Teeter
Hang Ups Inversion Tables
F5000, F6000, F7000, F8000, F9000,
Power II, Power VI, DEX & DEX II
Spinal Decompression - Stretch Away Pain and Stress
Click
for
Inversion Table
|
Anatomy
of the Spine
Briefly explained, your spine is made up
of the following components:
1) Vertebrae - the bones
that make up your spine
2) Nerves - your entire
nerve system runs through your spine
3) Discs - spongy material
that separates your vertebrae, allowing the nerves
to run between each bone segment. Discs act like shock
absorbers and allow the spine to flex.
To understand the sources of your particular back
problem and/or how to prevent back pain, it helps
to understand the anatomy of your spine.

|
Each
vertebrae is held in its proper place by three different
kinds of soft tissue-discs, ligaments, and muscles.
Almost all back problems are related to the dysfunction
of one of these three.
The
natural curves of the spine are vitally important for
giving your back strength and resilience. There are
24 vertebrae in your spinal column. The lumbar vertebrae
are approximately two inches in diameter reflecting
their weight-bearing role. The cervical vertebrae are
smaller, since they must support only the head. Facet
joints are located in pairs on the back of the spine,
where one vertebra slightly overlaps the next. The facet
joints guide and restrict movement of the spine. To
the rear of each vertebra is a hole and when the vertebrae
are stacked up, these holes form a continuous channel
which holds the spinal cord.
The spinal cord provides a vital link between the brain
and all body functions below the neck. Spinal nerves
emerge from the spinal cord through gaps between the
main body of the vertebrae and the facet joints. One
frequent cause of back pain is a worn facet joint, which
can result in a pinched nerve. Therefore, it is very
important to keep your vertebrae in good shape. |
|
Today
back pain is one of the most common of all physical
complaints in the world. About 70 to 90% of men and
women in the U.S. have had or will have a least one
bout of incapacitating low back pain. Back pain contributes
to lost work time and may cost as much as $100 billion
annually (if lost productivity is included).
Low
back pain can be acute or chronic, manifesting in the
lumbosacral region and associated musculoskeletal structures.
Low back pain is extremely prevalent. Low back pain
can become a life long struggle. When performing even
the simplest tasks of everyday life, we may turn, twist,
lift, and either push or pull something the wrong way
and be crippled with low back pain that is constant
and debilitating in nature.
Low back pain injuries may often be overlooked and under
diagnosed. Consequently, the injuries may progress and
delayed initiation of appropriate therapy may prolong
the treatment course. Low back pain injuries may be
as simple as muscle aches or as severe as spinal cord
paralysis from lumbar compression secondary to osteoporotic
fractures. Spinal decompression is the way to reverse
this problem and the best technique known for accomplishing
spinal decompression is using an inversion table in
the convenience of your home. |
|
|
Back
pain in the lower back or low back pain is a common
concern, affecting up to 90% of Americans at some point
in their lifetime. Up to 50% will have more than one
episode. Low back pain is not a specific disease. Rather,
it is a symptom that may occur from a variety of different
processes. In up to 85% of people with low back pain,
despite a thorough medical examination, no specific
cause of the pain can be identified. |
• Low back pain is second only to the common cold
as a cause of lost days at work. It is also one of the
most common reasons to visit a doctor's office or a
hospital's emergency department.
• For 90% of people,
even those with nerve root irritation, their
symptoms will improve within 2 months, no matter
what treatment is used—even if no treatment is
given.
• Doctors usually refer to back pain as acute
if it has been present for less than a month and chronic
if it lasts for a longer period of time.
|
|
This
drawing shows a normal disc. The main function of your
discs is to act as shock absorbers and provide separation
between each vertebrae. The outer layers of your discs
are formed from tough cartilage. The inner core of your
disc is a jelly-like nucleus.
In total, your discs account for one-quarter the length
of your vertebral column- 4.50" to 6" (12
to 15 cm) for most people. The
disc acquires its nourishment through fluid-attracting
and fluid-absorbing qualities of its jelly-like nucleus.
