Proponents of inversion therapy claim that an inversion table can promote
health by lengthening the spine and therefore reliving back and neck pain as well as enhance circulation. It involves strapping your ankles into restraints, lying on a flat table and slowly inverting. However, there are some safety measures that any user of an inversion table should be aware of.
1.) The Underwriter’s Laboratory Test, or UL number. This is a place that provides third party unbiased tests for public safety. A manual inversion table that passed the test will receive a UL 2601-1 number, a motorized one will get a UL 1647 mark.
2.) User Compatibility. Most inversion tables are designed to accommodate people between 4 feet 10 inches and 6 feet 6 inches, and that weight less than 300 pounds. If you don’t fall within these parameters, you will have to have a table specially made.
3.) Table Readiness. Before the first use and periodically thereafter, each inversion table should undergo a thorough inspection by the owner. The owner should check that all the screws are tight, there is not significant wear and tear that could endanger the user, and that the settings are appropriate to the person using the device.
4.) Length of use. Most experts recommend that an inversion table not be used for longer than a person feels comfortable, usually around 5 minutes. If a person feels nauseous etc, they should immediately come back to an upright position.
5.) How to use. A person should only invert gradually on an inversion table, and never sit up while inverted. Most experts and doctors agree that inverting 10 degrees than waiting 30 seconds, then repeating the process is a good way for beginners to get used to inversion. After that they can invert more rapidly, but it should always be in a controlled manner.
There are many inversion tables on the market, including teeter inversion tables, which is the best known company.
