We Tested These Top Inversion Tables to Help You Alleviate Your Stiff, Achy Lower Back (2024)

We Tested These Top Inversion Tables to Help You Alleviate Your Stiff, Achy Lower Back (1)

Inversion tables are rotating tables that allow people to strap themselves in and turn their bodies upside down with the designed intention of alleviating the sensation of back pain. Angelie Mascarinas, MD, physiatrist at HSS, explains that inversion tables rely on gravity to offload the spine, resulting in less pressure on spinal discs, joints, and nerves. As a result, inversion therapy can help to promote lumbar flexibility and alleviate back pain for people with chronic low back pain, and it may even be a modality to help people avoid the need for surgery.

To find the best inversion tables, we tested a total of 13 products, with expert testing guidance being provided by Mascarinas. In making our picks, we assessed the inversion tables on ease of assembly, design, ease of use, effectiveness, and value. We also spoke with additional experts to further understand the benefits of inversion therapy and who should consider implementing it.

What Healthcare Providers Want You to Know

  • Size and Weight Limitations: Because inversion tables put you into a compromising positioning, it is important to consider factors like size and weight limitations for safety. Additionally, they can be large pieces of equipment, so be sure to check to make sure you have assistance moving them into your space if necessary so you don’t further injure your back. Lastly, make sure your new inversion table is adjustable to your specific height and that there are design precautions to help you get out with ease.
  • Add-On Features: Suzanna Wong, DC, co-founder of Twin Waves Wellness in San Diego, suggests looking for padding and handles to promote the best feel when using an inversion table. If you’re looking for something extra from your inversion table, there are a slew of add-ons available. Some models include vibration to replicate the sensation of massage, heating elements, and lumbar supports.
  • Safety: Mascarinas suggests that people with high blood pressure, heart disease, glaucoma, a history of strokes, vertigo, and those who are pregnant should avoid inversion tables as they slow down the heartbeat and raise blood pressure. James Lin, MD, spine surgeon at the Mount Sinai Health System in New York, notes that being inverted puts people at risk of falling and injuring themselves. Cervical spine injuries are common from falls due to insufficient ankle straps. As a result, Hayley Winchel, DC, chiropractor at Performance Health Clinics, recommends models with secure ankle straps to keep you in place.

Our Top Picks

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In This Article

  • What Healthcare Providers Want You to Know

  • Our Picks

  • How We Tested the Inversion Tables

  • Our Experts

  • FAQ

  • Why Trust Verywell Health

Pros

  • Simple and easy to use

  • Less than an hour to assemble

  • Easy adjustment during usage

Cons

  • Ankle pads slide off after use

  • Lumbar material is stiff

Key Specs

Table Weight: 52 lb | Weight Capacity: 350 lb | Added Features: Backrest pad

Why We Recommend It

Teclor’s Inversion Table for Back Relief checked all of the boxes necessary to earn a top spot on our list. It was easy to assemble, taking us less than an hour to put it together. Because injuries from falling are common with inversion tables, it's important to opt for a model with sturdy ankle braces or straps. As we tested it, it proved to be sturdy and safe, with a spring-loaded ankle lock and a safety belt that we appreciated.

We found that the simple design was easy to adjust, working in our experience for children under 5 feet tall and adults over 6 feet tall. It also features a lumbar support that can be adjusted easily when already on the table. We were able to feel adequate spinal decompression with each use of this model. And, after seven weeks it was still in “like new” condition. An added bonus: It doesn’t take up much space, so we were able to leave it out when we weren’t using it.

If you’re looking for a slightly more affordable inversion table, we recommend Yoleo’s Gravity Heavy Duty Inversion Table. We love that it’s easy to set up, features straps that kept us safely in place, and it alleviates back pain—all for a more budget-friendly price. However, keep in mind that it’s pretty large and hard to move, unlike Teclor’s Inversion Table.

