Teeter Hang Ups

1. University of California, Berkeley Wellness Letter

This medical newsletter from the University of California, Berkeley, doesn't review the Teeter Hang Ups specifically, but evaluates inversion tables in general, saying that any positive effects are quite temporary. Inversion tables are "a form of traction -- a method that's largely been discarded for treating back pain." The article quotes an orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist in Los Angeles, who says the devices don't reverse the effects of gravity or increase the space between vertebrae, though they may temporarily extend the spine and briefly relieve muscle spasm. The article also urges readers to consult a doctor before using an inversion table.

Review: Ask the Experts, Editors of Berkeley Wellness Letter

2. Mayo Clinic

This short yet informative article explains how inversion therapy works and advises that it does not provide lasting relief from back pain and could be risky for people with certain health issues. It does say that some people find traction temporarily helpful in relieving pain. The Teeter Hang Ups table is not specifically mentioned.

Review: Inversion Therapy: Can it Relieve Back Pain?, Randy Shelerud , MD

3. WebMD.com

Colette Bouchez recommends against inversion for anything more than very temporary relief of back pain, saying the effects don't last long. Like other sources, this article warns that inversion treatments are dangerous for quite a few people with medical conditions.

Review: Inversion Boots, Colette Bouchez

4. Amazon.com

More than 100 customers give the Teeter Hang Ups EP-550 Inversion Table an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars. The EP-550 is one of the least expensive versions, but other Teeter Hang Ups models get similar reviews and ratings at Amazon.com. The vast majority of reviewers seem happy with the quality of the table and say they have found relief from back pain. One customer complains that it is heavy and not easy to fold or store.

Review: Teeter Hang Ups EP-550 Inversion Table, Contributors to Amazon.com

5. Inversion-Table-Direct.com

This large retail site sells quite a few brands of inversion tables, including Teeter Hang Ups products, and publishes owner-written reviews and ratings from verified customers. The EP-950 and EP-550 each have a 4.5 out of 5 star rating and more than 300 reviews. Editors choose three as the best picks; all three are also top sellers. The main complaint is about sore ankles.

Review: Teeter Hang Ups, Editors of and contributors to Inversion-Table-Direct.com

6. Viewpoints.com

This article attempts to answer whether inversion therapy actually heals back pain. Although medical experts say it only provides temporary relief, users say that temporary relief has been very important in their quality of life.

Review: Teeter Hang Ups Review – Does Inversion Therapy Heal Back Pain?, Viewpoints staff, April 26, 2010

7. About.com

This brief review by the About.com guide to holistic healing is based on her personal experience with the Teeter Hang Ups F5000 inversion table. She notes that it can be uncomfortable if used without boots, and that the "spring-loaded ankle bar is a bit tricky." She concludes that the device's advantages outweigh these concerns, but stops short of claiming real health or medical benefits for it. Her personal experience is that "ten minutes once or twice a day on the table helps me get the kinks out of compressed joints and relaxes any muscle fatigue. It gives a good stretch that really feels great!" She recommends getting medical advice before trying an inversion table, since they're inadvisable for some medical conditions. (Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.)

Review: Hang Ups F5000 Inversion Table, Phylameana lila Desy

8. ExpoTV.com

Two video reviewers have posted reviews for Teeter Hang Ups at this site, one for the F7000 and one for the F5000. For the F7000, an anonymous reviewer who's used a Teeter Hang Ups inversion table for about two years demonstrates how it works. He says he can relieve occasional back pain by using it several times a day for two or three days in a row as soon as the pain starts and rates it 5 out of 5 stars. The F5000 earns a perfect user rating.

Review: Teeter Hang Ups F7000 Inversion Table Review, Contributors to ExpoTV.com

9. Epinions.com

More than two dozen users give the F5000 model of Teeter Hang Ups inversion table the same rating it earns at Amazon.com. However, one user reports that a defective foot release caused severe pain and would have been disastrous if she'd been using the equipment alone. The EP-550 and EP-950 models get 5 out of 5 stars in ratings by a handful of consumers, but no one has written an actual review of the products with more details.

Review: Teeter Hang Ups F5000 Inversion Table, Contributors to Epinions.com

10. EnergyCenter.com

This site lists medical conditions for which inversion tables are not advisable. Even this list isn't meant to be exhaustive, so it's still important to get medical advice. The article includes a link to a 1985 medical study.

Review: Inversion Therapy Contraindications

11. WebMD.com

Two exercise physiologists from the American Council on Exercise advise against using an inversion table for exercising. They say it often strains the lower back in men, and is dangerous for quite a few medical conditions. However, neither expert talks about using an inversion table simply for relaxing and stretching the spine.

Review: Workout Devices Get Rated, Jeanie Lerche Davis

12. DailyStrength.org

Two dozen users report on whether inversion therapy helped them. Almost all the reviews say it has worked. Most reviewers have back pain, but several have chronic pain, fibromyalgia, and ankylosing spondylitis. The Teeter Hang Ups is not specifically mentioned.

Review: Inversion Therapy, Contributors to DailyStrength.org