Inversion therapy is enjoying a comeback as a legitimate physical therapy in the twenty first century but, like many of our modern techniques, it is thousand of years old.

Apparently, back pain has plagued the human race longer than we know.  Inversion is the process of negative gravity that relieve pressure on the discs of the spine and provides relief for organs that may be cramped for space.  By positioning the body by means of hanging upside down or lying on a tilted table, back pain can be significantly reduced.

Archeologists have found stone carvings from as far back as 3000 BC depicting yoga poses accompanied by subjects hanging upside down from various objects, some held by their friends and others lying on sloping ground.  This is believed to be the very first evidence of inversion therapy.  Yogis have long believed that inversion therapy re-balances the body and helps increase circulation, stimulates the brain and relieves the everyday pressure on abdominal organs.  It’s probably a fair supposition to assume that Yoga is responsible for developing this negative gravity therapy.

Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, first treated a patient with inversion therapy in 400 BC.  Using ropes and pulleys, he hung a patient on a ladder with his head pointed towards the floor.  It’s unclear what malady Hippocrates was treating but he apparently grasped the connection between reversal of the gravitational pull and relief of back pain or circulatory problems.  A drawing of this procedure was found by historians, documenting the “discovery” of inversion therapy.

Not much is known about the development of inversion therapy after Hippocrates experimented with it but it was introduced to America in 1893.  During the World Parliament of Religions in Chicago, Swami Vivekananda of India spoke about yoga and inversion therapy and their spiritual benefits.  Yoga caught on with the American people and many of them tried inversion as a means to better health.  This was the infancy of inversion therapy in the Western world.  Although the it was practiced by many, it wasn’t really a movement or a prominent treatment until the mid-twentieth century.

In the 1960’s Dr. Robert Martin revealed his “Gravity Guidance System” as therapy for the back pain that was plaguing more and more Americans.  An Osteopath, Chiropractor and medical doctor, Dr. Martin’s system grew through media publicity of an exciting “new” treatment.  It received great publicity with write ups in the Wall Street Journal and Time magazine.  Martin made numerous television appearances demonstrating his therapy and entrepreneurs began to manufacture similar products to compete with him in a growing market.

At this time, inversion therapy was performed using “gravity tables” that were well made with quality materials.  The practice was deemed safe and beneficial by prominent doctors.  With the alarming increase in back pain, sciatica, pinched nerves and damaged discs the table manufacturers did a booming business with medical offices, therapeutic spas and individuals who could afford the product.

Dr. Robert Martin, Jr., followed in his father’s footsteps.  A prolific author of articles and one book on inversion therapy, he produced his own Gravity Guidance Inversion Table and sparked a resurgence of interest in the 1970’s.  Other companies entered the market with products like the Bud Leach table and the Backswing.

By the 1980’s this simple and effective therapy became an overwhelming craze in America, with a market share of $70 million!  Thousands of people were receiving or giving themselves inversion therapy and there were over forty different manufacturers of inversion tables and machinery.  Richard Gere’s use of gravity boots in the movie “American Gigilo” fed the movement and soon there was so much competition for equipment that quality began to suffer.  There were isolated incidents of injuries on sub-quality tables that were duly reported on by the media.

In 1983 a Dr. R. Goldman published a study that claimed inverted patients were at risk for increased blood pressure, high internal eye pressure and possible in danger of a stroke.  Needless to say, this study was a major blow to inversion therapy and many therapy table manufacturers went out of business.  This was actually a good thing for proponents of inversion, for the remaining competitors could now pay more attention to quality control with the reduction of competition and increase in their revenues.

Then in 1985, in a reversal of his original theories, Dr. Goldman revealed that further research showed no danger of stroke in people that used inversion therapy.  Marquette University and Portland University conducted their own independent research and drew the same conclusion, putting inversion therapy back on track with the full support of the medical community.  The market for this remarkable physical therapy began to recover as consumer confidence rose.  Where formerly only chiropractors, physical therapists, sports trainers and professional athletes had been using the gravity-based training, ordinary people once more began to embrace the technique and the relief it offered.