Keep In Mind

The foam ankle pads slide off with each use, which means that they have to be adjusted every time you want to use the table. Additionally, we felt that the material used in the lumbar was somewhat stiff and didn’t break in over time.

  • We Tested These Top Inversion Tables to Help You Alleviate Your Stiff, Achy Lower Back (3)

  • We Tested These Top Inversion Tables to Help You Alleviate Your Stiff, Achy Lower Back (4)

Pros

  • Durable made

  • Lumbar bridge included

  • Also helps with neck pain

Cons

  • Difficult assembly

  • Caused ankle pain when fully inverted

Key Specs

Table Weight: 66 lb | Weight Capacity: 300 lb | Added Features: Acupressure nodes, lumbar bridge

Why We Recommend It

Our editor’s mother found the Teeter FitSpine X3 model helped with her neck and shoulder pain that resulted from a car accident decades earlier. It includes a lumbar bridge that we found helped support our back while also stretching our lower back out even more, which helped alleviate glute pain triggered by sciatica.

There are also handholds built into the backrest and frame to enhance your stretch, and the removable/adjustable acupressure nodes let you target tight muscles with four pairs of nodes in varied intensities.

Made with high-gauge heat‑treated steel, this is a durable and well-built product that stood up well during testing to usage by multiple people. We found the rubber footing to beparticularly durable, holding up to being dragged around while also promoting a feeling of safety and stability for us.Plus, it's easy to fold and store.

Keep In Mind

The instruction booklet and compatible app were not easy to use or particularly helpful with this model. Furthermore, when fully inverted, we found this table to create pressure against our ankles that was very uncomfortable.

  • We Tested These Top Inversion Tables to Help You Alleviate Your Stiff, Achy Lower Back (6)

  • We Tested These Top Inversion Tables to Help You Alleviate Your Stiff, Achy Lower Back (7)

  • We Tested These Top Inversion Tables to Help You Alleviate Your Stiff, Achy Lower Back (8)

  • We Tested These Top Inversion Tables to Help You Alleviate Your Stiff, Achy Lower Back (9)

Pros

  • Very secure

  • Massage is relaxing

  • Built to last for years

Cons

  • May be too large for smaller homes

  • Cannot just use the heat function

Key Specs

Table Weight: 60 lb | Weight Capacity: 300 lb | Added Features: Massage features, heat

Why We Recommend It

Health Gear’s ITM 6400 goes beyond just inversion—it features heat and vibration for added comfort and pain relief. The massage pad can be removed so we could feel the heat and vibration even when we weren’t inverting.

We felt very secure when using this model as it comes with two different ankle securing methods, an ankle adjustment locking device, and ankle security straps. Up top, it has an adjustable headrest, and it also folds up well for transport, unlike other models on our list.

If you’re more interested in the heat function than the massage function, we recommend Innova’s ITM6000, which also features both massage and heat. What separates this table is its ability to localize the heat. A remote makes it easy to set the heat to just the neck, just the back, or to both at the same time. Conversely, however, the massage function is pretty weak and only feels like a vibration.

Keep In Mind

People with smaller spaces may find that this is too large for them; even when folded it still requires a large space to put it. Additionally, while we thoroughly enjoyed the vibration and heat features, it’s important to realize that you cannot just use the vibration without also using the heat as well.

  • We Tested These Top Inversion Tables to Help You Alleviate Your Stiff, Achy Lower Back (11)

  • We Tested These Top Inversion Tables to Help You Alleviate Your Stiff, Achy Lower Back (12)

  • We Tested These Top Inversion Tables to Help You Alleviate Your Stiff, Achy Lower Back (13)

  • We Tested These Top Inversion Tables to Help You Alleviate Your Stiff, Achy Lower Back (14)

  • We Tested These Top Inversion Tables to Help You Alleviate Your Stiff, Achy Lower Back (15)

Compare

DesignEase of UseValueEase of AssemblyEffectiveness

We Tested These Top Inversion Tables to Help You Alleviate Your Stiff, Achy Lower Back (16)

