Step Up Your Game With an Inversion Table Workout

Just days after his team’s loss in the 2017 finals, LeBron James was “back at it” in the gym according to his Instagram post. What immediately caught our eye was his Teeter Inversion Table right there in the background! While we don’t have any official endorsement deal with him, it’s great to see that “King James”  – like many athletes – recognizes the value of decompression and an inversion workout.

You may be thinking, “But I thought using an inversion table was all about getting rid of back pain?” While that is the reason for which most people seek it out, the Teeter really should be considered an overall fitness tool. No matter your fitness level or your history with back pain, step up your game with an inversion workout.

What is Inverted Decompression?

Inversion is a natural form of traction using your own body weight in combination with gravity to decompress the spine and weight-bearing joints. This unique stretch elongates the spine, taking pressure on the discs between each vertebra and opening up space for nerve roots that exit the spine. Less pressure means less pain.

Why a Teeter Inversion Workout Should Be a Part of Your Fitness Routine

Cardio and strength training is the most widely recognized and understood elements of a workout, but they are not enough to achieve a balanced approach to fitness. A proper workout includes elements of stretching – and most importantly decompression – to allow muscles and joints to recover from highly compressive activities that can have long-term negative impacts like pain and loss of flexibility.

Restore & Recover

Using an inversion table delivers a progressive form of traction that reverse loads your joints, meaning that each joint will be decompressed at the same weight that compresses it while upright. This passive method of pain relief cares for all weight-bearing joints by creating an ideal stretch, lengthening muscles, stimulating fluid and nutrition to soft tissues, and enhancing shock absorption and lubrication. Movement while in an inverted position encourages realignment and improves flexibility. Muscles lengthen and fluid exchange helps reduce post-workout soreness. The body is encouraged to realign and hold itself in good posture.

Pre-workout: Stretch for a few minutes on the Teeter to elongate the body, loosen up your muscles and get a great oxygen wash to the brain for a boost of energy.
Post-workout: End your routine with a few minutes of decompression to undo the compressive effects of your workout and reduce muscle soreness.

Strengthen

Most training activities designed to build core strength must be performed with great technical accuracy or they can injure the back. An inversion workout can target every core muscle without adding risky, compressive loads to the spine. Plus, reverse loading ligaments helps to make them stronger for better joint support and injury prevention.

During your inversion workout: On ab day, consider doing your crunches fully inverted on the Teeter. These exercises take the load off your back but are killer on your core.

Professional Teams that Use Teeter

Sports trainers and their elite athletes utilize Teeter inversion equipment to train and stay on top of their game. Teeter products are used by PGA Golfers, Professional Cyclists, Extreme Sports Pros, Olympic and Collegiate Athletes, U.S. Army Soldiers, and the pro sports teams: