People who are into fitness and athletics are probably expecting some long-term health benefits from any activity they undertake. As athletes increase the duration or the intensity of an activity the body is forced to adapt to the increased stress and grow stronger. In its simplest form thatís the process of ìexercise,î and itís how we condition our bodies and more become fit.
What may not be so easily recognized are the potentially negative effects exercise can have on the body as athletes pursue fitness and recreation activities. The most powerful force athletes must overcome, both during and after training, is one of the immutable laws of nature: gravity.
Unless someone spends time as an astronaut, gravity is with the athlete every day. In the search for ultimate fitness, physical activity only increases the compressive effect of gravity on the spine and organs. Inverting the body is a naturally restorative process that cuts across every form of physical activity to help reduce spinal compression, the build up of lactic acid in the muscles, and the slight skeletal ìmisalignmentsî athletes create during exercise. Inversion can indeed benefit every athlete.
The daily use of whatís come to be known as inversion therapy, hanging by the lower limbs and allowing body weight to decompress the spine, is a simple, yet highly therapeutic way of naturally creating a mild form of spinal traction. Itís a way to counteract the forces that compress the spine when sitting, standing, or exercising. Additionally, by hanging upside down, a mild stretch is placed on the calves, shins, quadriceps, buttocks, and the lower and upper back which can also relieve the tension created by various activities.
Inverting the body for only a few minutes twice a day in simulated weightlessness will decompress spinal discs, relax muscles, realign the spine, and reduce stress and tension. Inversion provides an optimal method of relaxation for the upper body and back. Inversion will stretch and decompress the back muscles while promoting better circulation of blood, fluids, and waste products.
Hang Ups has categorized four groups of athletic activities which can receive substantial benefit from inversion therapy.
COMPRESSION FATIGUE
Nearly every physical activity involves some form of compression of the spine. The compressive effect of gravity is compounded by activities such as running, weightlifting, aerobics, skiing and biking which can exact an incredible toll on the spine, discs, and muscles.
ONE-SIDED SPORTS
One-sided activities may be the most damaging and troublesome for the athlete for two reasons; one, because the body will tend to compensate for the strong-side muscle groups, pulling the spine out of alignment, and two because these activities involve rotation of the spine, often under incredible loads. Examples of these activities are golf, water skiing, tennis, bowling, racquetball, and baseball.
STRETCHING SPORTS
Stretching activities tend to create tension in the muscles due to contraction of the major muscle groups and the body positions maintained while performing the activity. In-line skating, swimming, windsurfing, and rowing are examples of activities which, while stretching the muscles and ligaments, tend to create a great deal of lower back strain. Athletes in these sports can receive a tremendous recuperative boost from daily inversion therapy.
INVERTED ACTIVITIES
Man operates in an upright position, with our orientation in the gravitational field being established through several sensory cues. When we find ourselves upside down itís disorienting, and sometimes uncomfortable. But the performance of inverted activities can be enhanced significantly through inversion training. For skydivers, gymnastís, springboard divers, and scuba divers, inversion therapy fine tunes the body and the inner ear to the inverted world.
Two methods of inversion are currently available from Hang Ups for the athlete.
EZ -UP INVERSION SYSTEM
This is the classic form of inversion made famous by Richard Gereís role in the movie ìAmerican Gigolo.î By using the EZ-UP inversion rack (a modified, dual-handle chin bar with lower handholds) hung between a doorway, and a pair of flexible, padded SL Spyder Gravity Boots, athletes can hook their ankles over the inversion bar to experience the benefits of inversion.
However, using the boot and bar allows the athlete to only hang in one position - completely upside down. Hanging free from a bar enables the user to stretch, twist, rock back and forth, and perform sit-ups, plus it helps to orient athletes to their body position while inverted. And while complete inversion does provide an optimal level of spinal traction, itís not for everyone. The EZ-UP Inversion System is best suited for the active, fit person.
F5000III INVERSION TABLE
On the other hand, an inversion table allows someone to put themselves into an inverted position very easily, and with greater control. An athlete can choose varying degrees of inversion to gradually become comfortable with the process. The Hang Ups F5000III table has a tether strap to hold the inversion table at any level of decline, and SL Spyder Gravity Boots can be used with the table for added comfort during extended hang times or while doing light exercises.
Using an inversion table works on the same principle as the teeter-totter; by adjusting the table to your height, and then making an adjustment for your upper body weight, you can ìbalanceî the inversion table. Raising the arms above the head will make the table go into a more inverted position. By lowering the arms to the waist the table will return to the more upright position.
With a little practice, itís easy to quickly move the body back and forth from the head-up to the head-down position. This rhythmic oscillation improves circulation throughout the body, draws fluid to the spinal discs, and creates a natural pumping action for the lymph system, one of the prime movers of waste products in the body.
No matter which method an athlete chooses, the reason inversion can be so stimulating for the body, and so relaxing for the mind, is because inversion decompresses the spine and increases the circulation and flow of fluids throughout the body and to the brain. At the same time, being inverted allows the muscles to temporarily stop contracting in their constant attempt to maintain an upright body position against the force of gravity.
All athletes should acquaint themselves with inversion therapy. From the broad spectrum of recreational athletes needing a decompressive stretch after a workout, to the professional athlete who has to be at full strength for the next days event, inversion has a place in their training program. The benefits of allowing the body to naturally realign and relax every day are simply too substantial to overlook in the quest for athletic improvement.