Dude, don't buy a cheap one. I have tried them and found the better quality were so much more stable and rotate more predictably. As a side note, you noticed mine in a previous pain cave review. Don't worry about finding that review, you said my pain cave was by far the best you've ever seen and would need to end all pain cave reviews after seeing it. Or you didn't, believe what you want. But keep the Teeter!
Hi Mark, you should check with your Optometrist . For some people that are short sited they may advise against doing this type of exercise because it increases the eye ball pressure
Something to keep in mind is you might not need to go all the way upside down. Depending on your area of pain(mine was low back w/ sciatica), my PT said an angle of around 40-45 degrees was the best for hitting the low back. After 2 weeks my sciatica was gone. Might not work for everyone but worked for me! Cheers!
is it really gone????? how.. did you get a mri befor and after? i have 3 herniated discs and they are pinching my sciatic nerve. some im willing to try everything before surgery.
@@dnegel9546 I have not had any MRIs so cannot say what was causing my sciatica. I would find a good PT and discuss with them. I know we tried a lot of other things from piriformis stretches to massage and core exercises for months. This was a last ditch effort before getting a MRI done. Is it 100%? No, but it is night and day difference. I can now work/sit all day with little to no discomfort where as before I would have pain radiating after 30min to an hour. I will continue using it for a few more months to see what happens. Best of luck, sending good vibes your way!
The honesty/disclaimer at the very end of the video is exactly why I cannot wait for your new videos to drop... unbiased opinions and jokes along the way. No wonder your channel is skyrocketing! 🙂
Yep - so many fitness influencers with conflicts of interest. We try to keep it super simple and just tell people what I'm doing and if I enjoy it. Beyond that, I'm not your coach or your nutritionist or your mum.....so no hard recommendations. And the best result is when somebody tells me they are motivated to do something completely different to anything we spoke about, they just got the motivation from watching. The same as I might get the motivation to go for a run by watching Rocky - It doesn't need to motivate me to take up boxing! If somebody sees me hanging upside down and decides they are going to start doing some foam rolling, all good stuff.
Inversion tables are so amazing. I have scoliosis from uneven hips, when I hold some light dumbbells while upside down on the table, and move in certain positions I can pop out my left hip and get amazing relief, which also straightens me out. Once the hip is popped out I do movements similar to a pullup, with the light dumbbells. This is to train the posterior muscles in the straightened position. Another thing you can do when you're fully upside down is rest your hands on your head. Thumbs under your jaw while your fingers wrap around the back of your head. The weight of your hands will lightly stretch your neck and upper spine even further. Lightly tuck your chin back while doing this and this will cure anyone with forward head posture.
A F 4 Lesson well executed. Knowledge is power. Congratulations. I have scoliosis myself and attest to everything you say. I am back to football. My Teeter is a blessing. J
This is hilarious I am 65 and do this every day full inversion without even giving it a thought. Mind you I have done it for over 20 years. I really don't remember it being this hard the first time. I was just like you I would be brushing my teeth and bend over to rinse my mouth and went down to the floor. I would be laid up for over a week. Started using the table and this never happened again, not in over 20 years.
The solution I found to lower back pain was to build up the muscles in the area using a hyperextension bench. I tried good mornings with bands and kettle bells, squats, Romanian deadlifts and many other exercises to work out the lower back. The only thing that directly targeted the lower back was the bench. Started with bodyweight extensions, then 10kg plate held to the chest and now 20kgs. Took about 2 months and I cured my lower back pain. The bench I got was £80.
hyperextensions/glute ham raise machine for the lower back is great. Being stronger in extension and flexion quite useful. I've done something similar and it helps a lot.
I stumbled across this by accident when I first joined the gym in my 30s. I went from posterior pelvic tilt and intermittent lower back pain as a result of sitting at my computer almost all day to perfect posture and eventually a 250kg deadlift all from just joining the gym and working up to a heavy squat and deadlift and building up a super strong posterior chain as a result. Something good mornings, deadlifts and squats are all great at and things like hyperextension, glute ham raise and supermans also target and are usually missing in most peoples workouts. Note that men who lift heavy into old age are also statistically virtually immune to osteoporosis and brittle bone disease. The one caveat is that any exercise can be dangerous when proper form and bracing aren't used and heavy deadlifts and squats are no exception, so spend the time figuring this out and don't let your ego get in the way.
For what its worth, I'm 6'5" and used to get the exact same back issues a couple of times a year, the magic cure for me is to keep the running up. No idea why a high impact activity like running would prevent me having back issues, but well proven over a few years now. Stop running for a few weeks and I start to notice my back, keep running, its bullet proof. Great video again, love it.
I concur: Keep running and my back is bullet proof! Tried the upside down “gravity boots” which felt quite well, but did not resolve my lumbar problems. Taking up running did.
@@MarkLewisfitness increase blood flow and movement of hips and lower back. I’m giving you the gist of it and can be slightly off. Check out Dr. Stuart McGill. He highly recommends walking and movement.
Same here, HIIT, running, stretching and surfing keeps away my backpain. But had acl surgery 3 months ago, and the first month my pain came back worse than ever. 😪 Only physical therapy and chiropractor for now.
I love my teeter inversion table. I've been using one for around a decade or so, and it's allowed me to recover from back issues in hours or days, rather than days or a week+. As for getting yourself back upright, you can use those handles on the sides to pull yourself up as well. I like to do a twist left and right when inverted. I breathe in, twist as far as I can one direction, breathe out and relax. Then repeat on the other side. I wouldn't sell one for anything (other than a new one) ;)
Great information. Watching your videos has got me off the coach and working out again. 20 min row, 20 min bike and 20 min run today. Creating my own little Peloton triathlon. Thanks for the time you put into educating and motivating us!
Done my back 4th and 5th virtibrae doing deadlifts a few years back, was out of action for close to 6 months, was out of ideas, bought a Teeter, and boom, within 3 weeks, i could walk perfectly with no sciatica. 2 mins in the morning, 2 mins in the afternoon is all you need. Main thing i learnt is you dont need to be completely upside down, just over level and use the handles to push and stretch your back works just as well
Beautiful bro! So happy to hear that. Deadlift wrecked my low back too. I still do 2 5-10 sessions morning and night and always leave the strap in and never fully invert. Gave me my life back!
I been using one for decades. I love it and swear by it. Make sure that the leg length is set for your hight and use the strap first, then add clips to extend the strap. You can add enough clips that the strap will stop you from swinging past 180° but will get you too 180°. There are stretching exercises you can do on it and inverted stomach crunch’s. Come up slowly pause at 90° then get off and your fine. Do only a few minutes first, then you can hang longer. About 10-15 minutes will do you good all together.
I had severe sciatica last year. L4 L5 compression and had mri and spent alot of money on physical therapy. Almost had surgery to fix and a friend told me about the teeter. Tried it at his house a few times over a week and was fixed within 5 times. I bought one the next week and have used it ever since. Saved me a ton of money and pain and no surgery. I wouldn't trade it for the world.
I have a Teeter and highly recommend it to others. There is one major difference between most cheaper ones and the higher quality tables, and that is how your feet are attached. The cheaper ones often have pads that go across the top of your feet, causing your weight to be supported by the top of your feet. This can end up being painful. The better ones, like Teeter, have attachments that grip you at the ankles. It is much more secure and easier to maintain longer inversions.
I am 6'1" and weigh 250 and use a 120 dollar inversion table from Walmart and it works great. Very sturdy and well worth he money. You dont need to spend a lot of money for higher priced ones, in my opinion from using a less expensive one.
This was so funny watching you rotate back and upside down the first time. Funny how things like this make us feel uneasy as adults but when we were young we would have been all into it strait away. 👍
I’ve been using a Teeter inversion table for years. I’ll do 10-15 minutes fully inverted after my long run. It’s great for listening to mindfulness podcasts or meditation; or just listening to music.
This reminds me of the humvee rollover simulation i did in the military lol. Imagine this feeling except you also have all your gear on and then once you are upside down you have to unbuckle your self and try to land your feet and crawl out. Super unnerving the first time but kinda fun everytime after that.