This is one reason using an inversion table can be so
beneficial in disc healing and regeneration. The rocking
motion is extraordinary in creating an intermittent
traction and compression that can assist in the regenerative
process. One reason discs degenerate and and regenerate
slowly is due to the passive nature of the circulation
to the ruptured or compressed discs. Spinal
decompression is the way to reverse this
|
 |
|
problem
and the best technique known for accomplishing spinal
decompression is using an inversion table in the convenience
of your home.
With no blood supply of its own, the disc is dependent
on sponge action for attracting and absorbing nutrients
from adjacent tissues. During non-weight bearing activities
(sleeping) the discs expand as they soak up fluid, increasing
the length of the spine by as much as one inch overnight.
During weight bearing activities (sitting, standing,
exercising), this fluid is squeezed back into the adjacent
soft tissue.
Low
back pain can range from acute to chronic. Ranging from
a dull, intermittent, nagging ache to an unbearable,
tear eliciting pain. |
|
Your
vertebra are supported and moved by many different muscles.
Muscles are used for three basic functions; support,
movement, and posture control. If muscles are tight
or weak, they create or worsen back pain. Joints are
controlled by at least two sets of muscles, flexors
which bend the joint, and extensors which straighten
it. In addition, most joints have rotator muscles that
twist and rotate your bones. Good posture is only possible
if the flexors, extensors, and rotators are in proper
balance. |


|
Your
paraspinal muscles (which run parallel to your spine)
rotate your spine, bend it backwards, and sideways,
and influence posture by creating and maintaining the
curves of your spine. Your erector spine muscles are
involved in movement and run the length of your spine.
These muscles help you to bend over by resisting the
force of gravity, and to straighten up by contracting
and exerting great compressive force on your spine.
Your abdominal muscles play an important role in helping
to support the spine by maintaining pressure inside
the abdomen. This pressure is an essential measure of
counter support to the spine. |
|
Understanding
the physiology responsible for the symptoms will guide
us in understanding the treatment. Most back pain is
caused by musculoligamentous strain, degenerative disk
disease, nerve impingement, sciatica, or arthritis and
responds to symptomatic treatment. Occasionally, back
pain may result from problems originating outside the
spinal axis. Serious underlying problems such as tumor,
infection, or vertebral compression must be kept in
mind. (1)
The perception of pain is experienced on an individual
basis, but the physiologic basis of pain receptors are
the same. Nociceptors are pain receptors of the body.
They are located all over the body and maldistributed.
The skin being largest organ and also extremely sensitive,
has the most nociceptors. Impulses are generated by
nociceptors, which travel along the spinal cord and
relay pain that is either diffuse or localized. Fast
pain travels through the A Fibers along the neospinothalamic
tract. A Fibers produce pain that is sharp and well
localized. On the other hand, slow pain travels through
C Fibers along the paleospinothalanic tract producing
pain that is dull and aching in nature. (2) |
|
Your
psoas muscles (hip flexors) are a large group of muscles
in the abdomen. These muscles help to flex your hips
when walking or climbing stairs. They play an important
role in maintaining posture for sitting and standing.
Intravertebral joints are supported by ligaments, tough
and inelastic fibers which support the spine and hold
it together by allowing only a limited range of movement
in any one direction. Ligaments require regular movement
and loading, otherwise they will eventually become stiff
and weak. Using the inversion table can give an excellent
controlled workout to the muscles and ligaments necessary
for a healthy spine. |
|
The
etiology of the pain depends on the injury sustained.
Nerves, spinal cord, disks and vertebrae make up the
complex structure of the lower back. Muscles and ligaments
provide strength and power and at the same time support
and stability. Small joints of the lower back allow
functional movement and further stability. The spinal
cord and nerves are the “electric cables”
which travel through a central canal in the lumbar vertebrae,
connecting your brain to the muscles of your legs. The
five lumbar vertebrae connect the upper spine to the
pelvis and sacrum. The disks, like shock absorbers,
act by both supporting and cushioning the lumbar vertebrae.
