Paradigm 500 Inversion Table System
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List Price: Category: Sports See more product details |
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Description of Paradigm 500 Inversion Table System
The Paradigm 500 Inversion Table System features a unique patented ratchet ankle system. The ratchet system allows the user to tighten or loosen the ankle cushions with just the touch of a button. The table accommodates users up to 300lbs and up to 6' 6" in height. Large curved safety handles allows the user to return to the upright position easily. A sturdy but comfortable nylon backrest gives a sense of security and softness on the back. Protective side covers prevent finger pinching. The Paradigm 500 is easy to assemble the steel frame has a powder-coated scratch resistant coating. A nylon tether strap provides a safe adjustment for the inverting angles. The addition of tough rubber non-skid floor stabilizers prevents any movement during inversion. Ergonomically molded ankle cushions hold your ankles securely.Ideal for beginning or experienced inversion table users, the Paradigm 500 can help relieve minor back aches and muscle tension; it can also help to counter the effects of too much time spent sitting, standing, or moving repetitively. The table is also a great way to add extra crunch to exercises like sit-ups. Built with a durable tubular steel frame with a scratch-resistant, powder-coated finish, the Paradigm 500 offers multiple features for a comfortable and safe inversion experience.
 The Paradigm 500 offers a unique patented ratchet ankle system that allows the user to tighten or loosen the ankle cushions with just the touch of a button. |
The Paradigm 500 features vinyl safety covers to protect hands and fingers, a durable padded backrest, and ergonomically molded ankle holders, and adjustable tether straps for safety. In addition, a unique patented ratchet ankle system allows the user to tighten or loosen the ankle cushions with just the touch of a button. The table can support up to 300 pounds and it has a maximum user height of 6 feet, 6 inches. When not in use the Paradigm 500 can be easily folded for storage.
Key Features:
- Tubular steel frame with a scratch-resistant, powder-coated finish
- Weight Capacity: 300 pounds
- Maximum User Height: 6' 6"
- Ratchet ankle system
- Durable padded nylon backrest
- Protective side covers
- Ergonomically molded ankle cushions
- Rubber non-skid floor stabilizers
- Nylon tether strap for safe adjustment
- Folding design
Sports reviews of Paradigm 500 Inversion Table System
Customer Review: Well-Built, Basic Inversion Table - Assembly and First Use Review
Sport shop rating: 4 Stars
This is my first Inversion Table, so I came into this with what little info I gleaned from other Amazon reviews, as well as understanding that it might provide relief from occasional sciatica problems.
About Inversion Tables...
These devices have been around for a long time to provide traction for your spine (to stretch it) without a lot of hospital-grade equipment. Anecdotal reports claim that it can provide relief from a variety of back-related pains - feel free to Google their usage on the interwebs to learn more.
You climb on board by stepping onto the foot platform and clamping your ankles between very nice pads - the clamp swings open and closed using a button. The table moves like a teeter-totter. As you lean back against the webbed bed, arms at your side, you should remain upright (tilted back a bit.) As you pull your hands to your chest, the board will slowly tilt to horizontal. Raise you arms over your head to tilt the table backwards, head below feet. To return upright, slowly move your arms back to your sides (to avoid head-rushes). Hands holds are available to assist - since you're pivoting around a balance point, it's not difficult to pull yourself upright if needed.
The user's guide gives recommendations for how to use the table. They recommend tilting 2-3 times a day for 5-10 minutes. Start at a shallow angle - about 20 degrees or so, and work up to more vertical after a few days or weeks of use. Many will find that they don't have to "get vertical" to get good benefits - figure out what works best for you (I'm going to do that myself.) They also recommend small movements while inverted - don't stay still - to get nutrients in towards the spine. Also, don't get on after eating to avoid nausea.
Putting the table together...
The box is big and heavy - 69 lbs. or so - and suggests a "team lift". I moved the box to the room I wanted the table in and assembled it there. I spent about 10 minutes reading the instructions and about an hour putting it together and cleaning up the packaging. The exploded diagram of the table is just for reference - the table comes in big, mostly assembled pieces: The "A-Frame" base, the table bed, and the extendable foot boom, along with a small assortment of other pieces and a few screws and bolts. It also includes the two tools you need to put the thing together - very nice touch, especially since the bolts are metric.
The parts are very solid and seem well built. Assembly was easy for the most part - all the parts fit together well and screw holes lined up. The only tricky part is mounting the pivot arms to the table (this won't make sense unless you actually assemble one) - to keep them in place while I set table into the pivot slots, I wrapped a short bungee cord around both of them. Once installed they are very secure. In fact, these pivot arms did not seat easily into the slots - I had to seat the first one then force the other into its slot. The bed pivots smoothly, however.
First-Time Usage Notes...
Before the first use, the telescoping foot boom needs to be set to place your body's center of mass around the pivot point. The instructions tell you how to do this. There is a height scale on the boom arm to make setting the boom position easier by giving a starting point.