Mark, Long time watcher first time commenter. I rather enjoy your sense of humor and reference to 80s movies. So I was greatly disappointed you didn't use a clip from Total Recall with Arnold on Mars when you were describing your eyes popping out. Classic for sure. Keep up the good work anyway. Cheerio from the US.
I injured my back when I was 15 (a disc decided to go free range.) I was young, it healed. Kind of. Tweaked it a couple of times in the following couple of decades and REALLY screwed it up when I was 30. I've had every conceivable treatment from chiropractors to manipulation under anaesthetic. In desperation I bought a pair of inversion boots. I strapped them on and hung upside down from my pull up bar. My back popped and cracked. It did feel much better. Sometimes I'll have a 15 or 20kg plate nearby that I can grab and hug while hanging just to give my back a bit more traction. I'm on the wrong side of 60 now and rarely without some sort of lower back discomfort, but daily exercise and inversion (when required) keeps me feeling like a 50 year old.
Never used this so I can't make a comparison. However, when I started doing weighted pull ups and weighted dips, I felt a huge stretch and decompression of the spine as I hung. Obviously I can't hang very long, but for the sets I did, it did help my back feel better. I don't get that same feeling with just body weight. I use a belt that sits on my hips that has a chain you can use to put plates on. Athlean X has a video showing how to make one with a dog leash.
I can get a pretty good stretch for my back hanging from a pull up bar when I concentrate to fully relax my core. I don't dare to relax my core when I use weights though.
I currently have lower back problems. I do have an inversion table in the garage (used about 10 years even though my problem was upper back due to slipped discs c6-c7) but it is the last resort since I don’t have space. My other solutions 1) sitting on exercise ball rather than a chair for computer work 2) shoving an ice pack down the back of my trousers (try it!) 3) finding parallel bars and hanging from the shoulders plus swinging the legs 4) Pilates exercises like cat curls on the back
I miss the old style Roman chair gyms used to have. It gave you a partial inversion; then you climbed up to the gravity boots, secured your feet and lowered yourself into full inversion with supporting rings for hands if necessary. I really enjoyed this video. I still want an inversion table, and when I get one, I'll definitely go for a well made one, whatever its cost.
Hey Mark, love the content. I'm a low back pain researcher and I like your pragmatic approach. The reality with these inversion tables: It just kind of depends. If you look at the entire population, they don't seem to make much of a difference when compared to other modalities. However, I've had lots of patients that find benefit with them. My general suggestion when people ask is: give it a try. If you like it, go for it. People specifically with spinal stenosis find relief with traction/distraction, so these inversion tables can be especially helpful for them. Cheers.
@@welditmick No my results are 6 years of researching low back pain and potential treatment modalities. What are you basing your results on? My guess is anecdotal evidence.
@@seanharris2662 15 years of table usage for a start. Even in the video it shows a women calling for 'help' Just one case of not knowing how to use them properly. That is irrefutable evidence in just that one clip. Then there's the chap who made the video - No much of an idea at all - Using his phone etc while on it, not really conducive to best practice is it. Like i said, most people who say they 'don't work' is because they do not know how to use them properly in the first place. If they are good enough for the marines then they are good enough for anyone.
Worked for me. Several months barely able to walk with a bulging lower back disc. Immediate relief first session and 1-2 weeks to fix and never had what was an almost annual recurring issue. Not had an issue in 5 years since.
I’ve been using the ankle boots for a little while, I laugh to myself when I compared how you were on that table and how I just went full send when I latched my ankles onto my power rack 😂. for anyone wanting use the boots, just tie a piece of rope onto the bar so that you can basically ‘pull’ yourself back up without having to use your core or in my case, lack of core. Just a bit of added info, I slipped two discs in the lower part of the back. I can go to sleep without the aid of painkillers now
It's amazing how quickly one can go from completely terrified going upside down to totally relaxed going upside down. When I started capoeira it was terrifying. Within about 10 days, though, it was a lot of fun. Now I can do handstands and whatnot. I don't do good handstands. But, technically, they are handstands.
An acquaintance of my wife went blind after doing headstands every day for a couple of years for a very long timelapse video project. I ain't kiddin'. Your retinas can just detach. Stay safe.
Permanently, or did she recover? But yeah high blood pressure in the eyes can cause swelling between the retina and the back of the eyeball, separating them. And our circulatory system is really "built" for pumping blood up out of our legs at high pressure against gravity, so if you reverse the force of gravity by flip everything upside down it is inevitably going to spike the blood pressure in your head through the roof.
@UChFf0MGTWRYqURUogKoaf9g I was at least told it was because of the pressure of the blood on the backwalls of the retinas that is created by being upside down in general. The skull is strong enough to not get crushed, I'd guess.
Yep hundreds of thousands of gymnasts all over the world walking around with detached retinas from all the time they spend upside down doing handstand work.......ever read that news headline!? Nope me neither...! Any more nonsensical anecdotal tit bits to share?
been doing upside down workouts for over a decade. could hang upside down now all day long. Broken my back, ruptured disc, calcification on my spine looks like stalagmite's. Had scatica wife had to dress me it was so bad. All my core work or should say 80% is done hanging from pullup bar and dip bar. Strengthening your core is key to eliminate back issue's. I'm 66 years old, mountain bike at least 20 days a month. Then go to gym, lift heavy, also do burpes with 180 spin as I jump, do box jumps for sets at 36", can do front lever. my dead lift max is 405lbs. Your always welcome to come visit me or will video workout for you. The body is amazing, never quit.
Very motivating! I badly ruptured a disk out of nowhere. I’m 66, trail runner, ultra runner, mountain biker, XC and downhill skier, road bike some. X-rays and MRI’s (multiples) show some lower curvature and also grade 1 Spondylolisthesis and a host of other “potential” issues. L2/3 ruptured disk happened 7months ago and has left me with compromised right leg. Pain was gone after 8 weeks. I can do mild hikes and XC ski. No running or mountain biking or downhill skiing. Leg just buckles. 4 different surgeons with different ideas. Life altering and depressing. I’m gonna try one of these. Absolutely nothing to lose.
@@jeffjohanson3830 Bpc-157+ Tb-500 can also help a lot. Just finding the real peptide is difficult. Don't give up, your like me me fitness is a large part of who you are.
I've been doing this for 30 years. Use the handles at the hinge point to roll yourself up and down. I lay horizontally and get great relief just from that. On occasion I go all the way upside down and go a few minutes and then grab the middle handles at the hinge and pull myself ups. By the way 30 years ago I had the ski boots with hooks and had to do a pull-up and get my feet on the bar and hook in. That was a trip. All or nothing but awesome for my back. I have the bench now and love it.
Don’t know if it has “fixed” anything, but I have been hanging on my inversion table every morning and before bed for a few years. Usually only need about 20-30 seconds and my body immediately relaxes and feels really good. I also hang from a pull-up bar, so attack it from both directions. One piece of furniture I won’t be without!
I've found that if you slide down a bit when inverted, and swinging your arms from overhead up to your thighs DOESN'T bring you back up to level, then bending your knees does the trick. It's an easy way to pull yourself back up the table and redress the pivot point issue.
A few years ago I slipped 2 discs in my lower back (L3/4) and the pain wouldn’t shift. Tried massage which helped but even sitting for extended periods meant I couldn’t stand up straight. Ended up getting a nerve block put in and I’ll never forget the feeling as I felt my muscles relaxed (presumably tight from trying to counteract the muscle pain). Tried an inversion table once and that feeling of weightlessness is about the closest thing I’ve come to the same sort of feeling. Back is ok now but never underestimate how dehabilitating a “bad back” can be 👍
Great video. I've always wondered about this device and it's nice to hear a real life example with good explanations of everything. I'd love to try one someday
Mark i have the boots and have owned them for around 8 years . I am a 54 year old pro fitness model and a x-pt. I accuried my boots off a guy who hung himself up in a door gap chin up bar and literally couldnt un latch himself. I use my on a smith machine in a gym so used the metal work to grab up and un latch them. Or at home just use an resistance band tied to the same chin up bar. I use mine for upside crunchs and reverse squats that hit your hamstrings . Great video have a great christmas. Swen.
