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Gravity boots...

Or save pennies, for $150? there is an inversion table at Costco. My only complaint? You're only flipped back about 140 degrees, not fully hanging.

Actually, lay across a bed with your arms & chin hanging over and relax below the chest. Then have a significant other pull your legs up & back. A variation of this was seen on Down & out in Beverly Hills. I used to pull Mik's feet to get her ankles unlocked when she was prego.

Granted, I have not had bad hips... back, knees, ankles, elbow, neck... all those go out on me, but my hips have done relatively well for some reason.

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I think that's why Costco has the inversion table... inversion/gravity boots require the strength and coordination to grab a bar and flip your feet up there while wearing those clunky boots. Even when I was young it was an awkward situation because the hooks were behind my heels.

I haven't even seen those boots around anymore, possibly due to risk... if the bar rips out of the ceiling or your feet slip out, it's not going to be fun.

Ok, I was wrong - http://store.yahoo.com/imaginefitness/grinbo.html

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beccak1961.livejournal.com

I love doing a back stretch over my ball, but I'm not sure it would help the hips. It's a wonder for making the back feel good though.

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Gravity boots are more of a back stretch too, hips may need to be popped outwards. It's an odd area, as not even massage therapy can really pop them. Although if the affliction is caused via a tightening of muscles, it could offer some relief.

I was thinking hip traction works best if the legs are not pulled straight down (pulling the ball to the bottom of the socket and just crunching cartiledge) but at a 30 degree angle. Setting up posts and pulleys at the bottom corners of a bed might work, along with weights tied to ankle straps. Over the years I've dreamed up something like that, along with a "chin-up" bar at the head of the bed to help stretch compacted joints. It seemed better than the old-school full-foot boots which allowed your knees to lock which was uncomfortable.

I love stretching over a ball. I always start to fall asleep because it feels so good, then I fall over.

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beccak1961.livejournal.com

It feels amazing. My back has improved so much since I started, now if I could figure out something for me knee, besides surgery.

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I had torn that ligament that goes THROUGH the knee, between the knobby bits. I did NOT want surgery THERE. 8-)

I stopped heavy running and hiking, and eventually it healed without the surgery. It depends on your affliction and activity level though... that solution won't work as well for rhuematoid arthritis.

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saffronhare.livejournal.com

We might be able to locate some folks to comprise a shaking machine for you. Lemme have my people call your people, or something.

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Good times. I think that probably

agrnmn and

iron_clad could manage it if they took a leg each.

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An inversion table is more than worth the investment. I bought a Hang Ups table here in KC locally, and then invested in the conversion bar and gravity boots to use it will boots to hang vertically (the clamps on the table really hurt your ankles if you invert fully).

When I use it regularly (as in once a week) I have no lower back pain. I use it in conjuction with yoga practice (I use the table for inversion instead of headstands).

You literally align immediately.

Now, if you're interested to try it, we can probably work something out.

D.

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If you're going to go inversion table, I'd suggest the Hang Ups 5000 (which can lock at full inversion) and pay to get the conversion bar and gravity boots to use the table for full inversion (the clamps on those tables cut off the circulation in the tops of your feet if you fully invert).

It works great. Worth every fucking penny I spent on it.

D.

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saffronhare.livejournal.com

Wow. That looks even better than a Catherine Wheel. (Saving the link now.)

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Thanks for the link -- will certainly look into it. Gods know our household could certainly use it.

Perhaps

saffronhare and I could go in on one :)

What sort of yoga are you doing? Do you go to a class somewhere?

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wolfieboy.livejournal.com

So many reasons that we need to have the same physical location (at least roughly). This is another. I regularly pick up people of even my size after asking first. It's a bit of different kind of hug. :) Lifting you by your ankles should be easy...

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saffronhare.livejournal.com

But that's something I'd pay money to see...those two holding you up by your ankles and shaking you (but not so hard as to blacken your eyes or anything).
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Wow. Rule #2 is my friend.

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I dunno - I'm probably bigger than you think. But you'd be welcome to try it, should the opportunity arise :)

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Hey, I was thinking I'd pay them to do it, so that's fair.

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I practice on my own at home at this point, however, if I were able I'd still be going to the class I took from Debbie Borel at the Yoga Barn.

It's actually my intent to hook up with her after faire this year for private instruction as to how best to rehab the neck injury.

D.

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Thank you for the info.
I've been thinking in an offhand way about learning yoga...

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It will change your life.

I'm not kidding.

D.

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