Back pain can make life miserable. When your back hurts, the pain can affect every aspect of your life. Sitting and standing are uncomfortable, and your back may even hurt when you lie down, affecting your sleep.
As for bending, twisting, and moving around easily? Forget about it! Hopefully, incidences of back pain will be mild and few and far between. However, it can sometimes be more serious. Back pain affects four out of five adults and is the leading cause of work absenteeism. It costs billions of dollars in treatment and lost productivity.
There are lots of different types of back pain, and it’s caused by various factors. Accidents and injuries can result in back pain, and things like poor posture and being overweight don’t help. Some back pain is caused by congenital problems, and aging can be an issue too.
The good news is that back pain is often self-treatable with something called inversion therapy. Using an inversion table, inversion therapy unloads and decompresses your spine and stretches your back muscles, reducing tension and pain in the process. It’s a proven back-pain solution, approved by the FDA.
In this article, we’re going to review the popular Exerpeutic 225sl so you can see if it’s the right inversion table for your back pain.
Exerpeutic 225SL Review
Key Features
The Exerpeutic 225sl inversion table is a mid-range product which makes it a very attractive proposition. However, despite its pocket-friendly price, this inversion table still has an impressive list of features:
- Strong coated steel frame
- Airsoft no-pinch ankle holders
- Palm-release ankle locking system
- Removable lumbar pillow
- 1” thick padded backrest
- Large, non-slip foam-covered inversion handles
- 3-angle inversion settings
- Overhead stretch bar for increased decompression
- Non-slip footpads
- Foldable for storage
Dimensions and Specifications
Despite being a mid-price product, the Exerpeutic 225sl inversion table is surprisingly large and robust. This inversion table should last and last! However, despite its size, this product remains easy to use and is suitable for most home environments, even apartments.
The dimension and specifications of the Exerpeutic 225sl inversion table are:
- Height – 76 inches
- Width – 26.5 inches
- Weight – 65 lbs.
- Maximum user weight – 250 lbs.
- Height range – 4’ 9” to 6’ 6”
Inversion Table Design
The Exerpeutic 225sl inversion table is a good-looking, well-designed product. Like most inversion tables, it’s built on a strong steel A-frame, ensuring that it’s sturdy and stable. The non-slip feet mean that the table won’t move, even on tiles or vinyl flooring.
Some inversion tables are not very comfortable, especially when used regularly or for extended periods. The Exerpeutic 225sl inversion table is made with comfort in mind.
The airsoft, non-pinch ankle cuffs are secure, easy to engage, but will support your weight with ease and without hurting your ankles. The thickly padded backrest means you can relax and decompress without discomfort.
The Exerpeutic 225sl inversion table has three incline angle settings, which are adjusted by moving a simple horizontal bar. This means you can limit your degree of inversion and won’t accidentally tip over too far.
Also, you can gradually increase the angle as you get used to inversion therapy. It would be a mistake to hang upside down immediately. Full inversion is something most people need to work up to. The design of the Exerpeutic 225sl inversion table inspires confidence. It looks (and is!) stable, sturdy and comfortable, which is exactly what you want from an inversion table.
Ease of Use
The Exerpeutic 225sl inversion table is very easy to use.
Some inversion tables have tricky-to-adjust ankle holders, which means you have to bend forward to operate them.
Ironically, this puts more stress on your back, which is the opposite of what you want! Instead, the Exerpeutic 225sl inversion table has palm-operated ankle holders with an extended lever for a more straightforward operation.
You only need to reach down to about knee level to secure or release your ankles. Inverting is also straightforward; just grab the oversized, non-slip handles and pull yourself over to the desired decline. Because of the position of the fulcrum, you don’t need to use a lot of strength to tilt your body; it’s easy!
The Exerpeutic 225sl inversion table will invert you to 165 degrees, which is just short of fully vertical. However, you can also limit inversion by positioning the simple horizontal crossbar. This is a nice feature if you are worried about accidentally tipping upside down.
In short, the Exerpeutic 225sl inversion table is easy to operate, and even novice users will quickly get the hang of it.
Drawbacks
Despite the modest price tag, the Exerpeutic 225sl inversion table is an excellent product. Easy to use, comfortable, and built to last, this inversion table should provide many years of pain relief. However, there are a couple of drawbacks to consider before buying this particular model:
Weight – 65 lbs. might not sound like a lot of weight, but it means that this inversion table is not easy to move, especially if you have a bad back (which you probably do!). So, while the Exerpeutic 225sl inversion table is advertised as foldable and portable, the truth is that it’s probably best left in situ.
Not easy to fold for storage – weight issues aside, some Exerpeutic 225sl inversion table users report that this product is not as easy to fold and store as they had hoped.
While it IS a very stable table, it seems that stability means that folding this table for storage is not as straightforward as it could be. If you plan on taking your inversion table down between uses, this may not be the product for you.
Weight capacity – the Exerpeutic 225sl inversion table has a weight capacity of 250 lbs., and yet, it can be adjusted to fit users up to 6’ 6”. Some competing inversion tables can support 300 lbs. or more. This is not an inversion table for overweight users.
No full inversion – although it’s only a matter of a few degrees, the Exerpeutic 225sl inversion table only declines to 165 degrees, and not the full 180. Some users may see this as a disadvantage.
Assembly
The Exerpeutic 225sl inversion table is delivered flat-packed and disassembled. Supplied with full instructions and all the necessary tools, users report that it takes anywhere from 30-60 minutes to set this inversion table up. It can be done solo, but because of the size and weight of this inversion table, it’ll probably be easier with two people.
Warranty
The Exerpeutic 225sl inversion table is a good quality product that should last for many years. It’s backed by a limited 12-month parts and labor warranty, so you can buy with confidence. A more extended warranty would be appreciated, especially as some inversion table manufacturers offer five-year coverage. However, there really isn’t much to go wrong with this inversion table, so a longer warranty is probably unnecessary.
Bottom Line
The Exerpeutic 225sl inversion table is very comfortable and easy to use. The airsoft ankle cuffs are an especially nice feature and ensure that you won’t pinch or rub your ankles no matter how often and how long you use this table for.
Solid and stable, this inversion table is suitable for users up to 6’ 6” and 250 lbs. It’s a well-made, well-priced product that should provide many years of reliable service.
If there is a downside to the Exerpeutic 225sl inversion table, it is that folding it away for storage is not a straightforward process. That’s not an issue if you intend to leave your inversion table up permanently, but it is a definite drawback if you want to store your table between treatments.
All in all, the Exerpeutic 225sl inversion table is an excellent stretching product that should provide lasting relief from many types of back pain.
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Patrick Dale is an ex-British Royal Marine and owner and lecturer for a fitness qualifications company. In addition to training prospective personal trainers, Patrick has also authored three fitness and exercise books, dozens of e-books, thousands of articles, and several fitness videos.