Highly recommended. I have had a teeter for 15 yrs. morning and night after lower back disk issue. allows me to stay in the fitness game as though nothing happened..I stop and no more exercising, period. I am 58 and still at it.
As you probably know now, you start with small steps (or increments) for a minute or 2 at time and gradually progress to (ideally) fully inverted. The benefits start at 20 degree inversion. I bought one of these the other days and love it.
Between the edits and clip inserts, coupled with Mark’s humor, I was head over heels for this video. Easily top 3 inversion table videos I’ve seen today….🤣😂. And smart to make the boys use it first, like a King’s Cup Bearer / Taster and such…..
I used an inversion table a long time ago. Liked the benefits for sure. Now I use a yoga silk. The silk has a thousand times more variations to be used. Also loosens muscles and fascia when gripping the body. Another benefit is how much space it doesn't take up when not in use. Give it a go. You can find a class to try it out.
Years ago I had a bad bout of sciatica and the only thing that helped was an inversion table. I still use it every now and then but I’ve found the best thing for aches and pains is DDPY (yoga). DDPY along with weights is gold. Great video 👍
I have avoided surgery (so far) because of this device, don't go all the way upside down and should use it more but once you learn to relaxed on it it's a miracle even when you can hardly get on it (from pain) it works have used it for years.
2:48 OMG you guys are crazy. Ive had one of these for 7 years. I love it. Admittadly i first tried it when i was at an after party with friends in a house w/ one. And being drunk, and high you try things. LOL Needless to say there were those of us who loved it and those who shunned it. I loved it. So much i bought one years later. Thats hilarious to hear that lady got stuck. Terrible but funny. LOL I'm a bad man i know. 🤣
Excellent information, I have the box unopened upstairs in the great room. I feel better about moving forward after viewing this evaluation. I'll tell the wife we need a Safe Word before use! lol
I purchased an inversion table off Amazon for $170.00 US dollars and it works great. What I don't like about it is how bulky and heavy it is. Would like to upgrade to a Teeter table but having a hard time justifying paying what they are asking. For years I was going to a chiropractor for my neck, back, hips and pelvis injuries and never getting better, only getting temporary relief for two or three days at a time and sometimes I had to go back a second time in one day. I decided to get my inversion table and notice immediate and lasting relief. I was able to go months in-between hangs and now it has been 4 1/2-5 years since hanging and have done great. I am feeling like I need to get back on the table again now just to realign and decompress again. It has been 8 years since I have last visited the chiropractor. When I hang to decompress and realign, I like to do slow rotational swaying and found for me this really helps to realign my hips, pelvis an lower back. I also have should injuries from years ago and when my shoulders stark clicking and hurting when raising my arms up away from my sides I take 30 LB kettle bell weights and just let my arms hang and sway them back and forth gently for a couple minutes at a time and do multiple reps of this and this pulls my arms back down into the correct position with the shoulder socket. I spent a couple year in physical therapy on my shoulders and never saw results. I have since quit going to the doctor or physical therapist for an injury and treat at home through self evaluation till I find what works best for me. I now spend my money of equipment that I can use to truly heal rather than paying someone to do nothing more than range of motion and muscle strength training but never address strengthening the joints.
I've used cheap tables before and they work in terms of "yes they'll also stretch your back" but I think teeter is worth the higher price cause you're getting higher quality materials so it will last longer and be less likely to break and safer to use
Boots and the high bar take up way less space - but yes, you have to be an absolute unit to be able to get in and out of it. pass out on your own and you're....RIP..... If you have a squat rack you can set bar at waist height and lay on floor to hook legs (with the boots) to start to train into it and get great lower body distraction and low back distraction. Love it, works wonders...I'll do what I call 'Rotisseries'...hang from arms for 30sec, then swing legs up and release hands hanging from feet for 30sec, repeat for 3min...to get pull from both ends.
I have had one for a few years they are great. It fixed my back. I use it when my back hurts then don't use it in between. You get used to hanging upside down and it's fine after using it for a few goes.
I fimally got an inversion table for my back after hearing that my sister had been using one for a curve in her back like the one that I found out that I had. She is a marathon runner and she said that it helped her. My back was bad enough that sometimes I could not sleep. The inversion table that I got has a heat and massage on it and I never go completely upside down. I can feel a stretch at just 30⁰ and the heat and massage is relaxing enough to allow me to stay in that position for 10 minutes. My back feels great, but I found that I have to get back to an upright position gradually. It takes me a couple of minutes to feel like my body has resettled the weight shift from the tilted position. This inversion table has helped me. I had tried to hang from a chin-up bar, but it is not the same!
Good video, and I always have fun watching people's first time trying it. I've had my Teeter for about 15 years, and it works as good today as the day I bought it. I previously had back surgery and get pains from time to time. This has definitely helped me ease pain and tightness in my lower back and sciatica, however it can't do miracles. Prevention is best, but at least use it first sing of discomfort. If you wait too long, like I have at this moment, you will likely need some outside help as well. Regarding price, I would say just get the Teeter if you can, or buy one used, and you will have it for life. I would rather buy a used Teeter than a newer lower quality model.
My mechanic convinced me I should buy an inversion table. He's been working on cars for forty years since he was a boy. Everything from lifting heavy parts, working at odd angles, and even walking on concrete has messed up his body. His inversion table literally helps him walk. I've been using mine for a week. I'm 6'4," 295 lbs and the Teeter EP-560 Ltd feels rock solid. My lower back is injured from two decades of lifting with poor form and being overweight. I don't recommend full inversion from the start but can tolerate it for five minutes, twice daily. My back feels noticeably better.
Beware: introversion tables are dangerous. The human body did not evolve to withstand hanging upside down. I used an introversion table to try to control a decompressed spine. I had to end this because a portion of my stomach slid above my diaphragm--in other words, a hiatal hernia. This was extremely painful, and it took months to rectify. Some people require surgery for hiatal hernia. If you want to decompress your spine relatively safely, then do dead hangs from a pull-up bar. There is plenty of information on TH-cam about the benefits of dead hangs. If your hands are not strong enough, you can get support to hang from your elbows.
Have been watching your videos lately mainly regarding Garmin vs Apple Ultra watch but your other videos have inspired me now to enter my first Spartan race in the south west next August 💪😀
I’ve been using inversion boots or a inversion table for close to 30yrs, best thing for your back as far as I’m concerned. I’ve been very active all my life (now 55) and I’ve never had any back issues even though I suffer from sclerosis. There nothing like felling your back decompress like a piano accordion every time you completely hang upside down. BTW mark loved it who scared you looked the first time using it, that was quite funny.
Been using one of these for years. Helps quite a bit for mid back going fully over. My low back I only go about 60 - 70 % over and let my weight gently decompress Coming back over, draw your legs up a bit to get fully back up Also had a cheap one to try it initially. It worked, but parts started to fail in about 6 months. The teeter holds up
I owned an inversion table from my early 40s to age 55. I have degenerative arthritis in my neck from repeated whiplash injury acquired as a foolish ice hockey player. I got to the point I was using 5 and 10 lb DBs doing certain little inverse exercises. I stopped because I learned new techniques to counter any ill effects on my neck and spine. Do I recommend these? Yup, with caution for hose with high blood pressure or eye issues.
Hello!! Love your channel and got a Locke bike because of you!!!! Please can I ask though which handlebar and sit you use! I find the ones provided to be 🫣😰😱😨!!! Been looking since but cannot find the right one. Thank you in advance!!!
My experience is that there are some very high quality sturdy safe inversion tables available for a fraction of some of those big-name brands The one I bought was $100 shipped to my home and it is clearly more heavy duty and stable then some of those extremely expensive designer brands for over $1,000
first time i have been on your channel and thoroughly enjoyed the vid. got to 71 years old without needing to invert but i do have problems with my knees for which i tried ankle weights and dangling legs sitting on a high stool and it works wonders.
If it's for lower back decompression, it seems that just hanging right way up from a pull up bar would do that. Without the expensive gadget or all the blood rushing to your head. I do that for my shoulders now. It's known to be great for shoulder rehab and it seems to have worked for me. But watching this made me think your spine doesn't care which direction you are hanging in, and this would also decompress your spine, at least for your lower spine.
Actually, you have on each side 2 big handles. This is supposed to be used ;) You just grab them in order to bring you up an down, that's why you have them... (not the small strait ones, but the one on the V structure. I am using the Exerpeutic 975SL which has a bit more padding and also a locking lever so you can stop the table into the position you want. A cheap one would have been less comfortable or practical to use. In general, it's a good thing to invest in that kind of medical device. It's recommended by doctors and natural doctors. Definitely a great thing to have for recovery! But yeah, taking a lot of space!
I had a “spotter” the first time, but we realized that to turn back up, all you have to do is hold onto the table behind your head with one hand and pull on the side frame bar with the other. That will tip you right back up. My problem is, that as a female with a large portion of weight lower around my butt, I have never been able to find the balance they describe no matter how it is set. I either have to push down or pull up depending on how it is set. I just deal with it.
Hi Mark, great videos as alway. I've been watching your journey for a good year or so now and got loads inspirational and motivational material from you. Massive frustration when injuries get in the way of progress or doing what you enjoy. I'm a chiropractor who follows a very evidence based and functional approach to care (not the 'crack everything one size fits all approach'). One thing I've learnt over the 12 years of being a chiropractor is that no two people respond the same and very rarely is there a quick fix (look at Tiger Woods). I'd take most general advice with a pinch of salt and try and get a full functional screening from someone who knows what they're on about (movement patterns, flexibility, muscle control and strength, ROM etc) and figure out the cause and effect...discs and joints don't just injure themselves! If you want to do some research yourself have a look at Stuart McGill. He's a leading expert of lower back biomechanics. Anyway good luck.
I've owned an inversion table for quite a few years. I use it whenever I have back pain. It's weird how your body adjusts to it. Tends to speed up recovery, just takes up a lot of space.
oh, cool that you did this video! so informative. please do a follow up video in 6 months or a year. i am seriously considering buying the inversion table but, as you noticed cant commit to the space needed for it.
Mark, I’ve got severe scoliosis. I recommend you to maybe try „Foundation Training“ to work on your back problems. You can find their 12 minute tutorial on YT. FT absolutely saves my spine every day!
Disappointed not to see a clip of Arnie in Total Recall, when you first went inverted. 🤓 I found the Foundation Training 12 minute workout (on YT) pretty good for my lower back with some hanging and lift exercises.
If I had to guess, this probably works better for lower back problems vs hanging from your arms because you get more of your bodyweight putting the traction on your lower back, if you're hanging by your legs. Hanging from your arms probably works better for upper back issues. I've had very similar back problems my whole life as well - up to and including a "disc bulge" where one of your spinal discs sticks out a bit too much and presses into your spine. But yeah half the time I feel like I've got a pinched nerve in my back. I wonder if this would work for me.
I have lower back severe issues. I bought an inversion table. I was hanging upside down in 3min. You have the demeanor of someone about to fall off of a 1000ft cliff.
Thanks I have been looking for something for my bad back. Did lots of research and seems to be the fix. Thanks for your great videos it has helped greatly. Now if I could only get some more energy and stamina to work out more than ten min a day.
I've used one when it 1st came out, and it worked. Got on one 2 or 3 decades later and couldn't handle the pain in my sinuses. Due to a broken septum. So if you have any sinuses issues, it probably won't feel good and discouraged daily use. 😕 But it does work, and I even gained 1 inch in height after long-term use. I was lefting heavy weight at the time, and it released a lot of pressure on my disks throughout my back.
Bought one of those 5yrs ago for low back pain and you probably used it more than I have in a week! Mine didn't have a nice tall handle to release your feet. It does feel good hanging, but it was torture trying to bend forward to release my feet with a bad back. My chiro said not to use it when my back was out of alignment like that. That said... I think I'm going to dust it off and try it again just for the fun of it. Ps - the dark color from the floor camera made your face look like Violet being rolled out by an Oompa-Loompa!
The idea is basically using gravity to put yourself in traction, like they used to do with spinal injury cases on traction beds. It’s not going to solve issues caused by poor core/back musculature that are the main reason for spine pain. It does help to temporarily relieve pain. Glad it’s working for you now.
They still use traction in plenty of spinal and leg injuries but I know what you mean by a then versus now comparison. They don't expect you to do jumping Jack's and get to running straight off but mobility work is started as soon as they possibly can. Very different from the older thinking where a single jolt could ruin the repair. Although we've also learned and built better therapy regimens and tools in that time too and it helps.
It’s harder to come back up is because more blood (added weight)is in upper body,simple.Also it’s a bit harder to breathe since the diaphragm is dealing with gravity.I can now do 15-20 min with a 20lb weight vest(started with 10 lbs and gradually added).
Donnie Thompson (first human to total over 3,000 lbs) back protocol uses something called the Big Ray Strap as an alternative. I love the Big Ray Strap and it's great to hang upside down by your hips. It's cheaper and requires less space if you have somewhere to hang it from. Donnie is a physical therapist and offers some great recovery protocols
Big thanks to Gym Kit Uk who lent me a table to play on gymkituk.com
You should pin this.
Dude, don't buy a cheap one. I have tried them and found the better quality were so much more stable and rotate more predictably. As a side note, you noticed mine in a previous pain cave review. Don't worry about finding that review, you said my pain cave was by far the best you've ever seen and would need to end all pain cave reviews after seeing it. Or you didn't, believe what you want. But keep the Teeter!
Hi Mark, you should check with your Optometrist . For some people that are short sited they may advise against doing this type of exercise because it increases the eye ball pressure
@@yosoy-steve i even looked back through a couple of my pain cave videos to try and find your clip but run out of time 😂
😅😅😅😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊
Something to keep in mind is you might not need to go all the way upside down. Depending on your area of pain(mine was low back w/ sciatica), my PT said an angle of around 40-45 degrees was the best for hitting the low back. After 2 weeks my sciatica was gone. Might not work for everyone but worked for me! Cheers!
is it really gone????? how.. did you get a mri befor and after?
i have 3 herniated discs and they are pinching my sciatic nerve. some im willing to try everything before surgery.
@@dnegel9546 I have not had any MRIs so cannot say what was causing my sciatica. I would find a good PT and discuss with them. I know we tried a lot of other things from piriformis stretches to massage and core exercises for months. This was a last ditch effort before getting a MRI done. Is it 100%? No, but it is night and day difference. I can now work/sit all day with little to no discomfort where as before I would have pain radiating after 30min to an hour. I will continue using it for a few more months to see what happens. Best of luck, sending good vibes your way!
@@dnegel9546 sucks to hear that man. I use my gravity boots to hang upside down for a few minutes at a time. Back feels amazing afterward.
45 angle is fine. Upside down really brings on the blood pressure to the head
He did mention that in the video....
"Having put my kids on it to make sure it's safe..."
i mean...he could always make some more. 💁♂️
😂👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
I see nothing wrong with this. Isn't that what you're supposed to use them for?
🤣🤣🤣
😂😂 been in both sides of the equation no fail
The honesty/disclaimer at the very end of the video is exactly why I cannot wait for your new videos to drop... unbiased opinions and jokes along the way. No wonder your channel is skyrocketing! 🙂
Yep - so many fitness influencers with conflicts of interest.
We try to keep it super simple and just tell people what I'm doing and if I enjoy it. Beyond that, I'm not your coach or your nutritionist or your mum.....so no hard recommendations. And the best result is when somebody tells me they are motivated to do something completely different to anything we spoke about, they just got the motivation from watching. The same as I might get the motivation to go for a run by watching Rocky - It doesn't need to motivate me to take up boxing! If somebody sees me hanging upside down and decides they are going to start doing some foam rolling, all good stuff.
Inversion tables are so amazing. I have scoliosis from uneven hips, when I hold some light dumbbells while upside down on the table, and move in certain positions I can pop out my left hip and get amazing relief, which also straightens me out.