(3) |
|
We
need strong back, abdominal, and hip muscles to resist
gravity and to hold us up. Besides holding us up they
act to keep the spine and pelvis in alignment. As societies
around the world become more mechanized and computerized,
they have also become less exercised. We lock ourselves
behind desks and in front of computers. When we sit,
our back muscles hold us erect, but our stomach and
hip muscles are inactive. When they are not exercised,
stomach and hip muscles become weaker, putting a painful
strain on the back muscles. Sitting places higher loads
inside the lumbar disc than standing (between 150% to
250% depending on posture). |
 |
Compressed
Disc, Slipped Disc, Herniated Disc, Ruptured Disc,
Leading to a Pinched Nerve (nerve impingement) & Sciatica |
|
A
ruptured disc in the back occurs when all or part of
the soft, gelatinous central part of the vertebral disc
is forced through the bones of the spinal column. What
is going on in the body? Sandwiched between the vertebra
of the spinal column are discs that act like shock absorbers.
A disc is made up of two parts. The outer ring or annulus
is a tough, fibrous material. The inner part or nucleus
is a soft, jelly-like material. A ruptured disc occurs
when the outer ring tears or break, allowing the jelly-like
material to poke through the crack. This can result
in pressure on nerves, often causing pain. Sometimes
leading to sciatica & leg pain. The terms ruptured
disc, slipped disc & herniated are often used in
the same context. There is an enormous body of evidence
that a compressed disc, whether or not it is actually
ruptured can be aided by inversion
therapy. Inversion increases the intervertebral
space and allows the disc to return to is shock absorber
and spacer function. Spinal
decompression is the way to reverse this problem and
the best technique known for accomplishing spinal decompression
(reverse nerve impingement) is using an inversion table
in the convenience of your home. |
There
is an enormous body of evidence that shows
a compressed disc, ruptured or not can
often be aided by inversion therapy. |
| Spinal
decompression is the way to reverse these
problems and the best technique known
for accomplishing spinal decompression
is using an inversion table in the convenience
of your home. |
|
|
|
 |
 |
| Inversion
Helps Improve Circulation and Accelerates the Cleansing
of Blood and Lymph Fluids |
| The
cardiovascular system is your body's transportation
system, carrying food and oxygen to your body's cells.
Oxygen-rich blood from the lungs travels out through
the arteries and waste-filled blood comes back through
the veins to be cleansed and recharged with oxygen.
Because your body must work against gravity to retrieve
blood from your legs and lower torso, inversion can
help to ease the circulation process by placing your
body in a position that utilizes gravity's force in
your favor.
Unlike the cardiovascular system, the lymphatic system
has no pump. Only the alternate contraction and relaxation
of muscles moves lymphatic fluid through capillaries
and one-way valves to the upper chest for cleansing.
Inverting the body so that gravity works with, not against,
these one-way valves helps to push the fluid up to the
chest.
In her book Beyond Cellulite,
Nicloe Ronsard discusses the role of the lymph system
in creating cellulite, and ways in which people can
help stimulate lymph flow to reduce cellulite. She explains
that when the flow of lymph is slowed down, a stagnation
of fluid occurs in the tissues. In areas where circulation
tends to be poor and as in the hips and thigh area,
this stagnation encourages the formation of cellulite.
By reversing gravity's force on the flow of blood and
lymph fluids in the body, you can increase the nourishment
of cells and accelerate the removal of wastes. The
rocking motion that is easy to do on the Teeter Hang
Ups inversion tables is excellent for stimulating lymph
and blood circulation. |
Testimonial
To see more testimonials as to the benefits of inversion
therapy please click here: |
| Hi,
I'm just writing to say how completely
happy I am that I bought your F5000 Inversion Table.
I was having severe problems with my back. A trip to
the Dr. and ultimately an MRI revealed I had severe
calcium deposits (from arthritis) built up around my
sciatic nerve. This resulted in my having to walk
bent over just to slightly reduce the severe pain
I was experiencing starting at the buttocks and going
all the way down to my ankles. I was really depressed
when my orthopedic Dr. was recommending I see a spinal
surgeon. After having surgery for both 2 hips and 2
knee replacements I was not exactly
enthused about the prospect of back surgery.
I told the Dr. I wasn't ready for that option just yet
cause my wife had seen an article
on Inversion Tables and how they can help people with
herniated discs and sciatic problems. I was skeptical
but when I saw your free trial offer, I figured what
have I got to lose, so I bought the F5000 Inversion
Table. At first I didn't think it helped, however after
just 2 weeks use I could walk upright again and have
very little to no pain any longer. Don't know
how long this table will help me, but each day I can
put off back surgery I'm thankful for.
