Inversion therapy, or simply inversion, is the process of seeking therapeutic benefits from hanging by the legs, ankles, or feet in an inverted angle or entirely upside down. It is a form of spinal traction.Spinal Traction can be useful for effects of decreasing muscle spasm, stretching muscles/ligaments of the back, increasing the space between vertebral bodies and thus rehydrating the intervertebral discs, decreasing disc bulging and decreasing pressure on nerve roots and the spinal cord. In turn, these effects can help for the reduction of pain and increasing tissue repair. Gravity boots are ankle supports designed for inversion therapy."Brown plays down Code controversy" BBC; 24 April 2006 Some people use gravity boots to add an extra challenge to workouts, doing inverted crunches or squats.
Mechanism of action Potential health benefits Inversion therapy uses gravity-assisted traction to reduce compressive forces on the spine. When the body is positioned at an inverted angle, body weight creates a distractive force that may temporarily increase intervertebral spacing, reduce pressure on nerve roots, and promote muscle relaxation. These effects are similar in principle to mechanical spinal traction used in clinical rehabilitation settings.
Potential risks
People who have heart disease, high blood pressure, eye diseases (such as glaucoma), or are pregnant are at higher risk for the dangers related to inversion therapy and should consult their doctors about it first. The first time anyone tries inversion therapy with gravity, they should be sure to have someone standing by, in case assistance is required to get out of the apparatus, or if health problems are experienced.
During an episode of acid reflux, small amounts of stomach acid may escape from the stomach and into the oesophagus. Gravity typically minimizes this upward leakage, but an inversion table and acid reflux can be a painful, nauseating, and potentially dangerous combination. The inverted position, leading to an increase in heart rate and output, peripheral resistance, venous return and myocardial oxygen consumption, is not recommended in cardiac individuals.
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