Q: Why is it that when I go on an inversion table – whether it’s totally upside-down hanging by the ankles or just partially upside-down, my lower back actually hurts as it stretches? I don’t know whether it’s stretching or whether the total area is just relaxed from the gravity and daily crunch on the spine.

Any ideas? I can’t stay on it long enough to benefit.

A: Inversion tables aren’t a universal treatment approach for lower back injuries. They might work well with disc issues, but if you have another underlying pathology, there’s a chance that this position will actually give you problems. For example, I’ve seen people with SI joint problems who can’t hang from a chin-up bar without pain. You need to get a concrete diagnosis upon which to base treatment modalities – not just pick and choose what you think might work.

Eric Cressey

10 Minutes to Better Health, Flexibility, and Performance