Pros & Cons of Inversion Therapy

Inversion therapy refers to any kind of therapy in which the body is inverted to allow decompression to occur in the bones of the spine and to allow for other health benefits. For example, in physical therapy, lying on a slant board with the head lower than the feet allows the spine to lengthen along its length. Because the head is lower than the feet, this is inversion. Yoga, different kinds of stretching, and bodywork are other ways to achieve inversion therapy. Inversion therapy is appropriate for people with compression injuries but is not appropriate for people with high blood pressure or glaucoma.

Identification

• Inversion therapy is performed in physical therapy clinics, in yoga practices where yoga poses are used therapeutically, and by masseurs. Inversion therapy means the head is lower than the feet.

Types

• In physical therapy, gentle inversion therapy, such as lying on a treatment table with the feet and legs lying on a stack of pillows, can help blood move toward the heart. Yoga poses such as Adho Mukha Svansana (downward facing dog pose) act to decompress the spine and activate the lymphatic system. A masseuse can lift one or both legs above the head while the client is lying on his or her back, creating a soft inversion.

Function

• Inversion therapy can decompress bones in the low back and neck, two areas where many people complain of pain. Having the head lower than the feet allows the heart muscle to rest; normally, the heart works very hard to pump blood against gravity to all the limbs and back. For example, lying on the floor with the heels resting on the wall in a yoga pose called Viparita Karani (legs up the wall pose), drains the legs of blood and allows gravity to work in your favor.

Benefits

• When the head is lowered below the feet in physical therapy, yoga poses, therapeutic stretching, or bodywork, blood is sent to the throat. There, the vagus nerve is nourished with blood, and this activates the relaxation response, increasing alpha brain waves to induce stress relief. Inversion therapy is excellent for creating space in between the vertebrae of the spine, reducing spinal pain and discomfort.

Warnings

• If you are pregnant or have high blood pressure or an eye disorder such as glaucoma, consult a doctor before doing any kind of inversion therapy. In these cases, inversion therapy is generally not appropriate. People with high blood pressure should not bring the blood more quickly to the heart as occurs in inversion therapy. Even for healthy people, overdoing yoga poses such as Sirsana (headstand) or Sarvangasana (shoulderstand) can weaken the bones in the neck. Moderation is key.

Modified Inversion Therapy

• If you are pregnant, a safe inversion is to sit on the floor on a folded blanket. Place a chair in front of you and place your arms on the chair, lowering your face onto your arms. This forms a more gentle inversion. People with high blood pressure or glaucoma can sit on a chair and have their legs lying on a short stack of pillows of blankets for a soft inversion. These are examples of modified inversion therapy.