Pages
Stay In Touch
More
Copyright © 2003 - 2010
Vanko Trading Inc
2777 Darlington Road
Beaver Falls, PA 15010
724-359-2289
Vanko Trading Inc
2777 Darlington Road
Beaver Falls, PA 15010
724-359-2289
Over the years, there has been no better spokesman for Teeter Hang Ups inversion tables than the founder, Roger Teeter. I found this article very interest in how his Teeter Inversion Table changed his life, just as it has for thousands of others. From the Teeter EP-550 inversion table to the Teeter Contour Power inversion table, Teeter continues to set the bar high for all others.
Amplify’d from www.teeter-inversion.com
Back Pain and Decompression
TR 4 Triumph
When I was in my late teens, I was in a very serious car accident in a TR 4 Triumph, which is the model prior to the roll-up windows that has a cut-down door. The top was down and I remember the front wheels catching on gravel in a turn so that the car flipped end for end, flying upside down. The windshield sheared off and I landed with the car on top of me (no seat belts in those days). The driver and I were half in and half out of the car with that cut-down door just touching our chests. It was only by the grace of God that we both not only survived, but the only injury between us was a severe contusion in the middle of my back where I had landed on a rock. That contusion took 8 months to dissipate, after which I felt back to normal for the most part. What I did not learn until 30+ years later was that a significant chunk of bone had broken off the thoracic T7 vertebra and, over time, had welded T7 to T6, effectively immobilizing movement between these two vertebrae. In the X-ray, the welded chip looked like a tea cup handle joining the two vertebrae. The doctor who read the X-ray said those two vertebrae were firmly welded together by the time I turned 25.
It was 10 years after that accident when I wrecked my back testing water skis and went through 5 years of back pain problems finding no significant relief… until I tried inversion. I was skeptical that 5 minutes of inversion could do anything for me when, after all, I was upright 16 hours a day. I reluctantly gave it a try. The back pain relief was temporary, but much better than anything else that I had tried in the past 5 years. By inverting on a regular basis, I have been virtually free of back pain for the last 30 years. The dramatic relief I experienced is the reason my wife and I started Teeter Hang Ups in 1981.
OK – here is where the two stories above come together. During the first several years of inversion, every time I inverted there were about 7 distinct pops and snaps as my spine decompressed. One day about 4 years into my daily dangle routine, after the usual pops and snaps, I was doing some additional stretching such as pelvic tilts and side to side rotations. All of a sudden there was a very loud crack and my head dropped notably closer to the floor. I was terrified and sure something had broke. Testing all body movements and finding them working, I was greatly relieved but puzzled. A few days later, the crack repeated but not as loud, then it became almost daily. About that time, a doctor who taught chiropractic principles at a local college arranged for me to have full-body X-rays both standing and inverted (initially a marketing plan to prove the elongation of the body during inversion and it worked!) With full-body optically correct x-rays, anyone could take a tape measure and measure body length from the atlas (smallest vertebra next to the skull) to the ankle joints. In the first minute, I lengthened 1 inch and at 10 minutes, it was 1- 7/16″! You could see every joint was opened up, some more than others. The knee joints, for example, showed about 1/8” open space while standing and ¼” open space while inverted. We also discovered that T6 and T7, previously welded, had broken free – surely the cause of that loud crack after 4 years of daily inversion.
Teeter tables are often touted for relief of lower back pain and neck pain, but little is said about benefits to the thoracic. Perhaps this is due to the fact that the thoracic, which supports the ribs, is much less flexible and therefore less subject to injury. In my experience, a high percentage of thoracic problems are due to trauma as in my case. The benefits to decompressing the thoracic are, however, no different than the decompression benefits to the rest of the spine.
Those 8 pops and snaps that I counted every time I inverted (which have slowly one by one stopped) are proof of my continued improvement of spinal health through daily inversion. Today, I occasionally get one pop from my left S1 joint – that’s it. To me, that means a more supple, flexible spine which allows me to continue to do the things I enjoy. I will be 73 in a month and I am still wake boarding, surfing, cycling, running (on soft ground only) and resistance training. The only thing I currently don’t do that I did as a younger man for years is water ski jump using a ramp (I trust you will agree this was a prudent move).