Feel free to use this testimonial.
I'm thankful I listened to my wife
and decided to try this table.
John A. Tisevich - 8/3/2003 |
Testimonial
To see more testimonials as to the benefits of inversion
therapy please click here: |
Sciatica
The sciatic nerves are the largest nerves in
the body - about as big around as your little finger.
They start in the lower spine, pass behind the hip joint,
and go down the buttock and back of the leg to the foot.
Pain from this nerve, called sciatica (a
form of nerve impingement)
,
may be felt from the hip to the big toe. |
|
Along
with aging, most causes of low back pain are from sprains
and strains. These injuries are usually from repetitive
motions and lifting. Other causes of low back are osteoathritis,
muscle spasms and sciatica (herniated disc). Metabolic
bone disease, such as osteoporosis can cause debilitating
back pain. Spine fracture from trauma, cauda equina
syndrome (spinal stenosis) spondylisis, ankylosing spondylitis,
benign and malignant metastatic tumors can also cause
low back pain. Infection, connective tissue disorders,
abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA), hyperparathyroidism,
and nephrolithias are also considered possible causes
of low back pain. (4) |
|
What
causes sciatica?
Sometimes the nerve is pinched between vertebrae,
or its passageways are narrowed by arthritis or swelling
of a sprained ligament in the area, and it becomes irritated
and tender. A disk (the cushion between the vertebrae)
may bulge out of place and press on the nerve (impingement)
. Rarely, an abscess, blood clot, or growth may push
on the nerve. At times, no exact cause is found, but
a movement that is normally harmless (such as bending
over) suddenly brings on violent pain. |
Is
sciatica different from other types of back pain?
Yes, although low back pain often comes with
it. Usually, sciatica affects only one side. Pain often
radiates down the buttock or leg. It can range from
a tingling, burning, pins-and-needles feeling to excruciating,
shooting pain that makes standing up nearly impossible.
Coughing, sneezing, and sitting make the pain worse.
Your leg or foot may be numb or weak and have odd sensations
in it. You may be unable to move your foot or bend your
knee. Spinal
decompression is the way to reverse this problem and
the best technique known for accomplishing spinal decompression
(reverse nerve impingement) is using an inversion table
in the convenience of your home.
| In
most cases sciatica as well as cervical disc
compression is a mechanical problem. Probably
the best mechanical solution in the world is
an inversion table (hanging at mild to moderate
angles and including some oscillation) along
with an exercise program (see below). This two
prong approach works to decompress the the discs
which may be desiccated (dried out) due to chronic
compression. And to balance out the muscle strength
in the front , back, left and right sides of
the pelvis to reduce pelvic tilt. |
Our
company has been working with back pain sufferers
since 1980 and the feedback we have received
from the more than 12,500 people we have sold
tables to are testimony to how well inversion
therapy works. |
Traction
was the therapy of choice by the medical profession
for hundreds if not thousands of years. It is
amazing how often they overlook this simple
therapy in this age of drugs and surgery. |
Another
component of healing and regeneration is nutrition.
Our company has also been involved in the field
of nutritional supplements for many, many years.
There is a very compelling argument made by
researchers & nutritionists that many if
not most people are mineral deficient. The bases
for this claim is that plants are grown with
synthetic fertilizers on mineral depleted soils.
The best mineral supplement we have ever found
that has resulted in improved health for thousands
and thousands of people is New
Vision's Essential Minerals. They are derived
from organic plants and have about 70 major
and trace minerals that are easy to absorb in
a delicious lemon-lime drink. For any health
plan to be most effective it is good to know
that your basic nutritional needs are covered.
We would also recommend New
Vision's Essential Calcium. |
|
To
learn more about sciatica, diagnosis and
treatment of piriformis syndrome take a
look at sciatica.org. |
|
|
 |
|
| Discs
are soft, rubbery pads between the hard bones
(vertebrae) of the spinal column. When they are
young and healthy, discs are plump with water,
which keeps them hydrated and they have the perfect
consistency to work as shock absorbers for the
vertebrae. They also act to maintain the space
between the vertebrae so the nerves are not impinged
upon. Over time the daily stress of gravity, sitting,
twisting and the process of aging may dry them
out like grapes turned into raisins. This is called
desiccation. This disc desiccation or drying out
can be reversed and the disc can be rehydrated.
