The Risks of Defective Inversion Tables

For people who are dealing with issues such as back pain, muscle spasms, sciatica, one option they might consider trying is inversion therapy. Inversion therapy is a type of spinal traction where a person spends an amount of time either inverted at an angle or fully upside down. The concept behind this practice is that spending time in an inverted position changes the gravitational pull on the body in a way that eases pressure on the back. 

Studies have been done into inversion therapy, but haven’t found any conclusive evidence that inversion therapy provides any long-term benefits for these types of problems. However, some people may experience some short-term relief. Very commonly, if someone wants to try inversion therapy, they do so by using an inversion table, where a person lays down on a table that rotates them into an inverted position. 

Defective Inversion Tables

Since inversion tables are intended to hold people upside down, it’s extremely important that safety is a top priority in how they are designed and manufactured. If components fail or if consumers aren’t provided with information about how to use the table safely or about potential risks, it can be very easy for people to get seriously hurt. 

Defective components can easily have catastrophic outcomes for the users of inversion tables. Inversion tables with a single pin angle design in particular have a history of failing while users are upside down, causing falls. Falls from an inversion table can potentially cause injuries such as head trauma, neck and back injuries, and facial injuries. 

There have also been cases where people have died while using an inversion table that got stuck upside down and weren’t able to get themselves out of the situation. For example, in May 2023, a woman sued a table manufacturer and QVC because her husband asphyxiated after the table got stuck upside down. In that suit, the plaintiff alleged that the table did not have adequate mechanisms to help users prevent getting stuck. A similar lawsuit was filed in 2013, also involving a person who died of asphyxia when an inversion table got stuck upside down. Spending too much time upside down can lead to asphyxia because lungs need to work against the weight of other organs in the body. 

Contact a Michigan Defective Product Lawyer

If you or a loved one has been injured by a defective product of any type, it’s extremely important to contact a defective product lawyer for help with your case. These types of cases are very complex. Companies typically have their own legal teams to contend with and laws can make it difficult to get the justice you deserve. But at Scott Goodwin Law, we’re not afraid to hold businesses accountable and have helped many people who have been in your shoes. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation and find out how we can help you.