Once the hip is popped out I do movements similar to a pullup, with the light dumbbells. This is to train the posterior muscles in the straightened position.
Another thing you can do when you're fully upside down is rest your hands on your head. Thumbs under your jaw while your fingers wrap around the back of your head. The weight of your hands will lightly stretch your neck and upper spine even further. Lightly tuck your chin back while doing this and this will cure anyone with forward head posture.
A F 4 Lesson well executed. Knowledge is power. Congratulations. I have scoliosis myself and attest to everything you say. I am back to football. My Teeter is a blessing. J
Wait, your hip pops out?😅
“ Ta ta ta today junior “… get to the point already … 16 minute video with about 2 minutes of information 🙄
This is hilarious I am 65 and do this every day full inversion without even giving it a thought. Mind you I have done it for over 20 years. I really don't remember it being this hard the first time. I was just like you I would be brushing my teeth and bend over to rinse my mouth and went down to the floor. I would be laid up for over a week. Started using the table and this never happened again, not in over 20 years.
The solution I found to lower back pain was to build up the muscles in the area using a hyperextension bench.
I tried good mornings with bands and kettle bells, squats, Romanian deadlifts and many other exercises to work out the lower back.
The only thing that directly targeted the lower back was the bench. Started with bodyweight extensions, then 10kg plate held to the chest and now 20kgs. Took about 2 months and I cured my lower back pain. The bench I got was £80.
hyperextensions/glute ham raise machine for the lower back is great. Being stronger in extension and flexion quite useful. I've done something similar and it helps a lot.
Spine surgeon here. I recommend this to most of my patients.
@@doctorbashir3497 sure you are …
@@gustavogo2915 Sure you are...
I stumbled across this by accident when I first joined the gym in my 30s. I went from posterior pelvic tilt and intermittent lower back pain as a result of sitting at my computer almost all day to perfect posture and eventually a 250kg deadlift all from just joining the gym and working up to a heavy squat and deadlift and building up a super strong posterior chain as a result. Something good mornings, deadlifts and squats are all great at and things like hyperextension, glute ham raise and supermans also target and are usually missing in most peoples workouts. Note that men who lift heavy into old age are also statistically virtually immune to osteoporosis and brittle bone disease.
The one caveat is that any exercise can be dangerous when proper form and bracing aren't used and heavy deadlifts and squats are no exception, so spend the time figuring this out and don't let your ego get in the way.
The shaky hand at the start cracks me up every time I watch this . I’m thinking of getting one . The table , not the shaky hand 😂
I'm sure a Shakey hand could come in handy too 😂
For what its worth, I'm 6'5" and used to get the exact same back issues a couple of times a year, the magic cure for me is to keep the running up. No idea why a high impact activity like running would prevent me having back issues, but well proven over a few years now. Stop running for a few weeks and I start to notice my back, keep running, its bullet proof. Great video again, love it.
I agree - running just seems something, within reason, that the body enjoys to do.
I concur: Keep running and my back is bullet proof!
Tried the upside down “gravity boots” which felt quite well, but did not resolve my lumbar problems. Taking up running did.
Y'all need to get your stabilizer muscles stronger
@@MarkLewisfitness increase blood flow and movement of hips and lower back. I’m giving you the gist of it and can be slightly off. Check out Dr. Stuart McGill. He highly recommends walking and movement.
Same here, HIIT, running, stretching and surfing keeps away my backpain. But had acl surgery 3 months ago, and the first month my pain came back worse than ever. 😪 Only physical therapy and chiropractor for now.
I love my teeter inversion table. I've been using one for around a decade or so, and it's allowed me to recover from back issues in hours or days, rather than days or a week+. As for getting yourself back upright, you can use those handles on the sides to pull yourself up as well. I like to do a twist left and right when inverted. I breathe in, twist as far as I can one direction, breathe out and relax. Then repeat on the other side. I wouldn't sell one for anything (other than a new one) ;)
Great information. Watching your videos has got me off the coach and working out again. 20 min row, 20 min bike and 20 min run today. Creating my own little Peloton triathlon.
Thanks for the time you put into educating and motivating us!
Done my back 4th and 5th virtibrae doing deadlifts a few years back, was out of action for close to 6 months, was out of ideas, bought a Teeter, and boom, within 3 weeks, i could walk perfectly with no sciatica. 2 mins in the morning, 2 mins in the afternoon is all you need. Main thing i learnt is you dont need to be completely upside down, just over level and use the handles to push and stretch your back works just as well
I’m in this right now. L4 & L5. Thx for the tip
Beautiful bro! So happy to hear that. Deadlift wrecked my low back too. I still do 2 5-10 sessions morning and night and always leave the strap in and never fully invert. Gave me my life back!
@@williamwalton8149tried?
Between my inversion table and losing 45lbs, my back pain has vanished. Loved it when I needed it.
I been using one for decades. I love it and swear by it. Make sure that the leg length is set for your hight and use the strap first, then add clips to extend the strap. You can add enough clips that the strap will stop you from swinging past 180° but will get you too 180°. There are stretching exercises you can do on it and inverted stomach crunch’s. Come up slowly pause at 90° then get off and your fine. Do only a few minutes first, then you can hang longer. About 10-15 minutes will do you good all together.
I had severe sciatica last year. L4 L5 compression and had mri and spent alot of money on physical therapy. Almost had surgery to fix and a friend told me about the teeter. Tried it at his house a few times over a week and was fixed within 5 times. I bought one the next week and have used it ever since. Saved me a ton of money and pain and no surgery. I wouldn't trade it for the world.
I have a Teeter and highly recommend it to others. There is one major difference between most cheaper ones and the higher quality tables, and that is how your feet are attached. The cheaper ones often have pads that go across the top of your feet, causing your weight to be supported by the top of your feet. This can end up being painful. The better ones, like Teeter, have attachments that grip you at the ankles. It is much more secure and easier to maintain longer inversions.
I've had mine for many years, decades. I love it. You remind me of every one else that tried mine had a good scare, and
I got a good laugh.
I am 6'1" and weigh 250 and use a 120 dollar inversion table from Walmart and it works great. Very sturdy and well worth he money. You dont need to spend a lot of money for higher priced ones, in my opinion from using a less expensive one.
This was so funny watching you rotate back and upside down the first time.
Funny how things like this make us feel uneasy as adults but when we were young we would have been all into it strait away.
👍
I’ve been using a Teeter inversion table for years. I’ll do 10-15 minutes fully inverted after my long run. It’s great for listening to mindfulness podcasts or meditation; or just listening to music.
This reminds me of the humvee rollover simulation i did in the military lol. Imagine this feeling except you also have all your gear on and then once you are upside down you have to unbuckle your self and try to land your feet and crawl out. Super unnerving the first time but kinda fun everytime after that.
Mark, Long time watcher first time commenter. I rather enjoy your sense of humor and reference to 80s movies. So I was greatly disappointed you didn't use a clip from Total Recall with Arnold on Mars when you were describing your eyes popping out. Classic for sure. Keep up the good work anyway. Cheerio from the US.
Not sure why, but was never a fan of total recall. Maybe because they killed Sharon Stone 😂
I injured my back when I was 15 (a disc decided to go free range.) I was young, it healed. Kind of. Tweaked it a couple of times in the following couple of decades and REALLY screwed it up when I was 30. I've had every conceivable treatment from chiropractors to manipulation under anaesthetic. In desperation I bought a pair of inversion boots. I strapped them on and hung upside down from my pull up bar. My back popped and cracked. It did feel much better. Sometimes I'll have a 15 or 20kg plate nearby that I can grab and hug while hanging just to give my back a bit more traction. I'm on the wrong side of 60 now and rarely without some sort of lower back discomfort, but daily exercise and inversion (when required) keeps me feeling like a 50 year old.
omg, i just ordered my LX9 three days ago, and your video is here! thanks a lot for your information
This was hilarious! Your approach maximized our viewing pleasure!
Never used this so I can't make a comparison. However, when I started doing weighted pull ups and weighted dips, I felt a huge stretch and decompression of the spine as I hung. Obviously I can't hang very long, but for the sets I did, it did help my back feel better. I don't get that same feeling with just body weight.
