I hang upside down
nearly every morning.
It is so much fun.
The board inverts.
The blood rushes to my head.
It is quite a rush.
nearly every morning.
It is so much fun.
The board inverts.
The blood rushes to my head.
It is quite a rush.
Exercises done
while inverted keep me fit.
Do they help my brain?
Do they help my brain?
7 comments:
Oh Judy, just this morning I was thinking about you and your inversion table. I was precariously hanging off the bed trying to open up some upper extremity/pec tightness so I could breathe better. Was quite unsatisfying and awkward.
Was your table expensive and does it take a lot of room?
Hi, Judy, could you write more info about the inversion table, please? I vaguely remember reading elsewhere about the benefits of this, but I'm not sure I could handle being upside down. Sounds like it works for you, though.
Peace,
Muff
I tried the inversion table, but I hated the feeling of the blood rushing to my head. I felt like my brain was going to explode and I had a horrific headache after.
This seems like a great idea. Not sure how I would feel hanging upside down, but you stated before that you get used to it. How long does that take?
Donna, Muff, Karen, Adven,
I love the inversion table but it is definitely NOT for everyone. I initially had the same reaction Karen had but found that, after doing it for a while, the feeling of my brain exploding went away. One has to build up SLOWLY over time. I don’t remember exactly anymore, but it probably took me about a month of gradually increasing the angle of inversion until I could tolerate being fully inverted for any extended period of time.
Those with vertebrae and disc problems should check with a chiropractor/doctor first. I see a chiropractor weekly and find that for me inversion is an excellent adjunct to my chiropractor adjustments. I also know that this table is contraindicated for people with heart, blood pressure, retinal, etc. conditions. For all I know, it’s contraindicated for MS patients too but I find that it is helping me. The “dowagers hump” I had started to develop in my 30s is now practically gone. Because I also do a variety of abdominal crunches while upside down, the muscles in that area are the best they have been in a long time.
Beyond “cosmetics,” the stretching is fabulous, too, not just for the spine, but also for my entire body. It really helps with the muscle stiffness that for me has come with MS. Whenever I emerge, I feel as alert as I ever do. I feel refreshed.
Please note that I don’t always use the fully inverted position. Partial inversion has benefits too for me. They may serve as a quick pick-me-up during the day when my energy wanes. For those who are yoga practitioners, this potentially is a substitute for the yoga position where one stands on one’s head but without the negative of the weight of the upright body potentially crushing neck vertebrae spacing.
Here’s a Wikipedia article on inversion therapy you might find interesting:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inversion_therapy
The picture in the wiki article is fairly representative of the footprint of an inversion table, i.e. it takes up a lot of space. I have mine in the room that used to be a formal dining room but is no longer used for that purpose. It also can be folded somewhat flat, but to do that on a regular basis is cumbersome and impractical because the equipment is quite heavy. And you want it to be heavy because, after all, it is holding you upside down and you want it to be sturdy, secure, and stable.
In terms of cost, that can vary. There are different models with different pricing. Mine is a Lifegear model #75177. I no longer know exactly what I paid for it more than five years ago when money was much more abundant than it is now, but I think it was around $250. One of the features I paid attention to in the different models, and am glad I did, was that my model has handle bars on both sides which make it easier to invert and to return easily to a full or partial upright position.
Bottom line, this is something whose use should NOT be approached casually. I am not sure, actually, that any MD would sanction its use for someone with MS, but these days I am a rather noncompliant patient and go by what works for me. And, as far as the use of this table is concerned, for me the results are wonderful. As I said, I start my mornings nearly every day by hanging upside down. It is the one piece of exercise equipment I would not want to be without.
And, oh, I want to be perfectly clear about something. No one has paid me or promised me one red cent for waxing euphoric about using an inversion table.
Judy
Hi Judy! Are you still using your inversion table? I enjoyed the poem, by the way. :) In simple and short phrases, you were able to describe the one’s experiences and feelings in using it. That part about the blood rushing through the head was really hard to tolerate at first. But doing the inversion really does benefit the brain – even if you feel like your face is all red and you have veins sticking out on your forehead. Though one can get used to the sensation, there are hazards that come along with it, fairly like other treatment programs. So, before doing the therapy, I believe a physician’s approval is really needed.
Shaunna, I still use my inversion table daily and, absolutely, a physician’s approval is really needed. Who knows what all the blood flowing to the brain can do? In any event, a newcomer should build up through ever increasing angle of tilt so the body can get used to it. But check with a doctor first, absolutely. Thanks for stopping by.
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