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Think twice about inversion tables for back pain




Kestner

Kestner

Ever read the safety labels that come with products? Surprisingly, many people don’t.

If many people that use inversion tables hoping to find relief for their back troubles actually read and heeded the warnings found there, they would realize they need to look for a different solution.

I have heard many people over the years tell me they have tried inversion tables for their back pain. Some people have found that they get some temporary relief from doing so. Others not so much. Some have told be about increased back or neck pain, headaches, worsened acid reflux, inner ear issues and other negative effects.

Obviously, because back pain can arise form a wide range of different conditions and people’s health can vary even more widely, nothing is going to be safe or effective for everyone. But inversion tables warrant special consideration and warnings.

Following is a copy of the warnings from the website of a major manufacturer of inversion tables:

“DO NOT use until approved by a licensed physician. Inversion is contraindicated in any medical or health condition that may be made more severe by an elevation of blood pressure, intracranial pressure or mechanical stress of the inverted position, or that may impact your ability to operate the equipment. This may include injury or illness, but also the side effects of any drug or supplement (prescribed or over the counter). Specific conditions may include, but not be limited to:

• Any condition, neurological or otherwise, which results in unexplained tingling, weakness or neuropathy, seizure, sleep disorder, lightheadedness, dizziness, disorientation, or fatigue, or impacts strength, mobility, alertness, or cognitive ability;

• Any brain condition, such as trauma, history of intracranial bleed, history or risk of TIA or stroke, or severe headaches;

• Any condition of the heart or circulatory system, such as high blood pressure, hypertension, increased risk of stroke, or use of anticoagulants (including high doses of aspirin);

• Any bone, skeletal or spinal cord condition or injury, such as significant spinal curvature, acutely swollen joints, osteoporosis, fractures, dislocations, medullary pins or surgically implanted orthopedic supports;

• Any eye, ear, nasal or balance condition, such as trauma, history of retinal detachment, glaucoma, optic hypertension, chronic sinusitis, middle or inner ear disease, motion sickness, or vertigo;

• Any digestive or internal condition, such as severe acid reflux, hiatal or other hernia, gallbladder or kidney disease;

Any condition for which exercise is specifically directed, limited or prohibited by a physician, such as pregnancy, obesity, or recent surgery.”

Who does that leave? Interestingly the website also says the product can be used by almost all normal healthy individuals. The details may lie in how one defines “normal healthy individual”. Obviously, if anyone is taking any medication of any sort or has ever had any serious condition, they may not fall in that strict definition.

In my experience, many of the people that are seeking help for back problems also have one or more of the contraindications in the above list.

One of the things often overlooked even by healthcare professionals when discussing inversion with patients is the effect of inversion on the body’s plumbing.

Consider the following issues:

• Inversion may elevate the intercranial blood pressure significantly. That means the blood pressure inside your brain can increase significantly.

• Inversion may increase intraocular pressure. Have you ever had an eye examination? One of the first things the doctor or tech will do is measure the pressure within the eyeball.

• Inverting the body may allow gastric (stomach acid) contents to flow into the esophagus. Have you ever had a problem with acid reflux? That can happen when just a little stomach digestive content (hydrochloric acid) leaks from the stomach into the esophagus. This is especially problematic for people with a hiatal hernia. Many people cannot lie down after eating due to this problem.

• Inversion may negatively impact the system of vascular valves within your body. Every time your heart pumps, a tremendous surge of blood is thrust into the very strong aorta on its way throughout the whole body. As the blood courses throughout the entire body, the pressure lessens along the way so that the veinous return path is a very low-pressure system. Along the way valves help control the pressure and proper flow of the blood.

There are safer, more effective ways to solve most back problems.

Dr. Mark Kestner is a licensed chiropractic physician and acupuncturist with 30-plus years of experience focused primarily on treating complex and chronic spine, joint and neurological conditions in Murfreesboro. His office is at 1435 NW Broad St. Contact him at mkestner@DrKestner.com.

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