I use a belt that sits on my hips that has a chain you can use to put plates on. Athlean X has a video showing how to make one with a dog leash.
I can get a pretty good stretch for my back hanging from a pull up bar when I concentrate to fully relax my core. I don't dare to relax my core when I use weights though.
Dog leash option is great
For me even body weight helps with pain in the thoracic region.
Same boat, love that stretch on weighted pulls.
I absolutely love the honesty
I love these. It almost always gets my L1 to pop and I get instant relief from muscle tension.
I've used inversion tables for a couple of decades and LOVE them. They help my back a _LOT._
I currently have lower back problems. I do have an inversion table in the garage (used about 10 years even though my problem was upper back due to slipped discs c6-c7) but it is the last resort since I don’t have space.
My other solutions
1) sitting on exercise ball rather than a chair for computer work
2) shoving an ice pack down the back of my trousers (try it!)
3) finding parallel bars and hanging from the shoulders plus swinging the legs
4) Pilates exercises like cat curls on the back
I find hanging on to something and letting the back stretch out to be pretty helpful
I miss the old style Roman chair gyms used to have. It gave you a partial inversion; then you climbed up to the gravity boots, secured your feet and lowered yourself into full inversion with supporting rings for hands if necessary.
I really enjoyed this video. I still want an inversion table, and when I get one, I'll definitely go for a well made one, whatever its cost.
Hey Mark, love the content. I'm a low back pain researcher and I like your pragmatic approach. The reality with these inversion tables: It just kind of depends. If you look at the entire population, they don't seem to make much of a difference when compared to other modalities. However, I've had lots of patients that find benefit with them. My general suggestion when people ask is: give it a try. If you like it, go for it. People specifically with spinal stenosis find relief with traction/distraction, so these inversion tables can be especially helpful for them. Cheers.
Your results are because people do not know how to use them properly. It is not a case of 'just hanging' for a few minutes.
@@welditmick No my results are 6 years of researching low back pain and potential treatment modalities. What are you basing your results on? My guess is anecdotal evidence.
@@seanharris2662 15 years of table usage for a start. Even in the video it shows a women calling for 'help' Just one case of not knowing how to use them properly. That is irrefutable evidence in just that one clip. Then there's the chap who made the video - No much of an idea at all - Using his phone etc while on it, not really conducive to best practice is it. Like i said, most people who say they 'don't work' is because they do not know how to use them properly in the first place. If they are good enough for the marines then they are good enough for anyone.
@@welditmick You just defined anecdotal evidence. Thank you. I also am glad that it is helpful for you, no one is arguing that. Cheers.
@@seanharris2662and you just discounted personal experience. Well done 👍
Worked for me. Several months barely able to walk with a bulging lower back disc. Immediate relief first session and 1-2 weeks to fix and never had what was an almost annual recurring issue. Not had an issue in 5 years since.
How long you were doing daily? And what angle?
I’ve been using the ankle boots for a little while, I laugh to myself when I compared how you were on that table and how I just went full send when I latched my ankles onto my power rack 😂. for anyone wanting use the boots, just tie a piece of rope onto the bar so that you can basically ‘pull’ yourself back up without having to use your core or in my case, lack of core. Just a bit of added info, I slipped two discs in the lower part of the back. I can go to sleep without the aid of painkillers now
It's amazing how quickly one can go from completely terrified going upside down to totally relaxed going upside down. When I started capoeira it was terrifying. Within about 10 days, though, it was a lot of fun. Now I can do handstands and whatnot. I don't do good handstands. But, technically, they are handstands.
Good enough is good enough lol.
An acquaintance of my wife went blind after doing headstands every day for a couple of years for a very long timelapse video project. I ain't kiddin'. Your retinas can just detach. Stay safe.
Permanently, or did she recover? But yeah high blood pressure in the eyes can cause swelling between the retina and the back of the eyeball, separating them. And our circulatory system is really "built" for pumping blood up out of our legs at high pressure against gravity, so if you reverse the force of gravity by flip everything upside down it is inevitably going to spike the blood pressure in your head through the roof.
@UChFf0MGTWRYqURUogKoaf9g I was at least told it was because of the pressure of the blood on the backwalls of the retinas that is created by being upside down in general. The skull is strong enough to not get crushed, I'd guess.
Same issues happen when you beat off
Yep hundreds of thousands of gymnasts all over the world walking around with detached retinas from all the time they spend upside down doing handstand work.......ever read that news headline!? Nope me neither...! Any more nonsensical anecdotal tit bits to share?
Valsalva retinopathy ain’t no joke!
been doing upside down workouts for over a decade. could hang upside down now all day long. Broken my back, ruptured disc, calcification on my spine looks like stalagmite's. Had scatica wife had to dress me it was so bad. All my core work or should say 80% is done hanging from pullup bar and dip bar. Strengthening your core is key to eliminate back issue's. I'm 66 years old, mountain bike at least 20 days a month. Then go to gym, lift heavy, also do burpes with 180 spin as I jump, do box jumps for sets at 36", can do front lever. my dead lift max is 405lbs. Your always welcome to come visit me or will video workout for you. The body is amazing, never quit.
This is amazing
Very motivating!
I badly ruptured a disk out of nowhere. I’m 66, trail runner, ultra runner, mountain biker, XC and downhill skier, road bike some. X-rays and MRI’s (multiples) show some lower curvature and also grade 1 Spondylolisthesis and a host of other “potential” issues.
L2/3 ruptured disk happened 7months ago and has left me with compromised right leg. Pain was gone after 8 weeks. I can do mild hikes and XC ski. No running or mountain biking or downhill skiing. Leg just buckles. 4 different surgeons with different ideas. Life altering and depressing.
I’m gonna try one of these. Absolutely nothing to lose.
@@jeffjohanson3830 Bpc-157+ Tb-500 can also help a lot. Just finding the real peptide is difficult. Don't give up, your like me me fitness is a large part of who you are.
I've been doing this for 30 years. Use the handles at the hinge point to roll yourself up and down. I lay horizontally and get great relief just from that. On occasion I go all the way upside down and go a few minutes and then grab the middle handles at the hinge and pull myself ups. By the way 30 years ago I had the ski boots with hooks and had to do a pull-up and get my feet on the bar and hook in. That was a trip. All or nothing but awesome for my back. I have the bench now and love it.
Don’t know if it has “fixed” anything, but I have been hanging on my inversion table every morning and before bed for a few years. Usually only need about 20-30 seconds and my body immediately relaxes and feels really good. I also hang from a pull-up bar, so attack it from both directions. One piece of furniture I won’t be without!
I've found that if you slide down a bit when inverted, and swinging your arms from overhead up to your thighs DOESN'T bring you back up to level, then bending your knees does the trick. It's an easy way to pull yourself back up the table and redress the pivot point issue.
Haha you’re right it was hilarious 😂 Thanks for playing it up, was very relatable 😂
A few years ago I slipped 2 discs in my lower back (L3/4) and the pain wouldn’t shift. Tried massage which helped but even sitting for extended periods meant I couldn’t stand up straight. Ended up getting a nerve block put in and I’ll never forget the feeling as I felt my muscles relaxed (presumably tight from trying to counteract the muscle pain). Tried an inversion table once and that feeling of weightlessness is about the closest thing I’ve come to the same sort of feeling. Back is ok now but never underestimate how dehabilitating a “bad back” can be 👍
Agree-when my back is playing up, just getting up and down, lying down in bed, getting it out of the car, all become a nightmare.
Great video. I've always wondered about this device and it's nice to hear a real life example with good explanations of everything. I'd love to try one someday
Been using these for years. They are a godsend as long as you take your time get accustomed
Mark i have the boots and have owned them for around 8 years . I am a 54 year old pro fitness model and a x-pt. I accuried my boots off a guy who hung himself up in a door gap chin up bar and literally couldnt un latch himself. I use my on a smith machine in a gym so used the metal work to grab up and un latch them. Or at home just use an resistance band tied to the same chin up bar. I use mine for upside crunchs and reverse squats that hit your hamstrings . Great video have a great christmas.
