You may know of inversion table products, which are staples of inversion therapy. This is a therapy of positioning one’s self upside down, or at an inverted angle, and is recommended for individuals who suffer from a variety of medical problems. The theory is that while the body’s weight is suspended from the lower body, gravity’s pull may actually decompress the joints of the body below the anchor. In theory, this would help the joints in a person’s body to equal out, since the person would be standing in a polar opposite position as his/her normal alignment.
There are actually several proposed benefits of inversion table products, including chronic pain as in the case of back pain or bulging discs, as well as recurring headaches or migraines. Additionally, some medical authorities have discovered that hanging upside down therapy can actually help with draining blood from lower limbs, since you are actually helping your heart move blood from the legs and chest area towards the heart and lungs. The blood is rich in oxygen while stretching the muscles helps to relax them and remove toxins contained inside contracted muscles. Scoliosis and even organ prolapse is another condition that may be helped using inversion table treatment.
How Difficult is Inversion Therapy?
People are often concerned about how the process works and how long they can last upside down. Of course, there is no set regimen regarding this treatment. Different people, suffering from different conditions, may respond differently to treatment and may not require the same amount of time spent upside down. Products such as the Teeter Hang Ups system are provided with instructions encouraging new users to start slowly by trying slight angles instead of full upside down hanging.
The reason being that overusing inversion table products could result in pulling a muscle or even in a nerve in your back. Once you reach a 45 degree angle, you experience traction. Usually, the less difficult the angle, the longer you can spend in that position. The majority of Teeter users only stay in an inverted or nearly inverted position for 20 minutes or less twice a day. However, new users can certainly do less.
How Much is Too Much?
What really matters is that you feel your own body and self-determine when enough is enough. If you begin to feel pain then it is obviously time to get up. Remember, you can always adjust the angle of incline if need be. Some users actually start at 30 degrees or less than horizontal level when they begin therapy. It serves no purpose to strain and push yourself because this treatment works best when you are completely relaxed. Of course, once you get passed 60 degrees, you begin to experience more bodily benefits from the more powerful traction. Full inversion at 90 degrees is not going to be practical for everyone, but many athletes do speak highly of the treatment since they have stronger muscles and thus benefit from higher loads for decompression.
If you are interested in learning more about this beneficial form of therapy then look up inversion table reviews online and see what others are saying about hanging upside down treatment.
What is the limit to hanging upside down? Because half hour to an hour doesn’t seem to bother me, can it do any damage to your eyes or anything?
I’m not a doctor, and the questions you’re asking would be better answered by a doctor. All I can tell you is what I have learned from my own experience. I only hang upside down for about 30 second to a minute, then I raise the inversion table back up and lay flat for a few minutes. Then I repeat that same process until my back feels good and stretched. I don’t know if it can affect your eyes, other than if you have diabetes. If you have diabetes, you should consult a doctor before using an inversion table.