Myth: Inversion Tables Do Not Work
Fact The benefits of inversion tables have been well documented in many medical studies internationally.
View the above video to learn about the Newcastle Study from our fearless leader, Roger Teeter.
- Newcastle General Hospital in the UK compared sciatica patient results, with one group receiving standard physiotherapy and one group receiving physiotherapy plus inversion therapy with a Teeter. Results suggested that patients who invert with a Teeter Hang Ups are 70.5% less likely to need surgery!
- Nachemson’s study measured internal pressure in the 3rd lumbar disc through a range of body positions. While lying down, 25% of standing body weight remains on the disc. The study indicates that a traction load of 60% body weight is sufficient to reduce the residual pressure to zero.
- Nosse’s study found that inversion increases the spinal length and that EMG activity (an indicator of muscle pain) declined 35% within the first 10 seconds of inversion. 
- Sheffield’s study found that 88% of back pain patients returned to work after being treated with inversion therapy, and indicated that the main basis for improvement was because of the stretching of the paraspinal vertebral muscles and ligaments and possibly the widening of the intervertebral disks. 
In just a few minutes, the body decompresses, naturally using your body weight and gravity so soft tissue in the joints can hydrate and decompress. Progressive decompression allows each joint to be decompressed by the same weight that compresses it while upright. This “perfect” stretch helps naturally relieve back pain, keeping the weight-bearing joints healthy and allowing the weight-bearing skeleton to align, which can result in better balance, posture, and symmetry.
In addition to the rehabilitative benefits, many doctors, physical therapists, and sports trainers recognize inversion as an effective way to prevent compression fatigue joint injuries. In fact, even the U.S. Army Physical Fitness School intends to include inversion into their worldwide physical training doctrine.
So, do you still think inversion tables do not work?