| Improved posture, increased circulation and blood flow, | | | | not much cause for concern, but this change |
| and not to mention the significant reduction in pain | | | | represents more than just a simple difference in |
| associated with spinal disc compression and nerve | | | | perceived stature. In effect, this is a total physical |
| pathway constriction - these are just a few of the | | | | demonstration of gravitational forces placed on the |
| physical benefits related to inversion therapy. Inversion | | | | body over a given day's activity. Much of the chronic |
| therapy is a technique made popular in the 1960's by a | | | | pain most people feel in their lower back, spine, neck, |
| treatment for pain associated with spinal compression | | | | and joints is due to the compressive results of daily |
| and other bodily wear-and-tear, but the concept of | | | | gravitational pressure. This is where inversion |
| inversion therapy is actually a quite ancient one. | | | | techniques can play an important part in a total |
| Hippocrates himself, the Greek physician, was the first | | | | treatment program. |
| to realize the beneficial properties gravity can have in | | | | Inversion therapy is a way to use gravity in the |
| treating pain and injuries. | | | | reverse of the direction as we normally stand and sit |
| Throughout the day, gravity is a continual downward | | | | upright throughout the day. Inversion therapy is more |
| force on the muscles, connective tissues, and | | | | than simply turning the body upside down, however. By |
| especially the joints. Rarely does this downward | | | | simply doing handstands or downward yoga poses, |
| pressure ever become reversed, and more than likely | | | | the body would be in a reverse position, but |
| it is often intensified through various movement and | | | | compression would still be present on the vulnerable |
| activity. Especially on the spine and other more | | | | areas of the body such as the spine and vertebrae. |
| vulnerable areas of the body, the force of gravity can | | | | With inversion techniques, especially those using |
| double and even triple during such mundane tasks | | | | inversion tables or boots, the body is suspended upside |
| such as sitting or lifting heavy objects. | | | | down by the feet or ankles, thereby allowing the joints |
| Adult humans in general lose ¾ of an inch in height | | | | and connective tissues to expand. |
| over the length of a given day due to spinal | | | | Inversion therapy is not a quick fix, however. It takes a |
| compression. So for instance, your actual height may | | | | lifetime to inflict the wear and tear that eventually leads |
| be 68 inches, but if you measure your height before | | | | to chronic back pain, neck pain, and general discomfort |
| going to bed you might find your height to be nearly 67 | | | | throughout the body, so equally for inversion therapy to |
| inches. When you wake up the next morning you may | | | | have a lasting effect will also take some time. But |
| be back to your normal 68 inches in height, but this | | | | given this fact, if you decide to try inversion therapy, it |
| demonstrates how much gravitation compression is | | | | is fairly likely you will experience an immediate positive |
| placed on the spine, knees, and hips. Over a lifetime, | | | | result. Compression creates pressure on the tiny nerve |
| adults can often lose as much as 2 inches in total | | | | roots that travel through the spinal discs and other |
| height by the time they reach old age. | | | | areas of the back, and inversion therapy can reverse |
| For most people, a slight variance in average height is | | | | this compression, relieving the pain it may cause. |