INVERSION:
YOUR WAY TO A BETTER BACK, BETTER BODY |
Inversion
puts gravity to work for you by placing your body in line with
the downward force of gravity. Not only can inversion therapy
help to temporarily relieve back pain, but it also can be used
as a method to relieve other negative effects that gravity has
on your body. Inversion can also be used as a proactive approach
to help maintain overall back health. Hanging upside down can
help to stretch and relax muscles, reduce stress, and provide
healthy movement for ligaments.
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Inversion
temporarily elongates the spine, increasing the space
between the vertebrae, which relieves the pressure on
discs, ligaments and nerve roots. Less pressure means
less back pain. |
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Lying
down in bed only releases 75% of standing body weight
on the spinal discs. The hundreds of ligaments and muscles
that encase and stabilize the spine act like a bunch of
rubber bands holding the spine in compression equal to
25% of standing body weight. Inverting to 60 degrees helps
to reduce the disc pressure to at or near zero. |
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The
inner core of your discs is made of jellylike material
which provides the "cushioning" in your back.
You can lose up to .5" (1.3-2.0 cm) in height daily
during your waking hours from the compressive effects
of gravity. This daily height loss reverses overnight,
but not 100%, resulting in permanent height loss, loss
of flexibility and shock absorption. While inverted, you
are able to temporarily reverse the downward pressure
on your discs, helping the discs to recover an regain
lost moisture and lost height, with improved flexibility. |
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Inverting
yourself to as little as 20-25 degrees for even a few
minutes can help relax tense muscles and speed the flow
of lymphatic fluids which flush out of the body's wastes
and carry them to the blood stream. |
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Unlike
the cardiovascular system, the lymphatic system has no
pump. Only the alternate contraction and relaxation of
the muscles moves the lymphatic fluid "uphill"
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 stimulates the
flow of lymph system, helping to clear toxins from the
body. |
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Your
heart must work against gravity to pump blood up to your
brain, which is the body's largest consumer of oxygen.
Inversion is a simple way to improve circulation to the
upper body. |
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When
inverting, you are helping your heart to clear the blood
from your feet, legs, and lower body. This allows the
blood in your limbs to circulate more easily, which may
help to drain blood from varicose veins. |
The
constant pull of gravity has a cumulative negative effect
on the joints and spinal discs. Used sensibly, inversion
therapy is extremely beneficial, and no more dangerous
than many other popular and widely-practiced fitness
activities. Sometimes there's an explanation for why
inversion works and sometimes there isn't. Often there
are unexpected physical and mental benefits.
The
experience of thousands of people who invert regularly
is that it gives them the relief from back pain they've
been looking for. Just as important, they gain the rejuvenating
effects of inversion on the entire body, providing health
benefits far beyond the relief of back pain.
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