Download - The Upsides & Downsides of Inversion Therapy
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Ready to see the world a little differently? Try the view from upside-down on an inversion table. Many people are buckling in their feet and taking the plunge to not only get a new perspective on life (literally), but to also reduce lower back pain, stimulate circulation and lymphatic fluids, ease stress, improve joint health and increase flexibility.
Used as part of a holistic approach to natural healing, inversion therapy could be your next wellness trend obsession.
Youve probably heard about the benefits of inverted poses in
your last yoga class, but maybe it turned out doing handstands
isnt as easy as your instructor previously claimed. Enter the
inversion table. A gentler way to angle your heart above your
head, inversion tables are an easy-to-use tool for stress-relieving
decompression therapy.
Ever wonder why you feel shorter at night than in the morning?
Because you actually are! Throughout the day gravity and weight
bearing activities compress your spinal discs, causing them to
release moisture and decrease flexibility. This causes the average
person to lose half-an-inch to three-fourths-of-an-inch of height
over the course of a day. Not only does this shorten your body, it
also pinches the spinal nerves causing lower back pain.
Inversion therapy slowly releases the pressure on your spinal discs
(called applying traction), allowing them to rehydrate to full size,
thus reversing the effects of gravity on your height. This also
opens up the exit passageway for the nerves to the spinal column,
releasing those pesky pinched nerves. With hydrated discs comes
nourished cartilage, enhancing the natural shock absorption in
your joints. Additionally, going upside-down stretches your back,
increasing flexibility and ligament strength.
Adding movement to the gentle inversions can also stimulate the
lymphatic system, known for its defense function in the immune
system. Lymphatic fluids filter waste products from the blood but
uPSIDeDOWNthe upsides & Downsides of Inversion therapy
By Lauren Holiday
have no built-in pump for doing so. Adding
oscillations to your inversion therapy routine
creates a pumping action around the spinal
discs forcing waste out and drawing new
fluid in. What this means for your body is
better recovery from training and other
stressful actions your body endures.
Knowing the benefits of inversion therapy
is just the first step. Now you must begin a
routine by strapping into an inversion table
and angling yourself horizontal for one
minute, or until your blood flow is able to
adapt to the change. Push back no lower
than 45 degrees for the first week, breathing
deeply for one to two minutes. You can also
raise your hands above your head to create
deeper spinal traction. Raise back up to a
25 degree angle until you can rest there for
five minutes. Doing this twice a day will help
your body quickly grow accustomed to the
new perspective. After the first week, increase
your angle by 10 to 20 degrees per week until
you are comfortable with an angle between
60 and 90 degrees for one to five minutes.
Always remember to use gentle movement
when lowering down or pulling up.
Easing into seeing the world upside down
will help you to avoid the downsides and just
experience the upsides of inversion therapy.
Like most things in life, inversion therapy
is not universally beneficial to everyone.
Because your heartbeat slows and blood
pressure increases while inverted, it is not
recommended for people with heart disease,
high blood pressure, glaucoma, or acid
reflux. You should always consult a doctor
before beginning an inversion therapy
routine.
WItH HyDrateD DIScS comeS nourISHeD
cartIlage, enHancIng tHe natural SHock
aBSorPtIon In your joIntS.
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