Question Ideas needed. Bought an Inversion table but need help getting upright.

[Mugsy]

I bought one of those Teeter inversion tables for my bad back. Easy to get into, but getting upright again can be extremely difficult (especially with an arthritic shoulder.)

I need ideas on how to automate/simplify getting upright again.

Even when perfectly balanced, you must pull yourself upright using the side handles to get out of it. This can be incredibly hard to do even for someone physically fit. Most of your weight is in your upper body, which you must lift just to get up. And it puts so much strain on my back that I hurt more getting out of it than I did before getting on it.

I need to come up with a way to make getting upright easier.

My current (inadequate) "solution": I keep a heavy jug of antifreeze next to the table. When I need to get upright, I slide the jug toward my feet as a counter-balance. But it's not heavy enough on it's own and I still must fight to pull myself up. Ugh!

I'm trying to think up a better solution. Maybe a way to drop more weight off the end, or perhaps some sort of rope to pull my head up (or feet down.)

All ideas welcome... the simpler, the better.

Side Note: Something sadistic about sending a 100 lb piece of exercise equipment that's in more pieces than a Tinkertoy to people suffering from a bad back. At least it's comfortable to use. I just can't use it when it's so hard to get out of. Right now, I have a $250 piece of exercise equipment taking up space in my living room that I can't use.

TIA.

 

[kanewolf]

I bought one of those Teeter inversion tables for my bad back. Easy to get into, but getting upright again can be extremely difficult (especially with an arthritic shoulder.)

I need ideas on how to automate/simplify getting upright again.

Even when perfectly balanced, you must pull yourself upright using the side handles to get out of it. This can be incredibly hard to do even for someone physically fit. Most of your weight is in your upper body, which you must lift just to get up. And it puts so much strain on my back that I hurt more getting out of it than I did before getting on it.

I need to come up with a way to make getting upright easier.

My current (inadequate) "solution": I keep a heavy jug of antifreeze next to the table. When I need to get upright, I slide the jug toward my feet as a counter-balance. But it's not heavy enough on it's own and I still must fight to pull myself up. Ugh!

I'm trying to think up a better solution. Maybe a way to drop more weight off the end, or perhaps some sort of rope to pull my head up (or feet down.)

All ideas welcome... the simpler, the better.

Side Note: Something sadistic about sending a 100 lb piece of exercise equipment that's in more pieces than a Tinkertoy to people suffering from a bad back. At least it's comfortable to use. I just can't use it when it's so hard to get out of. Right now, I have a $250 piece of exercise equipment taking up space in my living room that I can't use.

TIA.

What about feet heavy rather than balanced? That way much less force to upright would be required.

 

[Mugsy]

What about feet heavy rather than balanced? That way much less force to upright would be required.

Thanks for the reply.

I'm not trying to balance. I'm trying to get upright. So anything that lifts the head up or pulls the feet down would do the job.

But you can't start with heavy feet because then you would not be able to recline.

 

[Ralston18]

This:

"I bought one of those Teeter inversion tables for my bad back. Easy to get into, but getting upright again can be extremely difficult (especially with an arthritic shoulder.)"

Is the use of the inversion table something sanctioned by your doctor or other applicable, certified medical person?

With the described difficulties I would expect that the use of the table would include some training and support from qualified medical resources.

You are really putting yourself at risk as I understand the situation.

Overall the issue/problems are a medical matter.

And certainly not "Hobbies & Leisure" in a Computer Forum.

Talk with your doctor.

Closing thread to further posts.