Swen.
Highly recommended. I have had a teeter for 15 yrs. morning and night after lower back disk issue. allows me to stay in the fitness game as though nothing happened..I stop and no more exercising, period. I am 58 and still at it.
As you probably know now, you start with small steps (or increments) for a minute or 2 at time and gradually progress to (ideally) fully inverted. The benefits start at 20 degree inversion. I bought one of these the other days and love it.
Awesome stuff Mark, great to hear you liked it. Great video covering all the aspects someone new to an inversion table will feel.
Between the edits and clip inserts, coupled with Mark’s humor, I was head over heels for this video. Easily top 3 inversion table videos I’ve seen today….🤣😂. And smart to make the boys use it first, like a King’s Cup Bearer / Taster and such…..
I used an inversion table a long time ago. Liked the benefits for sure. Now I use a yoga silk. The silk has a thousand times more variations to be used. Also loosens muscles and fascia when gripping the body. Another benefit is how much space it doesn't take up when not in use. Give it a go. You can find a class to try it out.
Oh yeah that's a much safer alternative and you're in a class
How do the women in the class feel about a big ugly man turning up? Me. Not you lol
Dude- for a minute it looked like a scene from a 1934 Frankenstein movie !! “Ummm smoke goood!”…. All the best Bro!!!😂 you done good!!👍👍👍👍
I had sciatica and shoulder issues in the past but I have been back in the boxing gym 3x a week and I think it has fixed and strengthened my back.
Years ago I had a bad bout of sciatica and the only thing that helped was an inversion table. I still use it every now and then but I’ve found the best thing for aches and pains is DDPY (yoga). DDPY along with weights is gold. Great video 👍
I have avoided surgery (so far) because of this device, don't go all the way upside down and should use it more but once you learn to relaxed on it it's a miracle even when you can hardly get on it (from pain) it works have used it for years.
2:48 OMG you guys are crazy. Ive had one of these for 7 years. I love it. Admittadly i first tried it when i was at an after party with friends in a house w/ one. And being drunk, and high you try things. LOL Needless to say there were those of us who loved it and those who shunned it. I loved it. So much i bought one years later. Thats hilarious to hear that lady got stuck. Terrible but funny. LOL I'm a bad man i know. 🤣
Excellent information, I have the box unopened upstairs in the great room. I feel better about moving forward after viewing this evaluation. I'll tell the wife we need a Safe Word before use! lol
I purchased an inversion table off Amazon for $170.00 US dollars and it works great. What I don't like about it is how bulky and heavy it is.
Would like to upgrade to a Teeter table but having a hard time justifying paying what they are asking.
For years I was going to a chiropractor for my neck, back, hips and pelvis injuries and never getting better, only getting temporary relief for two or three days at a time and sometimes I had to go back a second time in one day.
I decided to get my inversion table and notice immediate and lasting relief. I was able to go months in-between hangs and now it has been 4 1/2-5 years since hanging and have done great. I am feeling like I need to get back on the table again now just to realign and decompress again.
It has been 8 years since I have last visited the chiropractor.
When I hang to decompress and realign, I like to do slow rotational swaying and found for me this really helps to realign my hips, pelvis an lower back.
I also have should injuries from years ago and when my shoulders stark clicking and hurting when raising my arms up away from my sides I take 30 LB kettle bell weights and just let my arms hang and sway them back and forth gently for a couple minutes at a time and do multiple reps of this and this pulls my arms back down into the correct position with the shoulder socket.
I spent a couple year in physical therapy on my shoulders and never saw results.
I have since quit going to the doctor or physical therapist for an injury and treat at home through self evaluation till I find what works best for me.
I now spend my money of equipment that I can use to truly heal rather than paying someone to do nothing more than range of motion and muscle strength training but never address strengthening the joints.
I've used cheap tables before and they work in terms of "yes they'll also stretch your back" but I think teeter is worth the higher price cause you're getting higher quality materials so it will last longer and be less likely to break and safer to use
Boots and the high bar take up way less space - but yes, you have to be an absolute unit to be able to get in and out of it. pass out on your own and you're....RIP.....
If you have a squat rack you can set bar at waist height and lay on floor to hook legs (with the boots) to start to train into it and get great lower body distraction and low back distraction. Love it, works wonders...I'll do what I call 'Rotisseries'...hang from arms for 30sec, then swing legs up and release hands hanging from feet for 30sec, repeat for 3min...to get pull from both ends.
I have had one for a few years they are great. It fixed my back. I use it when my back hurts then don't use it in between. You get used to hanging upside down and it's fine after using it for a few goes.
I fimally got an inversion table for my back after hearing that my sister had been using one for a curve in her back like the one that I found out that I had. She is a marathon runner and she said that it helped her. My back was bad enough that sometimes I could not sleep. The inversion table that I got has a heat and massage on it and I never go completely upside down. I can feel a stretch at just 30⁰ and the heat and massage is relaxing enough to allow me to stay in that position for 10 minutes. My back feels great, but I found that I have to get back to an upright position gradually. It takes me a couple of minutes to feel like my body has resettled the weight shift from the tilted position. This inversion table has helped me.
I had tried to hang from a chin-up bar, but it is not the same!
Cliffhanger is such an under rated film. One of my favourites!
I remember seeing it at the cinema, and when Sarah falls in the opening scene, no one there could believe what we were seeing!!!!
“You’re not gonna die” - Proceeds to die. Yes it was a bit of a shock. Interest where you rank Demolition Man, in Sly’s greatest movies?
@@Fraser365 I never liked comedy sly. I’d put it alongside Tango and Cash!
I used one for 5-10 mins per day to resolve piriformis syndrome, and it worked like a charm. It took a few weeks but was great.
Good video, and I always have fun watching people's first time trying it. I've had my Teeter for about 15 years, and it works as good today as the day I bought it. I previously had back surgery and get pains from time to time. This has definitely helped me ease pain and tightness in my lower back and sciatica, however it can't do miracles. Prevention is best, but at least use it first sing of discomfort. If you wait too long, like I have at this moment, you will likely need some outside help as well. Regarding price, I would say just get the Teeter if you can, or buy one used, and you will have it for life. I would rather buy a used Teeter than a newer lower quality model.
My mechanic convinced me I should buy an inversion table. He's been working on cars for forty years since he was a boy. Everything from lifting heavy parts, working at odd angles, and even walking on concrete has messed up his body. His inversion table literally helps him walk.
I've been using mine for a week. I'm 6'4," 295 lbs and the Teeter EP-560 Ltd feels rock solid. My lower back is injured from two decades of lifting with poor form and being overweight. I don't recommend full inversion from the start but can tolerate it for five minutes, twice daily. My back feels noticeably better.
Beware: introversion tables are dangerous. The human body did not evolve to withstand hanging upside down. I used an introversion table to try to control a decompressed spine. I had to end this because a portion of my stomach slid above my diaphragm--in other words, a hiatal hernia. This was extremely painful, and it took months to rectify. Some people require surgery for hiatal hernia. If you want to decompress your spine relatively safely, then do dead hangs from a pull-up bar. There is plenty of information on TH-cam about the benefits of dead hangs. If your hands are not strong enough, you can get support to hang from your elbows.
Have been watching your videos lately mainly regarding Garmin vs Apple Ultra watch but your other videos have inspired me now to enter my first Spartan race in the south west next August 💪😀
Spartan is amazing - it is basically running around in the outdoors acting like a 10-year-old 😂
Cross train with aerial hammock yoga. Love hanging upside down like a bat and now do my savasana that way. So freeing!
I've been looking at one of these for a while Mark, great video thanks.
Oh, and only us oldies are going to get the 'Streethawk' reference. 😂👍
I like to give back to the more mature audience members 😂
This man tested it on his kids! My guy is a true father figure to remember.
I’ve been using inversion boots or a inversion table for close to 30yrs, best thing for your back as far as I’m concerned. I’ve been very active all my life (now 55) and I’ve never had any back issues even though I suffer from sclerosis. There nothing like felling your back decompress like a piano accordion every time you completely hang upside down.