As discs deteriorate, their tough outer shell
weakens. One swing on the tennis court or lifting
in the wrong way can burst the interior gel
through
the
caseing, like jelly squishing out of a doughnut.
|
|
act
as shock absorber and spacer. With mild inversion
the vertebrae
are separated allowing the discs to regain their
form and function. After the pressure is taken
off the nerve there can be a rocking motion added
to the inversion therapy.
The rocking motion creates an accordion like pumping
action that helps to hydrate and increase the
fluid circulation to the discs. It creates a compression
and expansion. One of the reasons discs degenerate
and don't regenerate well is due to the passive
nature of the fluid flow to the discs. They are
not vasuclarized like a kidney. The fluid flow
to and from the disc is based on body movement
such as walking and breathing. The rocking motion
on the table facilitates this fluid flow as good
or better than perhaps any other activity.
|
|
The result is the infamous herniated disc (also
referred to as ruptured or slipped disc) this
leads to pressure on the
nerve also known as nerve impigement.
When a disc bulges against one of the two sciatic
nerves, which run from the spinal cord down the
legs, the pain can be excruciating. This bulge
can also take place in the cervical area which
affects the neck, shoulders, arms and hands.
Inversion therapy adresses the duel function of
the discs, their ability to |
Disc
Desiccation and Diuretics for High Blood
Pressure - Water Pills |
We
have no way to verify this scientifically,
however, we have been working in the field
of back problems and inversion therapy
since 1980 and it has been our observation
that there may be a correlation between
diuretic therapy and disc problems. Long
term use of diuretics to help control
high blood pressure may contribute to
disc desiccation which is described above.
Most people who have disc problems may
have one or two compressed, herniated
or ruptured discs. We have found people
who have disc problems and who are on
diuretics seem to be more likely to have
3-4 or even more compressed discs than
the person who is not on diuretics. Also
when we hear someone has sciatica on both
sides, this is often a sign to us they
maybe on diuretics. When people tell us
they have 5 compressed discs and we ask
if they are on diuretics, we are
not surprised to hear that they are. They
are surprised when we ask them the question
because they had never made the correlation
before. We have even spoken with nephrologists
(kidney and blood
pressure specialist) and they had never
made the correlation either but believe
there maybe be a causal relationship.
To our knowledge we are the first to make
this observation. |
|
| |
|
EXERCISES - EXERCISES
-
EXERCISES
- EXERCISES
-
EXERCISES
|
Some
Things To Keep In Mind - EXERCISES
Remember many of our back & other problems are due
to gravity's chronic downward pull on our bodies. Often
causing COMPRESSED OR PINCHED NERVES leading to SCIATICA.
Hang Ups inversion tables can
assist in reversing this compression. Also keep
in mind that before surgery became so popular for back
problems TRACTION was the therapy of choice. Gravity
traction gives the user total control and the results
we have seen are impressive. Along with INVERSION THERAPY
we encourage people to be sure they have bilateral symmetry
in the muscle strength that holds the pelvis & back
in alignment. Doing the exercised
below may help achieve this bilateral
symmetry. PELVIC
TILT is often a condition that
happens along with compressed discs and pinched nerves.
Often leading to one
leg being shorter than the other or exacerbating
a leg length difference. For example after some trauma
such as an auto accident the body goes into a protective
mode and certain muscles may tense up. The pelvis may
tilt left to right or front to back or both. This tilt
affects the entire alignment of the spine. This alignment
affects how the vertebra may impinge on the nerves.
Inversion can usually increase the intervertebral space
and relieve the direct pressure on the nerve. But in
order to get a more complete correction the muscles
that align the pelvis must be equally balanced and strong
on both sides. There are many exercises that can assist
in this effort. Four (1, 2, 3 and
5) that we have found very beneficial are:
1. All Fours Leg Thrust
- Get on all fours like you are going to crawl. Thrust
out the right leg up and back & then the left. You
may want to do 10 reps with each leg. It is good to
vary the position of the foot so it is sometimes perpendicular
to the ground and sometimes parallel to the ground.
