Hanging Upside Down Health Techniques

Hanging upside down is a health technique called inversion therapy. The idea behind hanging upside down is that a lot of back problems are caused by gravity. Gravity pushes down on the spine, which causes stress and tension. If you hang upside down, or invert yourself, some people believe that the problems caused by gravity-induced tension will be alleviated. This form of therapy is part of a class of therapies that use spinal traction (the stretching of the spine) to relieve back pain.

Uses of Inversion Therapy

• The Stress Management Lab recommends using inversion therapy to relieve stress, reduce or eliminate back pain and improve circulation of blood and lymphatic fluid. Inversion also might help reduce stress and improve athletic performance. It also increases the level of oxygen going to the brain, which can help fight depression and reduce the affects of aging that are related to gravity.

Using Inversion Therapy

• Inversion therapy can be done at home or done by a physical therapist, chiropractor or other health professional.

  Because you are hanging upside down, inversion therapy causes more blood to flow to the head. Those with heart problems, diabetes, high blood pressure or glaucoma should not use inversion therapy.

  According to the Mayo Clinic, claims that hanging upside down can be effective at relieving pain or improving health have not been proven by medical studies or data.

Inversion Tables and Gravity Boots

• Inversion therapy, when done at home, can either involve the use of an inversion table or gravity boots. If you wear gravity boots, the boots attach to a horizontal bar and you hang upside down by your ankles. If you use an inversion table, you lay on the table and then invert the table. You don't have to be directly upside down when using a table. In either case, you shouldn't do inversion therapy if you are completely alone in your home in case something goes wrong while you are inverted. Always make sure someone is present to help you if necessary.