The Tilt Table / Inversion Table

The Tilt Table, or the inversion table as it is also known, is a large piece of equipment and can be quite space consuming. However, when you're in pain, I'm sure you'll sacrifice that space!

As with any large piece of gym kit, though, they can become obstacles to walk around and ignore.  Or worse, become an expensive clothes horse! So I strongly suggest you try before you buy. See if a physio can advise you of one you could rent or maybe try and buy one second hand...

Not much to write here as I’ve gone on long enough on my Vlog! I have split the vlog so if you don’t need a guided tour of the machine, skip straight to “The Tilt Table Part 2” where you can see my sexy upside down face, where I look spookily similar to ‘The Joker’ in “The Dark Night”!! 

What do you think?

The Tilt Table Part 1

The Tilt Table Part 2

Some of the main Pros

• It feels as though the gravity takes the pressure off any squished discs almost immediately.

• You can graduate the tilt so that you build up to being completely upside down. (I don’t quite go to the full 180 tip; I have noticed that people with tight hip flexors result in arching their lumbar region too much when upside down. Check out some of the pictures on Google images to see what I mean. That looks just as bad to compress your facet joints that way instead).

• The machine has height adjustment on it so that your ballast can still tip you.

• The curved handle bars rotate with you. They act as both support and an aid to assist in the tipping back action, and of course, upon returning to upright!

 Some of the main Cons

• The ankle holders on this particular model are hard plastic and can actually decrease your time spent on the table because it soon becomes painful. Mainly because my ankles/base of calves don’t quite fit within the c-curves which means they sit on top. Therefore, I spend my weight upon the top of my feet, having to act like hooks. So the tops of the feet hurt (as well as the knees) after a short while.

• The bolts were so cheap, my partner very kindly replaced with decent steel ones; this is not the time to have dodgy machinery when you’re headfirst towards the ground!

It's the Spinal Countdown!

A Spinal Rack Back Stretcher, which has an 'abacus' look about it, is a great piece of kit to own.

Welcome to the “Deluxe Magnetic Back stretcher Shiatsu Spinal Rack Back Stretcher”. That’s quite a mouthful, isn’t it?

I have found this most useful for muscles that have chosen to work collectively as a 'house-brick' rather than as small moving parts, like a clock. Its rollers help you massage the area and hopefully act as a form of trigger pointing to some taught muscles.

Take a look at my vlog here for a visual on moving parts.

In my video, I reserved from speaking my thoughts regarding the magnetic strips, but I shall explain here:

In holistic therapies, it is thought that by using magnets, we can realign our body’s energy, thus resulting in homeostasis, or balance.  This product has been built with quality. However, the magnetic strips on each massage ball, are the plastic strips you might find on a cheap fridge magnet. You know the ones you might get in a cracker and when you put it on the fridge, there’s so little ‘magnetism’ in the strip that the thing slides to the bottom of the door?  It really is a gimmick, I’m afraid, but it is my only complaint on an otherwise great contraption.

Have you ever seen an animal, usually a dog who rolls around on his back and clearly looks to be enjoying the natural wriggle of quenching that itch and releasing any stress? Well, that is what I was craving to release my back, but a flat floor just wasn’t able to penetrate all the nooks and crannies, sat deep under subcutaneous fat, and into the muscles; just like a deep tissue massage. I feel like these roller balls penetrate right down to the nitty gritty. Just what you need when you’re in pain and you’ve come home late and just need immediate relief. (Steady!)

FYI: The quote within the sales pitch reads as thus:

Product Description

“…[the] frame supports, stretches and massages the lower back and spine, helping reduce pressure on each vertebra to gently realign them to a more natural, stress-free position. The rolling balls provide gentle but deep Shiatsu-style kneading, helping to increase blood flow, relieve muscle tension and bring soothing relaxation to both your back and neck. In only 15 minutes, your backache should have melted away. Crafted in quality hardwood. Guaranteed for five years…”

It also states that it is “Used and recommended by Physiotherapists”. And I completely agree to this recommendation.

Remember: it can be a little intense, so lower yourself into position gently and built your time up on it slowly! The rods do have a little ‘give’ in them, but still, it's important not to just lie on it for a long time, better to roll on it to get blood flow and massage the back muscles.