Start out with a mild workout and if well tolerated
work these muscles everyday until they are quite strong.
2. Standing Leg Thrust
- This is a variation on All
Fours Leg Thrust. You can do this standing.
Hold on to a sturdy dresser or table about waste or
abdomen high. Lean forward and kick your leg back and
up as if you are trying to kick someone directly behind
you. It is good to vary the position of the foot so
it is sometimes perpendicular to the ground and sometimes
parallel to the ground. Do an equal number of reps with
each leg. Try if you can to work up to the point that
when you kick your leg out it is parallel to the ground.
3. Stair Climbing
- Start gradually and work up to a 5-10 story building
2-4 times a week.
These exercises work directly on the gluteus maximus,
psoas and other muscles to help strengthen & balance
the muscles that if imbalanced can tilt the pelvis &
exacerbate compressed disc & irritated nerve problems.
4. Swimming
- This is a marvelous way to get good exercise that
is easy on the joints and can relax, strengthen and
balance the muscular system that aligns and effects
the spine. Sacroiliac joint dysfunction
which is different from sciatica responds very well
to swimming as well. Sacroiliac
is actually a sacroiliaitis
or inflammation of the sacroiliac
joint. The sacroiliac joint connects the sacrum (triangular
bone at the bottom of the spine) with the pelvis (iliac
bone). It transmits all the forces of the upper body
to the pelvis and legs. There is not a lot of motion
in the joint and it is very strong. Sometimes all it
takes to create a sacroiliac problem is to lift something
the wrong way. Sacroiliac tends to be a self limiting
problem that usually will self correct within a few
weeks. After the initial acute phase (where ice is recommended)
a great therapy is first relax in a hot tub then swim
for while.
5. Bike Riding
- Especially up hills. Regular bike riding works mostly
the calves & thighs. Although an excellent exercise
that may be quite beneficial for the body in general
and specifically good for movement in the sacroilliac
joint and circulation that may benefit the discs - regular
bike riding does not adequately work the muscles that
are needed in order to align the pelvis. When you are
working hard riding a bike up hill or are in a high
gear where you may need to come off the seat you are
then working the proper muscles for bilateral symmetry
& alignment.
These and other exercises
may not be possible until after using the inversion
table a while. Using the table properly should increased
the intervertebral space & relieve the pressure
on the nerve. Once the disc has had the pressure relieved
it can usually start to regain is spongy shock abosorber
properties and exercises such as these can be eased
into.
***
Don't Forget Low Back Support ***
|
Whether
you are sitting in a chair, driving your car
or on an airplane be sure to give your low back
strong support with a proper lumbar supporting
chair or a pillow. In an ideal sitting position
the lumbar arch should be maintained. Allowing
the shoulders to come forward and the low back
to sag puts extra pressure on the lumbar region
which may exacerbate low back problems. According
to the Nachemson Study sitting in a chair creates
about 50% more intradiscal pressure than
standing upright. Also if back pain is chronic
your bed may be too soft. |
For
more in-depth study on back pain, sciatica,
scoliosis etc. see the research work of Nachemson:
National Center for Biotechnology Information
U.S. National Library of Medicine
Click
Here |
|
Spinal
Stenosis |
We
have been in the inversion field since 1980 and
have had many people tell us that the inversion
table has helped with their spinal stenosis problem.
