An inversion table can be a useful tool for managing low back pain when combined with stretching and strengthening.
If you have lower back pain, you may have considered using an inversion table to find relief. The table places your body at a downward angle to decompress your joints.
“I use inversion a fair amount to treat pain,” said Dr. James Mullen, a Marshfield Clinic Health System physical medicine and rehabilitation physician. “Inversion provides gentle distraction stretching that creates space between the joints and relieves pressure.”
Inversion can help relax muscle spasms and ease lower back pain that extends to the legs.
5 tips for using an inversion table safely
If you’re young and don’t have other health problems besides back pain, you can safely try inversion therapy at home. People who have herniated disks or arthritis in their hips and knees may be more susceptible to injury using an inversion table. Mullen recommends talking to your doctor before trying inversion at home and taking these steps to do it safely.
1. Skip the inversion table if you have uncontrolled high blood pressure or vascular headaches.
Inversion puts extra stress on your blood vessels, which can increase stroke risk if you have cardiovascular problems.
2. Don’t lean back too far.
You don’t need to be completely upside down to get a good stretch from an inversion table. In fact, leaning back too far can be dangerous. Mullen recommends limiting yourself to a 30- to 35-degree angle, or a 10- to 15-degree angle for older adults.
3. Set the safety strap.
The safety strap prevents you from leaning back too far and getting into a position that makes it hard or painful to turn yourself upright.
4. Don’t hang out too long.
“Your joints will be unhappy if you overstretch the connective tissue,” Mullen said. Start by using the inversion table once a day for a minute or two. Slowly work your way up to five minutes per session twice a day.
5. Slowly return to an upright position.
Reloading your joints with pressure by returning to an upright position too quickly can cause spasms and make back pain worse, especially if you have a herniated disk.
Stretch and strengthen in addition to inversion
“An inversion table is a useful tool as part of a more expansive pain management program,” Mullen said. “By itself, it may not provide as much relief as you hoped.”
Your joints still need to learn to work properly when gravity is working against them. Supplement the inversion table with sitting, standing and lying stretches. Pull your knees toward your chest while lying on your back and perform gentle back extensions while lying on your stomach to stretch and strengthen your low back.
For questions about inversion tables, talk to a Marshfield Clinic Health System provider.
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With that to the question from the 85 year old. Is it okay to use at 85 if you have been using it for the last 10 years?
I'm 32, I find out I have scoliosis when I was 13. I'ts literally like a C. I have had a "back teeter" for like 5yrs, bųt don't use it that much. Will it make my scoliosis worse? Does it help with cramps and pain
Hello Britiny,
You may find this additional reading from Healthline on inversion tables helpful: https://www.healthline.com/health/inversion-therapy
However, we recommend talking about this with your provider directly, as they should be able to best advise you.
Thank you,
Jake
Will this help with the prolapse
Jwiggin138@yahoo.com. I am 85 years old is it to late for meuse an inversion table?
Hi John,
We reached out to Dr. Mullen and here is what he said:
"I would be hesitant to start inversion at 85. If you do try, start at 5-10 degrees at most. 2-3 minutes. The concern is cardiovascular and increased pressure in the brain. Make sure to have somebody available to help getting on and off the table."
Thanks and I hope that helps,
Jake