BTW mark loved it who scared you looked the first time using it, that was quite funny.
That's so cool to hear from someone that's been doing it for a while. And yes, day one was slightly terrifying 😂
Teeter are great.
Love your cliffhanger and 50 shades ref ;)
Been using one of these for years. Helps quite a bit for mid back going fully over. My low back I only go about 60 - 70 % over and let my weight gently decompress
Coming back over, draw your legs up a bit to get fully back up
Also had a cheap one to try it initially. It worked, but parts started to fail in about 6 months. The teeter holds up
The early part of this video is really missing the "Arnie's eyes bulging" clip from Total Recall.
Inverted! "So you're the one" 😂😂😂
Those machines definitely provide temporary pain relief, my father used to have one when I was a kid and it definitely helped my back pain.
I owned an inversion table from my early 40s to age 55. I have degenerative arthritis in my neck from repeated whiplash injury acquired as a foolish ice hockey player.
I got to the point I was using 5 and 10 lb DBs doing certain little inverse exercises.
I stopped because I learned new techniques to counter any ill effects on my neck and spine.
Do I recommend these?
Yup, with caution for hose with high blood pressure or eye issues.
Hello!! Love your channel and got a Locke bike because of you!!!! Please can I ask though which handlebar and sit you use! I find the ones provided to be 🫣😰😱😨!!! Been looking since but cannot find the right one. Thank you in advance!!!
My experience is that there are some very high quality sturdy safe inversion tables available for a fraction of some of those big-name brands
The one I bought was $100 shipped to my home and it is clearly more heavy duty and stable then some of those extremely expensive designer brands for over $1,000
first time i have been on your channel and thoroughly enjoyed the vid. got to 71 years old without needing to invert but i do have problems with my knees for which i tried ankle weights and dangling legs sitting on a high stool and it works wonders.
I'll give it a try how much weight do you use ?
@@tonyk8369 pair or 2kg weights
@@stephens2984 Thanks Stephen
If it's for lower back decompression, it seems that just hanging right way up from a pull up bar would do that. Without the expensive gadget or all the blood rushing to your head. I do that for my shoulders now. It's known to be great for shoulder rehab and it seems to have worked for me. But watching this made me think your spine doesn't care which direction you are hanging in, and this would also decompress your spine, at least for your lower spine.
Actually, you have on each side 2 big handles. This is supposed to be used ;) You just grab them in order to bring you up an down, that's why you have them... (not the small strait ones, but the one on the V structure. I am using the Exerpeutic 975SL which has a bit more padding and also a locking lever so you can stop the table into the position you want. A cheap one would have been less comfortable or practical to use. In general, it's a good thing to invest in that kind of medical device. It's recommended by doctors and natural doctors. Definitely a great thing to have for recovery! But yeah, taking a lot of space!
Someone finally said it! 😆
i’m a fan, it’s part of of my maintenance
Can't believe you missed the opportunity for a Total Recall clip on the eye popping section!
I had a “spotter” the first time, but we realized that to turn back up, all you have to do is hold onto the table behind your head with one hand and pull on the side frame bar with the other. That will tip you right back up. My problem is, that as a female with a large portion of weight lower around my butt, I have never been able to find the balance they describe no matter how it is set. I either have to push down or pull up depending on how it is set. I just deal with it.
Hi Mark, great videos as alway. I've been watching your journey for a good year or so now and got loads inspirational and motivational material from you. Massive frustration when injuries get in the way of progress or doing what you enjoy. I'm a chiropractor who follows a very evidence based and functional approach to care (not the 'crack everything one size fits all approach'). One thing I've learnt over the 12 years of being a chiropractor is that no two people respond the same and very rarely is there a quick fix (look at Tiger Woods). I'd take most general advice with a pinch of salt and try and get a full functional screening from someone who knows what they're on about (movement patterns, flexibility, muscle control and strength, ROM etc) and figure out the cause and effect...discs and joints don't just injure themselves! If you want to do some research yourself have a look at Stuart McGill. He's a leading expert of lower back biomechanics. Anyway good luck.
I've owned an inversion table for quite a few years. I use it whenever I have back pain. It's weird how your body adjusts to it. Tends to speed up recovery, just takes up a lot of space.
Good to hear someone with a bit of experience still getting benefit
@@MarkLewisfitness i think it's one of those 'useful to own when you need it' gadgets
oh, cool that you did this video! so informative. please do a follow up video in 6 months or a year. i am seriously considering buying the inversion table but, as you noticed cant commit to the space needed for it.
That's the plan - a review in a couple of months to see how I am getting on
Mark, I’ve got severe scoliosis. I recommend you to maybe try „Foundation Training“ to work on your back problems.
You can find their 12 minute tutorial on YT.
FT absolutely saves my spine every day!
😂 “After putting my kids on it earlier to check it was safe…” Interested in trying this but the simple things about it make me laugh.
Disappointed not to see a clip of Arnie in Total Recall, when you first went inverted. 🤓
I found the Foundation Training 12 minute workout (on YT) pretty good for my lower back with some hanging and lift exercises.
“Large chunks of it”😂 brilliant
It's 2022, you have to be so careful about describing lumps of fat 😂
If I had to guess, this probably works better for lower back problems vs hanging from your arms because you get more of your bodyweight putting the traction on your lower back, if you're hanging by your legs. Hanging from your arms probably works better for upper back issues.
I've had very similar back problems my whole life as well - up to and including a "disc bulge" where one of your spinal discs sticks out a bit too much and presses into your spine. But yeah half the time I feel like I've got a pinched nerve in my back. I wonder if this would work for me.
It definitely would! Your back would feel so relaxed.... I got the boots. Hanging uside down for 3 minutes does wonders for my backpain... 🙃
Next, you must try the Teeter EZ up Gravity boots! As always, great video.
I have lower back severe issues. I bought an inversion table. I was hanging upside down in 3min. You have the demeanor of someone about to fall off of a 1000ft cliff.
Thanks I have been looking for something for my bad back. Did lots of research and seems to be the fix. Thanks for your great videos it has helped greatly. Now if I could only get some more energy and stamina to work out more than ten min a day.
I've used one when it 1st came out, and it worked. Got on one 2 or 3 decades later and couldn't handle the pain in my sinuses. Due to a broken septum. So if you have any sinuses issues, it probably won't feel good and discouraged daily use. 😕 But it does work, and I even gained 1 inch in height after long-term use. I was lefting heavy weight at the time, and it released a lot of pressure on my disks throughout my back.
Bought one of those 5yrs ago for low back pain and you probably used it more than I have in a week! Mine didn't have a nice tall handle to release your feet. It does feel good hanging, but it was torture trying to bend forward to release my feet with a bad back. My chiro said not to use it when my back was out of alignment like that. That said... I think I'm going to dust it off and try it again just for the fun of it. Ps - the dark color from the floor camera made your face look like Violet being rolled out by an Oompa-Loompa!
Willy Wonka reference - now that's not a movie clip I've included before 😂
The idea is basically using gravity to put yourself in traction, like they used to do with spinal injury cases on traction beds. It’s not going to solve issues caused by poor core/back musculature that are the main reason for spine pain. It does help to temporarily relieve pain. Glad it’s working for you now.
They still use traction in plenty of spinal and leg injuries but I know what you mean by a then versus now comparison. They don't expect you to do jumping Jack's and get to running straight off but mobility work is started as soon as they possibly can. Very different from the older thinking where a single jolt could ruin the repair. Although we've also learned and built better therapy regimens and tools in that time too and it helps.
Plenty of guys with very strong backs still suffer back pain, I use mine more for hip alignment
It’s harder to come back up is because more blood (added weight)is in upper body,simple.Also it’s a bit harder to breathe since the diaphragm is dealing with gravity.I can now do 15-20 min with a 20lb weight vest(started with 10 lbs and gradually added).
Donnie Thompson (first human to total over 3,000 lbs) back protocol uses something called the Big Ray Strap as an alternative. I love the Big Ray Strap and it's great to hang upside down by your hips. It's cheaper and requires less space if you have somewhere to hang it from. Donnie is a physical therapist and offers some great recovery protocols