Best for Back Pain:

Teclor Inversion Table

$180 at Amazon4.35555

We Tested These Top Inversion Tables to Help You Alleviate Your Stiff, Achy Lower Back (17)

Best for Sciatica:

Teeter FitSpine X3 Inversion Table

$399 at Amazon4.54.54.54.34.9

We Tested These Top Inversion Tables to Help You Alleviate Your Stiff, Achy Lower Back (18)

Best with Heat and Massage Features:

Health Gear Heat and Vibration Massage Inversion Table

$350 at Amazon4.54.753.55

How We Tested the Inversion Tables

We Tested These Top Inversion Tables to Help You Alleviate Your Stiff, Achy Lower Back (19)


To find the best inversion tables, we tested a total of 11 products, with expert supervision provided by Mascarinas. In the end, our picks were made based on the following criteria:

  • Ease of assembly: Our editors timed the assembly, noting the ease of the entire venture, the quality of the instructions, and the streamlined process. Additionally, they noted whether all of the necessary tools were included and whether it was a one- or multi-person job.
  • Design: We examined the footprint of each model, addressing how easy it was to stow away and how much space it took up. Our editors also noted the quality of the tables, determining whether they felt durable or poorly made. For options with special features like massage or heat, our editors noted the practicality and helpfulness of them.
  • Ease of use: We noted how the first usage went and how simple the instructions were to follow. Our editors also addressed how intuitive the ankle straps were to use and how easy it was to toggle between settings. Lastly, they determined whether the table became easier to use over time or if it was simple from the get-go.
  • Effectiveness: Our editors noted if they experienced pain relief. Over time, adding more inversion time and angling, our editors determined if this further enhanced pain relief, and at the end of the testing period they addressed whether the table decreased or increased pain levels and whether it increased their overall quality of life.
  • Value: Based on a median price, our editors evaluated whether the model they tested was worth the money. They also addressed how it held up during the testing period and whether they would continue using it.

Our Experts

To find the best inversion tables we spoke with multiple experts to help us not only understand the benefits of inversion tables, but also the safety precautions and what people should specifically look for in one.

  • Hayley Winchel, DC, chiropractor at Performance Health Clinics
  • Angelie Mascarinas, MD, physiatrist at HSS
  • Suzanna Wong, DC, co-founder of Twin Waves Wellness in San Diego
  • James Lin, MD, spine surgeon at the Mount Sinai Health System in New York

We Tested These Top Inversion Tables to Help You Alleviate Your Stiff, Achy Lower Back (20)

Frequently Asked Questions

  • How do inversion tables work?

    According to Winchel, inversion tables use gravity to create a traction force on the lower back. This results in opening disc space to decrease pressure, allowing for imbibition, a process in which the discs of the spine exchange nutrients and maintain hydration for a healthy spine.

  • Is it okay to use an inversion table everyday?

    Winchel suggests that once a day for 3 to 5 minutes is a good place to begin with an inversion table. At a maximum, Mascarinas suggests five minutes at a time, twice a day.

  • How long does it take to see results from an inversion table?

    Some people may experience benefits immediately, while others may notice them gradually over several weeks of consistent use.

  • What is the best time of day to use an inversion table?

    Inversion therapy can be energizing in the morning, aid recovery post-workout and promote relaxation before sleep at night. Experts recommend experimenting to see what works best for your body.

Why Trust Verywell Health

Jack Byram has been writing for Verywell Health since 2023, covering all things recovery and fitness-related. As a lifelong athlete and an avid weightlifter, Jack knows and understands the importance of recovery, especially when it comes to the back. He has used inversion tables in the past and knows their value. Additionally, Jack has spoken with countless experts for his work to best understand what people should use for recovery.

We Tested These Top Inversion Tables to Help You Alleviate Your Stiff, Achy Lower Back (2024)
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