A typical inversion table offers you only one kind of treatment, which has two parts: spinal compression and extension, both because of inversion therapy.
If this one treatment is enough to cure your lower back pain, that’s great—but for some people, the quest for back pain relief must continue.
The Innova ITM4800 inversion table could potentially help you find lower back pain relief in one all-encompassing package where other brands might only address a fraction of your issues.
Because of the ITM4800’s heating and massage lumbar pad, it can offer a lot more than a typical inversion table to those who have treatment-resistant lower back pain or muscle tension.
Thermotherapy and massage therapy are both new treatment fronts that the Innova ITM4800 inversion table can offer you, but a normal inversion table can’t.
If your lower back pain, neck pain, and muscle tension have responded to inversion therapy, thermotherapy, or massage therapy in the past, you likely have a lot to gain by combining all three at once.
However, this massage therapeutic inversion table is also great for those who need an effective inversion therapy solution and who can’t shell out the cash for a high-end model that you might find at the chiropractor or physical therapist.
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Critical Features and Benefits
The Innova ITM4800 has most of the features you’d want from an inversion table, and a few extras that you might not realize are beneficial if you aren’t familiar with inversion tables. In this section, we’ll look at the features the ITM4800 inversion therapy table has and how they stack up with what you’ll need to make the most out of the table.
Sturdiness/Durability (and Safety)
Given that you’ll be potentially completely upside down, it’s obvious that the best inversion table needs to be 100% sturdy and also extremely durable. The weight-bearing areas of the inversion therapy table are the hinges that attach the table itself to the mount and, by proxy, the ankle cups.
If you’ve ever used a less-than-perfect inversion table, you’ll know the utter fear that an errant creaking or shaking of your table introduces while you’re in the very vulnerable state of total inversion. The Innova ITM4800 inversion table will serve you well because they stand, and also its hinges are heavy duty.
Aside from the hinges on the unit, the ITM4800’s handles are also critical safety features which startlingly not all other inversion tables have. The handles will help you make the transition between inversion angles as well as helping with strapping in and climbing out.
The Innova ITM4800 is an inversion table with heat, which requires a few precautions. First, it needs to plug into a wall outlet before these functions will work, which shouldn’t be a problem for you, but it does introduce a unique hazard that other inversion tables don’t have: tripping on the ITM4800’s very long electrical cord.
In our book, that’s a minimal risk that’s more than worth accepting to make use of the ITM4800’s stellar energy-consuming features. The need for power does make the Innova ITM4800 inversion table, not the best inversion table for transporting around. Still, you probably won’t be moving your inversion table outside of your home or gym very much anyway.
Comfort
The ITM4800’s comfort is hard to beat, which is important for a few reasons. First, comfortable elongation of your spine via adjustable lumbar pad and leg support guarantees that you’ll be able to tolerate being inverted long enough to get a therapeutic effect, which you can’t say about many of this table’s competitors.
Second, the cushions and padding are washable, meaning that you won’t have to worry about getting dirty or picking up germs—another feature that the ITM4800’s competitors lack.
Finally, the ITM4800’s inversion therapy settings are diverse enough that you won’t have to compromise on a slightly too inverted angle instead of one that isn’t inverted enough. You’ll be able to pick the exact right angle for your back, thanks to the calibration pin system.
Ease of use
The ITM4800’s ease of use is one of its stronger points. To change the inversion angle of the table, remove one of the pins and insert the pin, which is labeled with the angle that you’d like to experience.
It’s hard to mess things up as far as correctly configuring the angle goes. The other points of user customization are in the ankle cups and the headrest. Adjusting the headrest is easy, as is elongating or shortening the support that carries the ankle cups.
Some users have reported that the ankle cups are too small for their ankles or tend to be awkward about their height even with adjustment. But, overall, this won’t be an issue unless you have knee or leg issues that would prevent you from holding them in position during the more steeply angled inversions.
The handrails on either side of the inversion therapy table are also adjustable, allowing lanky users to grasp them at a comfortable angle while inverting or returning to normal. However, be aware that the handrails don’t have pads, and friction across them for whatever reason may be irritating to your hands.
Price
Innova’s inversion table is a great value for consumer-grade inversion tables. You won’t have to break the bank to get an effective device, and you’ll get quite a few features for your buck.
If you buy the minimum package containing just the inversion table and the normal warranty, you’re getting the best value for the Innova ITM4800 inversion table. However, if you decide to buy the expert assembly option, you’ll be paying a lot extra—sometimes, as much as the table’s cost.
Similarly, the 3-year protection package might be a good pickup because it’s relatively inexpensive, but the 4-year package is much costlier.
Regardless of the expensive additions, you’re unlikely to find the best inversion table that’s as good for the same price as the Innova ITM4800 inversion table.
Space Storage
The ITM4800, like most other inversion tables, can be collapsed into a flat package at the hinge while not in use. So you’ll be able to fit the ITM4800 into a closet without any difficulties, save for two.
First, the table’s handrails and ankle cups limit the amount you can compress into a flat package. If you remove the handrails or ankle cups, you’ll have better results, but also add assembly time whenever you’re interested in using it next.
Second, the Innova ITM4800 inversion table lacks a way of holding the two halves of its stand together when it’s in the compact position for storage. This won’t be a problem if you lean it against a wall or have other objects pressed against it, but it means that the stand can accidentally unfold under certain circumstances.
Flexibility (Inversion Angles etc.)
The ITM4800 inversion therapy table boasts four inversion angles, with a fifth available for those who like to live dangerously. You’ll be able to pick between 120 degrees, 140 degrees, 160 degrees, 180 degrees, or shallower degrees if you’re willing to improvise your calibration pins.