See this Amp at http://bit.ly/phpGgq
Over the past several years, this has been perhaps the number one question asked of us. Here’s the deal, without the sales hype:
Teeter EP-550 SPORT Inversion Table
Brand: Teeter Hang Ups or Stamina or something else?
Teeter Hang Ups offers MANY unique advantages, which places them on top of the inversion therapy market. These include:
- 5 Year Warranty on all parts.
- 30 Day 100% Money Back Guarantee (use it for 30 days, if it does not work for you, get a full refund).
- 90 Day 100% Money Back Guarantee if you purchase at Better Health Innovations!!!!
- UL Listed – passed UL certification testing for medical equipment.
- Longest continuous manufacturer of inversion tables (20+ years!).
- Ability to add features such as gravity boots, stretch handles, etc.
- Instructional materials such as a DVD and book are standard.
Stamina Inversion Chair
Stamina offers a high quality line of inversion tables as well, but without many of the features above. Stamina are a bit less expensive, and they offer a unique inversion chair. We recommend the Stamina Inversion Chair for customers that have weak ankles or knees. We don’t like the inversion effect of an inversion chair as much as an inversion table, but for many the choice is limited.
Other manufacturers: Because we are such a large inversion table dealer, we evaluate a lot of other manufactures. Here’s the problem… most of these are made by contract manufacturers in Asia, who may be making Shark Mops one day and then inversion tables the next. The warranties are virtually non-existent and testing has shown significantly inferior quality.
We do have positive experience with the Body Solid Inversion Table. Body Solid is a major fitness equipment brand, and their quality is almost as good as Teeter Hang Ups.
Teeter EP-550 Inversion Table
Which Model is right?
Teeter EP-550 Inversion Table: This is the “base” inversion table from Teeter Hang Ups. It can be upgraded later with Gravity Boots, Stretch Handles, Inversion Massage Mat, or Training Handles.
Teeter EP-550 SPORT Inversion Table: Same as the EP-550, but comes with Gravity Boots. Many people prefer the comfort of Gravity Boots over the standard ankle clamps, especially when they invert fully. The Gravity Boots are nicely padded and come with calf loops to put a slight bend in your legs. Also comes with EZ-Stretch Handles, which help you manually decompress your spine which inverted
Teeter EP-950 Inversion Table: Many people think that this is the best inversion table because of the higher model number, but it actually is made for a very specific purpose. The EP-950 has a ratcheting handle that operates the foot/ankle clamps. The handle comes up to your knees so you don’t have to bend all the way over to your ankles to fasten your feet. This is a great feature if you have back pain to the point where you can not bend all the way to your ankles. If this is not a problem for you, get the Teeter EP-550 or EP-550 Sport. Note that the EP-950 has slightly larger frame material, but we really don’t think this is a very big deal…
Teeter DEX II
Teeter DEX II: It looks kind of like a roman chair, but it’s not… We recommend the Teeter DEX II to people with weak ankles and knees (we even like it better than an inversion chair). The stress is placed on your thighs and back of legs. We don’t like it as much as a table, but it is definitely the way to go if you have ankle or knee problems.
Who to buy it from?
There is no better place to purchase an inversion table than the internet. Your table will be delivered to your door, so you don’t have to lug a large 80+ pound package home. Usually, “free” shipping is offered. With that said, be careful! Many inversion table “dealers” are nothing but middlemen between you and the manufacturer. With any problem you have with the table, they direct you back to the manufacturer. Then, there are “dealers” who somehow got a hold of repacked or overstocked tables that do not have the warranty.
How can you be sure? Ask the internet retailer if they actually stock the tables or if they simple ship manufacture direct. Ask if people in their organization actually use inversion tables. Most importantly, ask about the return policy (30 days for teeter) and about the warranty. This is a fairly large purchase that you will use daily for years - get started on the right foot!
More Information
We have several articles on our wellness site: Inversion Therapy Articles at BetterHealthInnovations.com
Teeter Hang Ups Inversion Table
Here are Inversion Tables on our health & wellness web site: Inversion Tables at BetterHealthInnovations.com
Of course, an inversion table sold through either of our sites comes with the full manufacturer’s warranty, return policy, etc. We stock these ourselves in our Pennsylvania and Nevada distribution centers and ship manufacturer-direct when we need to. As one of the largest inversion table dealers on the web, we ship several tables every day!
Facebook
Twitter
Visit Our Store
RSS
Youtube