Inversion therapy might be appropriate for you if you have a minor case of lumbar spinal arthritis. If you have no spinal fusions and are given medical clearance by your doctor, doing gentle inversions, where the head is lower than the heart, could create therapeutic traction in the spine. The lumbar is the low back and is often injured from poor sitting or standing habits, car accidents, injuries from sports or from heavy physical work.
Where is the Lumbar?
The lumbar spine refers to the low back. Arthritis is inflammation of the joints and, if left untreated, can lead to a very painful condition where the spine is no longer able to move in a healthy, efficient way. The lumbar is one of the three important curves in the spine. The other two are the neck (cervical) and the upper back (thoracic). The neck and lumbar are much more flexible and prone to injury than the thoracic.
Appropriate Inversion Therapy
A very gentle form of inversion therapy is to lie on a slant board or foam slant bed. A platform is tilted that provides an area to lie back on so that the head is lower than the feet. Different commercial versions are available.
In Iyengar yoga, folding chairs padded with thick wool blankets are often used to provide a similar inversion therapy. Work with a highly trained yoga teacher to prevent further injury.
Nutritional Supplementation
Much of the focus on bone health is on calcium supplementation. Most people actually have adequate calcium intake from their diets but lack the magnesium that is needed for the body to absorb the calcium.
Foods such as calcium-enriched orange juice or soy milk are palatable. To get the magnesium, consume dark leafy greens, nuts, legumes or supplements.
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