A fitness inversion table is a type of inversion device that allows a user to essentially hang upside down. The purpose of the fitness inversion table is to allow the spine to decompress, or lengthen, thereby relieving pressure on the spinal discs as well as the nerves that run through the spine which may have been compressed by the spine or muscles supporting the spine. Such tables are usually used by athletes and people with chronic back pain. A person who has never used a fitness inversion table before should be careful not to hang inverted for too long, as this may lead to serious health issues.
Throughout a normal day, gravity pulls down on the body, causing the spine to compress, or shorten. This can put strain on the spinal discs, which are gel-filled sacs that rest between each vertebrae in the spine. When these spinal discs compress, they may rupture or bulge, leading to a condition known as a herniated disc. Herniated discs can be painful, and they can press against nerves that run through or near the spine, thereby leading to nerve pain throughout the areas of the body serviced by the nerve. A fitness inversion table allows a person to decompress the spine, thereby reducing the risk of disc herniation and nerve pain.
When the spine compresses, the muscles that surround and support the spine will also be affected. Tight muscles can also cause the spine to compress, leading to chronic or regular back pain. By hanging inverted on a fitness inversion table, a user can allow his or her natural body weight to stretch those muscles, thereby helping prevent muscle strains as well as spinal compression. The inversion should only be done for five to 15 minutes a day; longer periods of time may cause blood to rush to the head, making the user pass out or become dizzy.
A fitness inversion table also allows a user to stimulate blood flow throughout the body. As gravity pulls downward on the body throughout the day, blood tends to pool downward as well. Hanging upside down can allow that blood to redistribute throughout the body, thereby potentially creating more energy in the body. People often report feeling more clear-headed after inversion, as well as more relaxed. Some people enjoy meditating while inverted, further enhancing the fitness inversion table’s health benefits.