Lower back pain is the leading cause of disability in the country. People suffering with chronic back pain will consider anything and everything for relief, such as:

• Chiropractic
• Yoga
• Massage
• Acupuncture
• Physical Therapy
• Injections
• Surgery

Those with chronic back pain frequently consider at-home therapies because of their benefits, including being able to use them more frequently as well as being less expensive than pricey services and insurance bills.

An inversion table is designed for the user to lie upside down. Using an inversion table will increase the space between the vertebrae of your spine and relieve pressure off the nerves and discs. Used in the right situation, it can provide temporary pain relief. However, it is not a long term solution and should not be relied upon for treatment.

So how do you decide if an inversion table will help you? Well, if your lower back pain is due to spinal compression issues such as stenosis, degeneration, disc herniation, etc. then inversion therapy could help you. However, there are risks to be aware of that may not help you, but hurt you. There are warnings not to use it if you have heart issues or high blood pressure so please discuss this option with your doctor before deciding if this therapy is right for you.

To use the table, you usually hang from 1 or 2 minutes up to 5 minutes. The key is not how long you hang, but the frequency you do it since it only provides temporary pain relief. So use it at times when you need it most: in the morning, after work, or before bed.

So if you are thinking about an inversion table for your home, do the research and talk to your doctor. If it is the right fit for you, give it a try!

References:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/back-pain/expert-answers/inversion-therapy/faq-20057951

https://www.spine-health.com/treatment/chiropractic/spinal-decompression-patients-advice-inversion-tables-and-therapy-everyone