It is a natural therapy that gives the back movement
and motion in ways it may otherwise not be able
to achieve. It is very likely to help. Stenosis
is a mechanical problem in some respects and inversion
therapy is a mechanical solution. Often in the
human body calcification will take place because
of trauma or stasis. If a joint is immobile a
therapy that mobilizes, lubricates, stimulates
circulation and creates a rhythmic massage may
be of therapeutic benefit. One technique many
in the field believe is beneficial to helping
spinal stenosis and to heal and regenerate the
discs is to create a rocking motion. Often done
for a few minutes AFTER a 15-20 minute inversion
session at mild angles (coming up every 5 minutes
or so to horizontal for a brief break from the
traction). This rocking motion done after the
inversion session creates a pumping action that
facilitates circulation to the disc tissue which
is infused by movement of the body. The rocking
motion is done by rocking back to a 45 degree
angle or so then rock forward so you are nearly
upright then rocking back again. Doing this for
a minute or so after a 15-20 minute inversion
session creates an accordion like pumping action
that many believe can speed the recovery of the
discs. This rocking motion is only recommended
when one has been using the table for at least
a week or two (or longer) and when pain symptoms
are NOT present. This rocking motion can create
moment within the vertebrae that may help reverse
the condition of spinal stenosis. If calcium deposits
and calcium precipitating out of solution in the
body and creating arthritic changes are of concern
you may want to read
this page on reversing arthritis and bone spurs:
Often arthritis, bone spurs and spinal stenosis
are a result of a chemical imbalance in the body
that can be addressed nutritionally as well a
mechanically. The Traction
Handles which are standard on the Teeter Hang
Ups F7000
Inversion Table, Power Tables
and can be an added feature on the Teeter Hang
Ups F9000
Inversion Table are excellent for stretching and
relaxing the spinal column. |
|
|
We
have had many many parents tell us that the
inversion table has helped with their child's
scoliosis. It a natural therapy that gives the
child's back an excellent stretch. It is very
likely to help. We have also had many adults
tell us the same thing about their issue with
curved spine problems. Scoliosis is a mechanical
problem and inversion therapy is a mechanical
solution. The Traction
Handles which are standard on the Teeter
Hang Ups F7000
Inversion Table, Power
Tables and can be an added feature on the
Teeter Hang Ups F9000
Inversion Table are excellent for stretching
and relaxing the spinal column. If you are interested
in medical research on scoliosis therapy please
click here:
Inversion
Therapy And
Scoliosis |
One
example of the many testimonials about
scoliosis we have received. |
Hi,
The pediatrician who had sent our
daughter to the Scottish Rite hospital
becasue she had a bit of a curvature
in her spine, saw her for his referral
last week. He was amazed at how straight
her back was and asked her how she
did it. She said that when she started
using the inversion table, that in
just a few months her shoulders were
level and she had no more trouble
will ill-fitting clothes due to one
shoulder lower than the other - great,
huh!?
Martha Ylitalo - 4-15-04
|
|
|
Everyone's
spine has natural curves. These curves round our shoulders
and make our lower back curve slightly inward. But some
people have spines that also curve from side to side.
Unlike poor posture, these curves can't be corrected
simply by learning to stand up straight.
This condition of side-to-side spinal curves is called
scoliosis. On an x-ray,
the spine of a person with scoliosis looks more like
an "S" or a "C" than a straight
line. Some of the bones in a scoliotic spine also may
have rotated slightly, making the person's waist or
shoulders appear uneven.
We have found in working with doctors & their patients
for more than 20 years that inversion therapy can be
a great adjunct in the treatment of scoliosis.
In children as well as teens and adults the symptoms
associated with scoliosis in many many cases are reduced
when a person receives the benefits of gravity traction.
In conjunction with stretching, exercises and inversion
therapy we have also taken note of the benefits of daily
deep muscle massage. This is easy to achieve with an
electronic massager or very effectively with BONGERS
Massage Tools. Also if muscles are particularly
affected and a doctor is advised, in many cases a moist
heat hydrocollator can be of great benefit.
We have had reports from people who have used gravity
inversion therapy for scoliosis and reduced pain symptoms
in their lower backs they had previously accepted as
chronic and intractable. They did not correlate these
symptoms with the scoliosis
but when they achieved benefits from the gravity inversion
therapy they started for scoliosis a side or direct
benefit was a relief from chronic low back pain that
had become so common that they did not even realize
how uncomfortable it was until it disappeared.
Can inversion help children with
scoliosis? Does age matter?
Our medical advisor prefers to get
patients involved with inversion as early as possible.
Using inversion to help slow or reverse the effects
of scoliosis is helpful at any age, but especially before
the bones fully harden at ages 12-14. The size
of the equipment may be an issue, so younger children
will need an attendant. Children love inversion and
many many scoliosis patients report excellent results
after starting inversion therapy. It is a great way
for parents to get involved in assisting their child.
