I have been having worse back problems due to RA and bad disc in my lower back. Sitting in a tree stand and swiveling causes popping and a fair amount of pain lately. I have been told that an inversion table will help it. Any users out there? I can buy one for about $85 new that looks okay, but wanted to see if anyone here had recommendations for a specific model or what to look for.

Any info appreciated.

The GF got one at Academy and swore by it. I tried it and felt like a torture machine.

I've had one for about a year. I do not have any chronic back problems so I can't tell you how a really bad back reacts to a table. That said, I use it regularly. Without any doubt, the tables are an excellent way to stretch the entire spine, and you do not need to go fully upside down to get the full effect. Personally, I think it has helped me but it does take getting used to. Start slow by limiting the down angle and time spent head down. Once you get used to it you can be more aggressive. For me, once I hit about 45 degrees head down I start to get a very strong lower back stretch and occasional small pop. You have to learn to relax into it. I will go head down for several minutes, back to level then head down again. I do this for 10-15 minutes max. If you have access to one for $85 go for it, but try it before you buy it. Make sure it balances properly for your height and there is someone there to help you back up at first.

We have some friend who swears by it. They call it a perversion table.

My wife has had neck problems for years after a wakeboard incident. After her last MRI review her neck doc recommended that she try one. She's been using it a few weeks now and loves it. She only reclines about 45-50 degrees past horizontal but it slowly increasing the angle.

I wonder if it would help loosen up my inflexible, tight back and reduce the need for a weekly chiropractor visit.

I have one and it helped me tremendously. Years of playing basketball as well as a few car wrecks kept my back locked up fairly often but since ive been using the IT I haven't had any issues (knock on wood!)

I always worry about someone stroking out in one of those tables. If you had a small aneurysm in your brain, the increased pressure could make it worse.

http://sport.woot.com/plus/teeter-ep-560-ltd-inversion-table-7?ref=tg_gh_sp_5_wp_5


This is on Woot today. Suppose to be a good table. I have no experience with them though but have considered one for my back problems as well.

I have been on one once, just for the experience. I might try it again if I am hurting bad but I don't think I could make myself hang there long. The blood ran to my head and gave me an immediate head ache. I have a tough time breathing through my nose as it but it was worse while hanging upside down for some reason. I know folks who claim they are a tremendous help so there has to be something to it if you can handle it.

hi,,,i have a teeter hang-ups,little pricey ($300) but it works very well for me on my days off,,,if you were retired,and using this it would be a godsend,but myself,i still work on a concrete floor,lift heavy items,up and down stairs (the worse),,,it helps when i'm off work,but that concrete and stairs just bring it all back,,,i use mine 2 times on workdays,3 times on my days off 3mins a session,,,CAN'T WAIT TILL I RETIRE IN A COUPLE YEARS,,,joe g

I have one, I started getting back pain when I was 23. Flipped a truck down a hill into a cutover and landed upside down against a pine stump about halfway down. Im not going to lie to anyone I swerved to hit a coyote when I was piss drunk at around 1 in the morning. This was on the old west Jefferson hunting area, anyone that knows the area knows how steep those hills and hollers are. Anyway about a year later I started getting Back pain, went to the doctor and got an MRI. Had 4 herniated discs pinching a nerve. Also was told I had arthritis and most of the discs were already deteriorated. The reason I mentioned the drinking was to say that I went substance abuse treatment got sober, and along the way lost 60lbs the first year. Losing the weight helped my back out more than anything. I'm sure most doctors will tell you this as well. I had a flare up about a year ago and got an inversion table used it for a week and haven't touched it since. You could feel the decompression but as someone else said the whole stroke thing worried me and the fact that you might do more damage with the decompression. For me I decided my back was a little to jacked up to be flipping upside down, I figured a disc could come further out just as easy as it could slide back between my vertebrae. If you want mine you can have it. It's a nicer model cost a few hundred dollars. I just won't be back in Alabama till march 12.

You been to a good chiropractor?

I used one a bit back at my old gym. I thought it was ghey as hell the first time I used it. Several of the older guys were trying to get me on it and that gave me pause. Honestly that thing was great.

One of the guys was a yoga master or something and he said not only does it relax the spine, but allows the organs to move a bit and increase blood flow. I don't know about all that, but I've been thinking of getting one. Figure it'd be a good match with the sex swing in my basement, lol.