An inversion table is a piece of equipment used mainly by the BDSM community that consists of a platform where a person is strapped down and can be positioned at variable angles. A ratchet gear keeps the platform in place. The table is used to vary positions, including positioning a person upside down. Inversion tables are typically padded, and some include bondage points for the arms and legs.
In terms of the experience, inversion tables combine bondage with suspension. This puts the person on the table at their partner's mercy, while also allowing for new and exhilarating sensations. Inversion tables can also provide a sense of disorientation, as the person on the table may not even know which way is up or down.
Inversion tables have long been used to treat back pain, kidney stones and other ailments - with mixed results. Experts recommend that people with high blood pressure, glaucoma, heart disease or a history of strokes avoid using these devices. These contraindications apply to use in BDSM as well.
