In your desperate search for ways to relieve your back pain, you might have come across inversion therapy. Let’s find out more about it below. Meanwhile, to be safe, always check with your orthopedic doctor before beginning any new therapy to relieve your back pain.
What is Inversion Therapy?
Inversion therapy is when you are suspended upside down in the head-down position for a period of time.
This can alleviate back pain caused by spinal disc compression by stretching the spine. Being upside down takes the usual gravitational pressure off nerve roots and spinal discs, increasing the space between the vertebrae.
Risks of Inversion Therapy
Proponents of inversion therapy claim that inversion therapy improves posture and flexibility, among other things. However, there is no scientific basis for the claims.
In addition, inversion therapy comes with risks, especially for people with other health conditions. For example, if you have high blood pressure, it’s best to avoid this type of therapy because, in an upside-down position your heart rate slows, and your blood pressure increases. Inversion also increases the pressure on your eyeballs, which is why you should avoid it if you have glaucoma. Blurred vision and bleeding into the retina are just some of the reported effects of inversion therapy.
If you opt for inversion therapy, it should be just one element of your back pain treatment program – and it should only be administered by a professional.
Safe Spinal Decompression Methods
Your doctor should be able to recommend surgical or nonsurgical spinal decompression methods that are backed by science.
For example, nonsurgical spinal decompression therapy may involve lying on a computer-controlled table with a harness secured around your pelvis and your trunk. Your doctor will then use motorized traction to stretch your spine.
Lumbar decompression surgery is particularly effective in relieving back pain. How it works is your doctor removes a small portion of bone compressing the nerve root or spinal disk to create more space and remedy the compression.
Ultimately, only your doctor can determine the most appropriate treatment for you based on the results of diagnostic imaging. It is best to consult with a board-certified physician to discover the treatment options best for your situation.
Safe and Effective Treatment for Back Pain in Oklahoma City
If you suffer from chronic back pain, The Brooks Clinic specializes in the treatment of back pain, especially from auto accidents. Sometimes, injuries take a while to appear after an auto accident, and we are trained to handle such cases.
Our board-certified physicians and medical staff are experienced in treating spine-related conditions using safe and science-backed methods. Since 1975, we have been helping back pain sufferers all over Oklahoma City, and are proud to say that we are the No.1 auto accident therapy clinic in the city.
Tell us about your back pain and we will let you know about your treatment options. Feel free to call us at (405) 943-0303 or request for an appointment online. Our goal is to relieve your pain. At Brooks Clinic, we treat our patients like family members.
