Hanging upside down . . .

[kbm8795]

I walked into the weight room the other night and this bud of mine was hanging upside down from the long chinning bar with his feet clamped onto it with some kind of straps....naturally, I didn't ask him about it while he was hanging like a bat like that - it's just the first time I ever saw anyone doing that.

Does anyone know about doing this....and what that accomplishes? Is it for like blood circulation...or...stretching? I know I shoulda asked him about it later, but I got wrapped up with my own workout and didn't see him later on that night.

 

[Mudge]

I believe its for relieving pressure on the spine, haven't really done it with the 'gravity boots' yet though.

 

[Dale Mabry]

By the way, you didn't get this from me.

Question

Do you have any information on inversion boots. Are they safe, effective or none of the above.

Answer

Although early research indicated inversion therapy increased blood pressure and internal eye pressure, later research shows that you are at no more of a stroke risk hanging upside down than if you are exercising right side up" and inversion therapy is not a risk to normotensive healthy subjects.

(Goldman, R, et al: The Effects of Oscillating Inversion on Systemic Blood Pressure, Pulse, Intraocular Pressure, and Central Retinal Arterial Pressure. The Physician and Sports Medicine. 13: 93-96, Mar 85.)

In fact, there has never been a documented stroke or cardiovascular incident resulting from inversion.

Even the Army Rangers at the US Army Physical Fitness School at Fort Benning use inversion as part of their training.

The following studies all showed inversion to be effective stretching paraspinal vertebral muscles, reducing disc protrusions and relieving pain related to spondylolisthesis, herniated discs and lumbar osteoarthritis:

Ballantyne, Byron, et al: The Effects of Inversion Traction on Spinal Column Configuration, Heart Rate, Blood Pressure, and Perceived Discomfort. J of Orthopedic Sports Phys Ther. 254-260, Mar 86.

Kane, M, et al: Effects of Gravity-facilitated Traction on Intervertebral Dimensions of the Lumbar Spine. Jour of Orthopedic and Sports Phys Ther. 281-288, Mar 85.

Meshino, J.: The Role of Spinal Inverted Traction in Chiropractic Practice. ACA Journal of Chiropractic 18:63-68, Feb 84 Nosse, L.: Inverted Spinal Traction. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 59: 367-370, Aug 78.

Sheffield, F.: Adaptation of Tilt Table for Lumbar Traction. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 45: 469-472, 1964.

Vernon, H.: Inversion therapy: a study of physiological effects. The Journal of CCA 29: 138-140. Sep 85.

In short, the evidence indicates inversion therapy to be both safe and effective.

Stephen Holt, BSE, CSCS, PES

2003 ACE Personal Trainer of the Year

http://StephenHoltFitness.com

http://SportsTrainingInfoproducts.com

http://WomanSportsTraining.com

 

[Art]

Well I have tried it at a gym in a high rise where I used to live.
It is a good sensation, except the hooks that clamp around your
ankles hurt like hell after a while... I could never get used to them.
They closed with a 'cam lock' type mechanism like on some keyrings.
Art.