Also don't forget to be sure your child has excellent
nutritional
support. Three fantastic supplements that
are great for anyone are
New Vision's Essential Minerals, Essential Calcium &
Essential Vitamins.
There are many causes of scoliosis. Some causes may
be problematic for inversion (bone infection, cancer,
compression fracture). Most scoliosis in children is
related to bone anomalies or calcification disorders,
both of which do well with inversion. Of course, if
you have any doubt, you should always consult with a
licensed physician.
We
have found the stretch and straightening
of inversion therapy to be beneficial
in working with people with scoliosis.
Many physicians who use inversion therapy
recommend getting patients involved
while they are still young and bones
have not fully matured.
Here are some useful links if you would
like to learn more about scoliosis: |
I-Scoliosis
Scoliosis
Research Society
Amazon
Scoliosis Reading List
 |
Excellent
nutrition is of course important in
trying to prevent or correct a musculoskelital
problem. The best calcium supplement
we have found is Essential
Calcium. Nutritious, delicious and
easy to take as a sparkling beverage.
And to be sure the body has the proper
mineral balance we recommend the best
selling liquid mineral supplement in
North America - Essential
Minerals. |
|
|
Before
starting
any exercise or therapeutic program it is recommended
you check with your doctor and begin any new activity
very gradually. In rare instances back pain is a symptom
of a serious medical condition such as a kidney tumor
or cancer. Even medical doctors sometimes make this
mistake. We have seen cases of people being medicated
for back pain when the actual problem was more serious.
PLEASE BE AWARE
|
Summary
| • |
There
are 26 vertebrae in your back which encase your
spinal cord.
In childhood there are 33 vertebrae they fuse
into 26. 7 cervical, 12
thoracis, 5 lumbar, 1 sacral (5 fused into one
bone, the sacrum) and 1 coccygeal
(4 fused into one bone the coccyx). |
Your
23 discs act as shock absorbers.
If they are compressed the nerves can be pinched.
Traction had been the treatment of choice before
pain relieving drugs and surgery came into common
use. The benefits of decompressive traction
are accomplished easier with an inversion table
than perhaps any other known method. |
| • |
Spinal
nerves run through each vertebral joint in your
spinal column. |
| • |
With
no blood supply of their own, discs depend on
sponge-like action to soak up nutrients and
eliminate waste products. |
| • |
Many
doctors believe rhythmic intermittent traction
which is easy to do with an inversion table
by creating a simple rocking motion may facilitate
disc healing and regeneration. The pumping action
of traction and compression may speed up the
healing process. |
| |
| • |
Muscles
and ligaments require regular movement in order
to maintain flexibility. |
| • |
An
imbalance or weakness in the strength of the
muscles can affect the alignment of the spine
& pelvis. A bilateral imbalance in this
muscle strength (often the gluteus maximus)
can lead to a tilting of the pelvis & nerve
pain. |
| • |
The
combination of proper exercise, nutrition
and inversion therapy can greatly improve the
quality of our general health and especially
reduce or reverse previously intractable back
problems. |
| |
| |
|
Helpful
Links for Back Pain Relief
|
Massage
Chair
Find great shiatsu massage chairs.
Reduce your stress and back pain. |
|
In-depth
information to help patients understand, prevent
and seek appropriate treatment for back and neck pain. |
|
Discover
how to alleviate your sciatic nerve
pain without drugs, surgery, or even sweat. |
|
The
most up to date scientific research on back pain.
|
1.
Goroll, A H & Mulley, Jr A G. (2000). Primary Care
Medicine: Office Evaluation and Management of the Adult
Patient. (4th ed). Philidelphia, Pa. Lippincott Williams
& Wilkins.
2.
McCane, K L & Huether, S E. (1998). Pathophysiology:The
Biologic Basis of Disease in Adults and Children. (3rd
ed.). St. Louis, Missouri. Mosby
3. Low Back Pain. Your Orthopaedic Connection.
American Academy of Orhtopaedic Surgeons. 2000. (Online)
http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/brochure/thr_report.cfm?Thread_ID=10&topcatagory=Spine
4.
Bratton, R L. Assesment and Management of Acute Low
Back Pain. American Family Physician 1999; 60:2299-308.
(Online) http://www.aafp.org/afp/99111ap/2299.html
|
|
|