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What Is A Teeter Inversion Table?
An inversion table is a medical device used to gently decompress the spinal joints by using gravity.
Slow, spinal decompression occurs as the feet are secured and the table is declined to the desired level. Decompression therapies have been known to relieve a number of spine-related pain conditions.
Teeter is the brand most widely used and most trusted by healthcare practitioners since 1981.
What Conditions Can Be Helped By An Inversion Table?
Inversion Table Decompression can be beneficial for a variety of conditions including…
- Back pain
- Sciatica
- Spinal degenerative joint disease
- Spinal stenosis
- Muscle tension
- Herniated discs
- Degenerative disc disease
- Spinal curvature due to tight muscles
- Facet syndrome
- Muscle spasm
What Is The Best Teeter Inversion Table?
There are 3 levels of Teeter FitSpine Inversion Tables.
- FitSpine X1 Inversion Table – This is the entry-level table. Most economical.
- FitSpine X3 Inversion Table – This is the mid-level table. Plenty of functions and my personal choice. This level features The EZ-Reach™ Ankle Lock System that makes getting on and off of the table easier for users in pain.
- FitSpine LX9 Inversion Table – This is the highest-level table. Great value and only $50 more than the X3.
If you would like to compare models in more detail, visit the Official Teeter Website.
How Much Does A Teeter Inversion Table Cost?
While costs can vary, Teeter’s prices remain fairly consistent and sales are offered regularly.
Currently, the prices are…
- FitSpine X1 Inversion Table – $349 with Free Shipping
- FitSpine X3 Inversion Table –
$449$429 with Free Shipping SALE
- FitSpine LX9 Inversion Table –
$549$479 with Free Shipping SALE
Where To Buy Teeter Inversion Tables?
It’s always advised to buy medical equipment new or certified by the manufacturer as a device in poor condition can be harmful to your health if it doesn’t function as intended.
Some brands of inversion tables are sold in box stores and run in the same price range. Teeter has a long-standing reputation for great quality and reliability.
The best deals are found by shopping online and directly from trusted affiliates.
How To Use An Inversion Table
There are a lot of ideas about how to use an inversion table. While inversion can be a useful tool in managing a variety of conditions, it is paramount that it’s done safely.
“After recommending inversion for my patients over the past 22 years, I have witnessed a lot of bad advice on how to use inversion tables correctly. Never just jump into a therapy without doing research and without getting professional advice. Using inversion incorrectly can have potentially dangerous consequences.” – Dr. Don Aivalotis, Chiropractic Physician
Here are a few rules that experts recommend…
- Always follow the manufacturer’s set-up advice before using your table.
- Make sure you don’t have any of the contraindicated conditions.
- Have an observer with you when you try it for the first time, just in case something goes wrong.
- NEVER hang completely upside-down!
- Start slowly. Inversion therapy is more about time than it is about the amount of inversion. Use the lowest setting and increase your time every few days. Your head shouldn’t feel “full” and you shouldn’t experience severe eye pressure when inverting. Stop immediately if you experience excessive head pressure.
- Work towards a goal of 15 min. Once you feel comfortable at 15 min., lower your time and increase your degree of inversion. Some feel 60 degrees is the maximum amount of inversion, however, other professionals recommend a maximum of 45 degrees and 15 min.
- Your body will “learn” to adjust blood flow over time and repetition through a process of auto-regulation.
- Once comfortable, inversion can be done daily and is typically more useful at night as your spinal discs typically have compressed throughout the day and are much less compressed after a night’s sleep.
- If you are using the inversion table to treat sciatica, be sure to follow the suggestions above. If your sciatica worsens with inversion, stop immediately and consult your primary care physician or surgeon for management options.
How is Teeter’s Customer Service?
Teeter Offers…
- Best Price Guarantee – If you find a better price, Teeter will match it!
- Free Shipping – Guaranteed in the Continental US
- 90-Day Returns – Hassle-Free Returns in 90 Days
- 5-Year Warranty – Best Warranty on tables.
What Is The Maximum Weight For Using A Teeter Inversion Table?
Currently, Teeter Inversion tables are limited to users below the maximum limits of
300 Lbs. and 6′ 6″
Who Should NOT Use An Inversion Table?
While inversion can be used by most, always check with your doctor before starting any new home treatment.
DIRECTLY FROM TEETER’S WEBSITE…
DO NOT use until approved by a licensed physician. Inversion is contraindicated in any medical or health condition that may be made more severe by an elevation of blood pressure, intracranial pressure, or mechanical stress of the inverted position, or that may impact your ability to operate the equipment. This may include injury or illness, but also the side effects of any drug or supplement (prescribed or over-the-counter).
Specific conditions may include, but not be limited to:
- Any condition, neurological or otherwise, which results in unexplained tingling, weakness or neuropathy, seizure, sleep disorder, lightheadedness, dizziness, disorientation, or fatigue, or impacts strength, mobility, alertness, or cognitive ability;
- Any brain condition, such as trauma, history of intracranial bleeding, history or risk of TIA or stroke, or severe headaches;
- Any condition of the heart or circulatory system, such as high blood pressure, hypertension, increased risk of stroke, or use of anticoagulants (including high doses of aspirin);
- Any bone, skeletal or spinal cord condition or injury, such as significant spinal curvature, acutely swollen joints, osteoporosis, fractures, dislocations, medullary pins, or surgically implanted orthopedic supports;
- Any eye, ear, nasal or balance condition, such as trauma, history of retinal detachment, glaucoma, optic hypertension, chronic sinusitis, middle or inner ear disease, motion sickness, or vertigo;
- Any digestive or internal condition, such as severe acid reflux, hiatal or other hernia, gallbladder or kidney disease;
- Any condition for which exercise is specifically directed, limited, or prohibited by a physician, such as pregnancy, obesity, or recent surgery.
Review of Teeter Inversion Tables by Dr. Don Aivalotis
I have been recommending Teeter Inversion Table in my office since 2002. Inversion is often a useful tool when trying to keep people away from surgery.
Spinal Decompression is useful in reducing the effects of disc bulges and herniations when surgery is not recommended.
Patients often are in a “grey area” when it comes to managing chronic back pain and inversion can fill in the gap for patients who meet the safety requirements.
Always check with a qualified healthcare practitioner before using any home treatments.