Tilt angle is limited by use of a tether - without it, the table tilts all the way back. This is awkward to adjust but probably doesn't need to be set often - we'll see. Also, there is no tilt angle guide - some marks on the handlebars would have been nice, and I may do just that to my table.
Once I made these adjustments, I tried it out for about 7 minutes. I find the ankle cuffs to be comfortable enough - my feet do not go numb. I was in socks, so I slid back a bit when I tilted back - I'll have to try it in shoes to see if I stay put. The webbed table board is high quality and comfortable, and I felt a good stretch in my back. Returning to upright was as easy as moving my arms back to my sides.
The "pivot arms" that connect the table board to the A-Frame can adjust for a greater or lesser degree of inversion. The manual seems to indicate that this is easily done, but on my unit I will have to remove at least one bolt to free up the pivot arm to make this adjustment. It doesn't look easy, but it's not something I'd do regularly. Still...
Also, as mentioned in another review, the unit is not easy to fold up for storage. You have to remove a couple of bolts (get the metric tools) and disassemble the bed from the A-Frame base. This will give you two ~30 lb. parts to stash, rather than a 60+ lb. unit. Still, you will end up with a few small, loose parts to store as well.
About the Manufacturer...
Good luck finding information about the maker. The company is Paradigm Heath and Wellness, based in Southern California. Their URL is paradigmhw.com, but there is no webpage currently (An older page featured two indoor saunas they made.) More weirdly, it looks nearly identical to the Ironman Gravity 4000 (different bed, though), which (curiously) doesn't appear on IronMan Fitness's website. As I said, the quality of the Paradigm table seems quite good, but I'm not sure if customer support would be easy...
Customer Review: Excellent value!
Sport shop rating: 4 Stars
Very good piece of equipment for the price. It is solidly built using heavy-duty steel. Assembly was a snap, and the instructions were straight-forward and logical. Once fully assembled, it is rather heavy, and although the legs fold up for portability/storage, it is not really light enough to move in and out of the corner for each use. I am a larger guy (6'-1" and 220 lbs) and it is still a little ungainly for me.
It is fully height adjustable, the leg collars are fairly comfortable, and it has an adjustable safety strap to keep it from going beyond a certain position. Without the strap, it will go beyond vertical, allowing one to perform exercises.
My only gripes with it are the nylon side covers get in the way when you fold and unfold the legs a lot and since there is no way to remove them without disassembling the unit, I wound up cutting mine off. Also, the chrome backer plates for the leg collars are a little flimsy - don't try bending them too much as they seem like they would break. Other than that I am pleased with my purchase, and have found it to help greatly with drug-free back pain relief.
Customer Review: what a bargin
Sport shop rating: 4 Stars
I bought this inverter for my wife who has 3 compressed verterbrae from an unfortuate skiing accident 3+ yrs ago - it has really helped her in relieving the chronic pain that she has esp. after standing for long periods or from doing a long hike - too bad that it isn't currently available on Amazon(?) - I got mine for about $169 less $25 for a credit card coupon so the price was a bargin when you compare this one and all of its features (esp. the ankle supports)with the higher priced ones - it was EXTREMELY easy to put together - unsure why anybody would have a problem who can read and isn't blind (yes, I'm a amateur woodworker and can read plans). I used a few better tools and put the inverter together and was on it in under 1 hour. Works great and easy to adjust - the one drawback are the large handles but only for storage as they do help to get yourself up in a controlled manner. Hope this helps anyone who is looking for one.Customer Review: lower back owwiees
Sport shop rating: 4 Stars
Recently I endured double total knee replacement. I had complications due to a (previously undiscovered) slightly bulging disc that pushed on a nerve that ran right down my leg and into the surgery area. For the first month, the pain was excruciating as the back and the knee kept fighting each other as to which could hurt more. A friend of mine suggested purchasing an inversion table as it had helped alleviate his back problems. He also recommended getting it through Amazon as there was a choice of products, for good prices, and good service. I received the inversion table quickly and it was well packed. I put it together by myself within 20 minutes. I use it for about 5 minutes in the morning, and the same at night. Long story short, it's working...and has even become popular with a couple of my friends who keep dropping by to use it. My recommendation has been for them to buy their own.Customer Review: Myt back pain is gone
Sport shop rating: 4 Stars
I had heard about inversion tables for chronic back pain. I had tried everything else and still lived with that constant dull ache in my lumbar and thoracic spines. I used the table 5 days @ 75% inversion for 10-15 minutes each time. For 2 days after I was sore (I have 3 herniated disc 2 with nerve compression in the LS and 2 herniated in the thoracic.)and wondered if Ihad done something to myself. But after the 2nd day it went away and I have been pain free for 2 weeks. Today its a little achy so I am going to do it again for 5 days etc. All in all I would say it was a good investment. The only neg thing, is it is very big and heavy. SO where u put it will probably be its home.