Everything You Need to Know about Inversion Therapy for Neck Pain If you suffer from pain in your back or neck, you may have heard about the practice of inversion therapy. Many times, this treatment is associated exclusively with back pain — however, if you struggle with neck pain, the option of inversion therapy may be a suitable treatment to alleviate discomfort and provide relief.  Read below to uncover what inversion therapy is and how it could help your neck pain.

What is inversion therapy?

In its simplest form, inversion therapy involves hanging the body in an upside down position to alleviate stress and tension from muscles, joints, and spinal discs. This process applies traction to a person’s spine when the body is held at a downward angle. Inversion therapy provides an alternative to treatments like massage or pain relief medications.  According to Elite Healthy, inversion therapy redistributes spinal fluid equally; the final result is relief from pain and increased levels of comfort. Inversion therapy also encourages spinal discs to relax and space apart, which decreases the normal compression and stresses of walking, exercising, and sitting upright. 

What are common sources of neck pain?

Neck pain and stiffness are fairly common ailments. In fact, neck soreness is not dependent upon age, and sufferers are young and old alike. Because discs and ligaments in the neck are responsible for carrying a great deal of weight and movement, they’re some of the hardest-working parts of the body.  Common causes of neck problems include:
  • Poor posture
  • Cramping due to stress
  • Sports-related injury
  • Prolonged, uneven weight distribution (such as carrying a heavy shoulder bag) 

What are the benefits of inversion treatment?

There are numerous benefits to using inversion products and methods to heal neck pain. These benefits occur due to the way decompression therapy works. Regular decompression of the neck can alleviate chronic pain and discomfort.  Benefits include:  
  • Realignment of cervical vertebrae. Gravity does most of the work during the course of an inversion therapy session. Inclining towards the ground allows gravitational forces to release pressure and increase the space between vertebrae. In turn, these important spinal components can return to normal function.  
  • Increased flexibility. Many individuals turn to inversion therapy because their range of motion has been minimized due to stress and tension. Gravity alleviates the tightness, which leads to better overall flexibility.
  • Fast relief of stress and tension. In addition to other benefits, inversion therapy works relatively quickly. The gravitational pull of inversion typically provides some level of immediate relief to muscles and joints.

What are some risks or considerations?

Although inversion therapy is a healthy way to find relief from neck pain, as with any treatment, it’s important to start slowly. Many experts recommend starting with 1-2 minute sessions on the inversion table. Similarly, it’s advisable to progress toward steeper angles (especially upside down) over the course of a few sessions, rather than from the start. If you choose to use an inversion table at home, it’s important to familiarize yourself with your particular product and to use basic safety measures. You should use athletic shoes and the provided safety strap to avoid slipping or falling. Additionally, it’s best to switch angles slowly so that your body can redistribute blood flow evenly and normally.  You can use several different stretches and positions when on the inversion table, including:
  • A basic neck stretch involving the hand and arm
  • An overhead stretch to relieve low back pain
  • Intermittent inversion to promote better circulation 

Turn to The Back Store

If inversion therapy sounds like it could be right for you and your specific health needs, shop ut The Back Store for a variety of high-quality products. Advanced solutions like the Invertrac Inversion Traction Unit can provide relief and healing on your road to recovery. As always, consult with a physician or pain management specialist for any serious injury or chronic health problem.