fiber Far InfraRed (FIR) heating elements to help soothe your back as you are inverting. This advancement combines the benefits of inversion therapy with infrared therapy that is known for its de-stressing, healing and relaxing properties.

4.         Doorway inversion
Doorway inversion systems include an inversion rack and gravity boots. The inversion rack mounts onto your door frame and the gravity boots allow you to hang free from the door frame for maximum range of motion. These systems are meant for fit and flexible users, and the inversion can be a bit difficult to perform.


Inversion therapy is proven to be healthy and is available for everyone. Depending on your level of comfort and your budget, there are many options to choose from. Start your healthy regime today!

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

7 Tips to choosing the right Inversion Therapy Table

The giant leaps in technology advancements has seeped into all of our daily lives. As a result, there is a machine or gadget that can be used for even the most basic domestic work. Advanced technology  is great, who doesn’t like it? Only disadvantage is that our lifestyle changes too into a more and more sedentary lifestyle, involving minimal physical effort. Various lifestyle related diseases are increasing due to lack of physical activity. Diseases like diabetes, hypertension, arthritis, are becoming more and more common. To cure these diseases, or at least to ease the pain, doctors suggest more physical activity, more visits to the gym, the yoga instructor, and/or the physiotherapist.

One disease that is catching up rapidly among young and old alike is the problem of back pain. This can be either due to some minor physical injury, or can be a chronic problem that has been haunting you for quite some time. An inversion therapy table – a simple tool - helps you inverting your whole body at an angle. Inversion tables are proving to be a good option to help you recover from the problem of back pain. Inversion therapy is becoming more and more popular these days, especially with many celebrities and athletes endorsing it, and admitting it’s use and efficacy. An inversion therapy table can be very useful after a workout, to help relax and comfort your body after exercising. What’s more, there are reports that even the American army is using inversion tables for its recruits. However, inversion tables are not for all, and it is highly recommended that you take your doctor’s advice before investing in it.

Inversion tables are considered as weight machines; although the table itself does not have any weights on it, our own body provides the weight. Of course, the first pre-requisite will be to ensure that the table is strong enough to take your full weight and support your body comfortably.

Find below 7 tips from people who have experience with inversion therapy:
  1. If budget is not a constraint, then go for a table that offers some additional features, for example, one that has adjustments for inverting at specific angles.
  2. It is generally a good idea to go through the user manual before finalizing you purchase.
  3. Most frames specify minimum and maximum weights for users, and some also list minimum and maximum heights. Do check that you fit within the recommended range.
  4. If you do not want to hang solely by your ankles, then a table with the option of a padded knee bar is for you. Check out this feature when shopping for an inversion table.
  5. Look for the quality of the back pad. Though it might sound obvious that a thicker pad is better and more comfortable than the thinner variety, it could be that the “thick” pad loses its “thickness” within a few cycles of use. So be sure that the equipment you’re buying is good enough for long-term use, check with the provider.
  6. Some inversion tables come with vibration pads, to give you that great massage experience while inverted. Go for it if you’re inclined towards this feature.
  7. Since you will be hanging upside down on this table, make sure that you go for a reputable brand that offers reliable quality.

Thursday, January 9, 2014

The Inversion Therapy Table – An Easy Way to a Better Life

Inversion Therapy Table
Inversion Therapy Table
Inversion therapy is a treatment method that involves hanging upside down or at an angle to reverse the effect of gravity, such that blood and lymphs which get pooled at various points of the body are released and moved into the core for oxygenation, filtration, and elimination of cellular metabolic wastes. In other words, inversion therapy helps in purging the body and improving blood circulation throughout the body. Inversion therapy has also been shown to relieve pressure on the spine and lower back, and is finding increasing use in relieving back pain.

Now, the obvious question is, how does one “hang upside down or at an angle”? Well, doing this is not as tough as it may sound. With today’s technology, it is possible to safely and comfortably invert your body to use nature’s force to relieve pain. The inversion table is a piece of equipment that is designed to help you safely invert your body, without any expert assistance, and use your own body weight to move tension off your lower back, and improve blood circulation. The modern inversion therapy table also allows you to control the angle of inversion, so that you can adjust the angle that is the best for you. These tables also come with a locking mechanism to lock the table position at an angle you want.

The most recent advancement in the field of inversion therapy has been the integration of infrared heating technology to inversion tables. Infrared light has the ability to ionize water, thereby leading to enhanced cell metabolism, cellular nutrition uptake, and excretion of residues. By promoting cell growth, infrared therapy provides health and beauty benefits such as reduced fine lines, wrinkles, improved healing of scars, wounds, cuts, and also smoothened skin texture, lessened coarseness, and reduced pore size. Infrared is also known to improve blood circulation. Thus, combining inversion therapy with infrared heating provides an excellent therapeutic as well relaxing effect. 

Using an inversion therapy table: this is as simple as using a treadmill. Each inversion table will have its own set of features and can slightly differ in the way they need to be used. The main steps are: adjusting the table to your height, setting the preferred angle of inversion, securing your feet onto the table using straps (or some other mechanism that comes with the inversion table), and then moving to the inverted position up to the extent you want. Relax and enjoy! You can stay in the inverted position for a few minutes. The therapy can be repeated 2-3 times a day, and please be careful not to overdo it. Hold the inversion only for as long as you feel comfortable, and repeat the inversion only as many times as you feel comfortable.  If you are not comfortable, muscles will get tense and the treatment will no longer be effective.

We recommend to consult a doctor before starting inversion therapy. Please do not use an inversion therapy table if you suffer from osteoporosis, glaucoma, heart disease or high blood pressure, or if you are pregnant.