Inversion Therapy And Your Spine
You've probably seen it on TV, where people hang upside down on these funny-looking tables
. My own first experience of seeing one was on a made-for-TV movie, where the villain was an eccentric millionaire who spent the first 20 minutes of his day upside down. But are there any real benefits from inversion therapy?
Inversion therapy applies light traction to the spine. Some claim that it was invented by Hippocrates in 400 B.C., and that in addition to treating back pain, it can also reverse aging to the spine.
How does the spine work?
Bones, called vertebrae, compose the structure of the back. In between the vertebrae lie sponge-like discs which act as shock absorbers. Over time, these discs can be worn down and compressed, especially with exercises like running or standing and walking on pavement for long stretches.
The inside of the discs contain a jelly-type substance. When the disc is compressed for a period of time, it can rupture, and this substance can protrude outside the disc and put pressure on the nerves of the spine.
When your body is inverted, mild traction is applied to the spine, and it becomes slightly elongated. Because of this, the space between the vertebrae is increased, which results in less pressure on the discs. Naturally, this results in less back pain.
By oscillating on an inversion table a pumping action is created around the discs which flushes out waste and draws in fluid around the discs. Inversion therapy also causes the muscles to relax which increases blood flow and reduces the chances of painful spasms to occur.
We all know that the heart pumps blood through your body. Inversion therapy can help the blood reach your brain much easier, decreasing the workload on the heart.
Have you ever had a professional massage? If you have, chances are, your therapist told you to drink lots of water afterward. The reason for that is lymph, which is similar to blood in that it removes toxins from your body, but different in that it has no pump similar to the heart to move it through your body. So how does lymph get circulated?
Lymph becomes absorbed in the muscles. When the muscles are compressed, like when you exercise or get a massage, the lymph gets squeezed out like water from a sponge. It carries toxins and waste with it, which is why your massage therapist says to drink a lot of water. You want to flush these toxins out as quickly as possible.
Inversion therapy, through the force of gravity, helps facilitate this process, making it easier for the muscles to rid themselves of this toxic waste.
How often should you invert?
It's generally recommended that most people would benefit from inverting two to three times every day. There are some contraindications, however, such as glaucoma, high blood pressure, or any heart problems. Before beginning any form of inversion therapy, you should consult your doctor.
by: Gregory McGuire
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