Can Inversion Help Children with Scoliosis?

While many of us may associate the need for inversion with tired and creaky bones, there are some cases in which inversion therapy can be beneficial for children, especially if they suffer from juvenile scoliosis.

NOTE: Children should be at least 4’8″ to invert on a Teeter Inversion Table and must always be supervised by a responsible adult. Before you start your child with any practice of inversion, we always advise that you talk with your child’s doctor.

Our medical adviser prefers to get patients involved with inversion as early as possible. Using inversion to help slow or reverse the effects of scoliosis is helpful at any age, but especially before the bones fully harden at ages 12-14. The size of the inversion equipment may not always be ideally suited for smaller children, so they should always be carefully attended by an adult to ensure their safety and proper operation of the inversion table.

There are many causes of scoliosis. Some causes may be problematic for inversion (bone infection, cancer, compression fracture). Most scoliosis in children is related to bone anomalies or calcification disorders, both of which do well with inversion.

You will likely find that children take much more readily to inversion than adults do. They are used to hanging from jungle gyms, practicing cartwheels and headstands, and they often view inversion as a fun activity. Their limber bodies and sense of adventure help them adapt easily to the sensation of being upside down.

If your child’s physician gives you the okay, start children out with a shallow degree of inversion and allow them to easily adjust and carefully monitor how the rotation of the table behaves. Make as many adjustments as necessary to the main shaft and other inversion settings to make sure the table is suited for them. As always, make sure your child is wearing lace-up tennis-style shoes while using the equipment. An initial session of 2-4 minutes will help acclimate your child to inversion, after which you can increase the length of time and begin to incorporate stretches. Listen to their feedback and help them slowly return upright if they begin to experience discomfort. A regimen of 3-5 times a week can help improve the symptoms of scoliosis in children.