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Inversion Table Review: Teeter Hang-Ups F5000
When my right shoulder acts up I also have a harder time pulling the spring-loaded locking pin which sets and releases the ankle clamp each time you invert. There's an alternate release system for people who have difficulty bending to touch their toes, a lever which is easier to reach than the ankle pin, which might also help people with right arm/shoulder weakness. However, since the ankle pin is on top you could use your left arm to set and release it, unlike the shaft pin which can only be reached with the right arm. My slim ankles posed another challenge. Normally the
padded ankle clamp will adjust to a small enough size
to keep your legs from slipping when you invert. However
for me, my legs slip a bit and put uncomfortable pressure
on the tops of my feet, and they begin to go numb. I purchased
a pair of gravity boots There was one additional difficulty for me, another personal quirk which interfered with my comfort. The metal bar which runs under the nylon table mat (the part you lie down on) hits my tailbone quite uncomfortably. None of the people I know who have used the same table have had this problem. It depends on back curvature, height and weight distribution, and mine add up to bone crunching discomfort. Fortunately, this is alleviated by placing a small pillow below my tailbone to flatten the curve of the spine a bit. It also helps if you keep the nylon table mat as tight as possible, but this is rather awkward to do and requires a lot of strength. Unfortunately the crossbar is welded to the table frame, and there is no way to adjust it to be farther away from the table mat. My recommendation is to try one, adjusted correctly for your height (which should be adjusted +/- one setting if your weight distribution is uneven), and see how you like it before making a purchase. The Teeter HangUps F5000 inversion table is well-made, and I highly recommend it. Few people will have the problems I have had to overcome, and the Customer Service at Teeter HangUps was both friendly and helpful when I called them (toll free) for advice. Now I'll talk about how it feels to use the inversion table. Personally I enjoy it immensely, and can swing up and down quite pleasantly. Some people aren't so comfortable with inverting, and must move more slowly, which is recommended anyway. It's nice that for all my other problems, this isn't one of them! Sometimes when I invert more than 30 degrees I felt a bit of pulling in the lower right side of my abdomen, which was a minor annoyance on and off the inversion table for a few days, and my chiropractor and massage therapist recommended inverting only 20 to 30 degrees until the tightness, probably old adhesions, had been gently stretched, and I could invert more fully without discomfort. Fortunately, this amount of tilt is sufficient to achieve full benefits of inversion. I can invert fully now, though I still only do it occasionally and only for about 10 to 15 seconds at a time until I feel more sure I won't pull anything. And last but certainly not least--how I feel since using the inversion table. Better! I have less of the chronic pain I have endured for 20+ years, and I only invert for 5 to 10 minutes daily. My massage therapist is noticing improvement in my tissues as well, with fewer and smaller knots in my muscles. So I heartily recommend inversion to anyone who is comfortable with the idea and the inversion table itself. Make sure to buy a sturdy model and follow the safety instructions carefully, and enjoy the health benefits inversion can provide! P.S. The model I purchased can be folded and put out of the way if necessary--but if you're like me, try to make a space for it where you can keep it ready to go. You're much more likely to use it if it's "already ready already".
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