Today the United States Army’s Physical Fitness School is incorporating inversion therapy into their world wide training program.  Orthopedic surgeons and other medical specialists recommend the therapy as an alternative to traditional traction, which uses weights to artificially stretch the body.  As little as 25 degrees of inversion for just a few minutes a day can relax tense muscles and relieve pressure on discs and nerve roots.

The benefits of inversion therapy are indisputable, proven by research and medical experience.  It is a simple and non-invasive therapy that greatly relieves pain, tension and stress due to excessive pressure on the spine and organs.  One of the oldest forms of physical therapy known to exist, inversion therapy is here to stay.

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There are many years of research that support the concept of inversion therapy for back pain. Over a thousand years ago Hippocrates witnessed patients being inverted for back pain There is a strong tradition of using equipment to provide mild traction in the form of Inversion therapy.  In fact, one company, the Back Revolution System, has been studied for over three decades. It is an Inversion Therapy system that is unique. No other inversion chair is like it. It is a method to heal, strengthen and relax your spine, building a better set of core muscles. You are strengthening those core muscles that carry you through the day, maintaining your balance and constant physical requirements. You core muscles that allow you to walk and run, clean and play golf or any other sport you favor

When you place yourself in an inverted position on the Back Revolution System, you allow the discs in your back to relax. They relax and the spaces between the discs increase again. You feel taller and your lungs expand more fully. The discs are restored and moisturized by increased blood circulation and lymph drainage. Just seventy seconds on the Back Revolution System can provide hours of relief from back pain. When you relieve the pain the quality of your life will be greatly improved. You will be able to work and play with your family, without the constant back pain you have been dealing with.

Once you have released your spine from pain you will be able to do other things with your life. Playing with your kids or grandkids will be fun once again, as will walking, and shopping, or playing sports. As you work with the Back Revolution System you will be sculpting a defined core, with distinct definition of the muscles. It is that very core muscle group that helps you with posture and walking. It is essential to strengthen the core for energy and healthy living. You get the improvements in your core muscles with out ever having to lie in the floor and do a sit up.

A benefit of the relief from pain that you get from the Back Revolution System is that your stress will diminish. It is hard to relax when in constant pain, so the easy-to-use Back Revolution System eases the stress of being in pain, and at the same time, it lowers your blood pressure. Without a doubt you could get the same benefits from commercial centers, at YMCA’s or fitness clubs  but do you want to have to go somewhere else to exercise, change clothes and drive to get there?  Investing in the Revolution Back System is a small thing, when you consider that it is a complete fitness system for the home. At the beginning or end of your day, in the privacy and comfort of your own home, you can give your back a pain relieving therapy treatment, build a strong core, and relax your body for more efficient work or sleep. The Back Revolution System is a great home fitness piece of equipment.

www.backrevolutionsystem.com

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Every day, there are millions of adults across the United States that suffer from some form of back pain, the most common being lower back pain. The search for natural forms of back pain relief has left many people turning to gravity for help; specifically inversion therapy. This simple but effective treatment involves making use of gravitational force so as to stretch out the spine and to increase the space between the vertebrate discs. Regular use of an inversion machine helps to increase this disc space, thus alleviating back pain.

But what exactly is an inversion machine? An inversion machine or inversion table as it is better known is a form of exercise table designed in such a way that your feet get placed above your head thus inverting the body. This helps to reduce the negative effects of gravity on the spine, in other words, because of this inversion therapy, the gravitational force now gets applied on the upper torso elongating it. Most doctors and even a number of physical therapists have recommended this inversion machine for those who suffer from back pain. It has been proved that all back pain therapy methods merely concentrate on negating the effect of the gravitational pull that affects the back over a long period of time and this is what the inversion machine does so well. These inversion machines come in a variety of designs with specifications ranging from small sizes to those that are built specifically targeted for larger sports athletes.

The benefits of using an inversion machine is that it is very effective for people who complain of lower back pain, because the pull of gravity helps to stretch out the back bone. As a result, there is additional disc space created between the vertebrae and so users experience a great relief from lower back pain. This inversion machine is also very helpful to older people since most back problems are caused due to the aging process. Making use of such inversion therapy methods helps to improve the body posture and increase the blood circulation in the body and as a result helps one de-stress. Not only does using an inversion machine have a beneficial effect on back pain relief, but it also helps to promote relaxation and can be used as a treatment for headaches. Senior citizens who made use of such equipment to help aid back pain relief noted increased flexibility in movements. Such inversion machines have proved to be a boon for some western doctors who were reluctant to prescribe any inversion therapy to their patients out of fear of the side effects. However, with their production, there is no need for any cause for concern as their benefits are widely known.

Nowadays, most of these inversion machines are combined with other equipments so that they can also be used as a workout machine to exercise other body parts. These specifically designed back pain relief inversion machines also differ in the amount of weight they can sustain. When picking out an inversion machine, remember that not all manufacturers offer a warranty and so you should choose an inversion machine that best suits your body type.

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photo credit: jurvetson
Inversion therapy is a process where the body is put into natural traction by being suspended from the lower body or feet. It has many fans and is said to be a fantastic health enhancer in many areas. People use it for back pain relief, and to improve circulation and by some accounts, inversion therapy relieves the symptoms of depression. The writer Dan Brown says that it helps him overcome writer’s block.

Inversion therapy causes traction, meanwhile stretching the entire body much longer than it could be stretched standing or lying down. This is said to be good for posture, and flexibility and lastly, it is reported that engaging in inversion therapy improves blood flow.

Twelve reasons why inversion therapy rocks.

1. Inversion therapy provides traction in a gentle manner, using the weight of your own body to relieve or reduce back pain. It allows the discs to maintain spaces between the vertebrae, also known as spinal decompression.
2. Inversion therapy is a non invasive technique. It involves no cutting, no needles, and there is no anesthetic required.
3. Inversion therapy improves circulation by the contrast of being upright, and then heads down then upright again. It causes a pumping effect with blood and lymph system, which also helps with lymphatic drainage.
4. Using an inversion chair or table can strengthen your core muscle groups without painful floor exercises.
5. Inversion therapy improves fitness levels. You naturally work your body to maintain feelings of equilibrium and there by increase the fitness level. Inversion therapy strengthens core muscles just because you strive to maintain balance.
6. Improve vestibular function. Inversion therapy helps with balance and orientation. Your eyes get a workout and so does your inner ear, as you relate the position of your body to the world around you.
7. You can totally relax in an inverted position, it relieves stress. It is effortless.
8. Inversion relieves gravity induced illnesses. It decompresses neck vertebrae and improves posture.
9. By using inversion therapy you feel younger. The improved circulation and reduced pain allow you to age gracefully. Posture is improved and balance is restored.
10. According to some experts inversion can reduce hemorrhoids, and help varicose veins. Inversion gives prolapsed organs a lift.
11. The gentle stretching of inversion therapy strengthens ligaments and soft tissues. It works to relieve muscle spasms.
12. Practiced daily inversion helps correct spinal alignment problems and eliminate tension headaches.

Inversion therapy in some form has been practiced for hundreds, or perhaps thousands of years. Hippocrates reports seeing a person bound by his feet and raised to be suspended from a ladder to alleviate back pain. You do not need to go to those extremes now. Therapy balls provide some of the inversion effect, but better yet are the home versions of inversion chairs. It is simple to find an inversion table or chair that is right for you. An example of an inversion system that is versatile but is of excellent quality is the Back Revolution System, available at the website by the same name. What is the price you put on good health?

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