Most users will be fully satisfied by the inversion degree options which come stock. However, we suggest you start with the less inverted degree options first, then work your way up to a full inversion as you feel comfortable—and as your therapeutic needs require.
The table’s center strap will keep you grounded against the table while also providing an enjoyable heat at your command. In addition, the strap is more than flexible enough to accommodate most body types, and its light stretchiness shouldn’t interfere with your spinal elongation.
Add-Ons / Extra Features
With this inversion table, you’ll grab a few bonus features like heating and massage lumbar pad. Most other inversion tables can’t claim to have these two features, and they’re practically a steal.
The heat provides a gentle level of therapeutic heat directly to your problem areas which you’ll appreciate during your inversion therapy.
With the Innova ITM4800 inversion table, you’ll get a massage and a heated inversion table all in one package.
The massage feature has a couple of different settings and offers gentle tactile pressure to your back while you’re inverting.
Some people might find it a bit overwhelming at first, so definitely try inverting without the heated massage lumbar pad option first and then introduce it in future inversions while you’re at a gentle angle.
Aside from the electrical features, you also have the option of upgrading your ITM4800 package in a few different ways. The Innova ITM4800 inversion table has options for expert assembly and device protection plans.
In our view, the expert assembly might be worthwhile if you tend to have difficulty with assembling things, but we’ll get into more detail on that topic soon enough.
As mentioned before, the protection plans are a toss-up. If you think that you’re making heavy use of your table for the next few years, it’s probably worth opting for the 3-year plan, which isn’t that expensive. In addition, the plans cover normal wear and tear, which you’ll be sure to accumulate.
The 4-year plan probably isn’t a good addition to your table’s purchase. It’s vastly more expensive than the three-year plan and approaching the cost of the table itself when it’s on sale. So rather than buy the 4-year protection plan, it’s better to buy a brand-new table after four years.
Capacity
If you’re of average height and weight, you’ll fit comfortably into this inversion table. However, if you’re shorter than 4 foot 10 or taller than 6 foot 6, you shouldn’t be using this inversion therapy table as it might be uncomfortable. Additionally, if you’re heavier than 300 pounds, you shouldn’t use this table because it might be unsafe.
The taller you are, the more you’ll have to configure your inversion table to suit your needs as best it can. Unfortunately, taller folks typically deal with things that aren’t the right dimensions for their body, and the Innova ITM4800 inversion table is no exception. Though there are many areas where you can optimize the table for height, the biggest problem will always be leg length.
If your legs are very long, expect to struggle a bit with the ITM4800—otherwise, you should be all set.
Warranty
A 1-year warranty comes from stock with Innova inversion tables. It’s rare to find manufacturing defects in the Innova ITM4800 inversion table, but you’re all set if you happen to find one.
Similarly, no users have complained of incomplete packaging or assembly kits, but if your unit is still under warranty, you’ll have no problem getting a new part.
Assembly
Assembling the Innova ITM4800 inversion table seems to be extremely hit or miss. However, many users claim that they assembled the unit in about an hour with no difficulties along the way or afterward.
Other users claim they incorrectly assembled their inversion table and found out only afterward, necessitating their complete disassembly and subsequent reassembly.
If you’ve never assembled an inversion table before, you might have a hard time assembling this table—or maybe not. If you’re extremely concerned about incorrectly assembling the inversion therapy table or don’t have roughly an hour to assemble it, it’s always an option to pay for the assisted assembly.
Having someone else assemble the table for you is expensive but guarantees that it will be assembled correctly and quickly. If you’re good enough at putting stuff together to nail IKEA furniture on the first try, you’re fully qualified to take on assembling the ITM4800 inversion therapy table.
If you’re not able to move a 50-pound object easily, you should probably get help setting up your unit and moving it around.
Support
Innova’s customer support is perpetually responsive and sincere, which is great. Though their hours are a bit short, you should be able to contact a customer service representative without any difficulty, if necessary.
Furthermore, most major online retailers of Innova products are overseen by an Innova representative who will answer questions that users post and respond to reviewers.
Check out a few of these responses to get a feel for how effective and personalized Innova’s customer support can be.
Do You Really Need Heat and Massage for Your Inversion Table?
Now that you know all about the Innova ITM4800 inversion table, you’re probably weighing your options and wondering whether it’s the right purchase for you.
It’s undeniable that this inversion table’s heat and massage functions add to its price tag, and you may be wondering whether they’re necessary features.
As it turns out, heat and massage aren’t necessary features for an inversion table, but they can add quite a bit to the table’s therapeutic potential and its comfort.
In this section, we’ll let you know what heating and massage can do to help your inversion therapy and clue you into a few alternatives to the Innova ITM4800 inversion table that might be right for you.
What’s the Advantage of Heat and Massage Combined with An Inversion Table?
Adding heat to your inversion table has a few functions. Heat during inversion therapy is a form of thermotherapy, which increases blood flow, reduces inflammation, relieves muscle spasms, reduces back pain, neck pain, and helps joints be suppler. These benefits are clinically proven, and many inversion tables have heating elements.
The exact heating method varies from table to table. Still, the most common is via infrared heating, much like a heat gun, and surface contact heating like the Innova ITM4800 inversion table uses.
Infrared heating tends to be less consistently distributed, but some users prefer it because it feels different than surface contact heating.
This means that when you use heat during your inversion therapy, you’ll be doubling up on the therapeutic effects of your inversion therapy because it helps to accomplish most of the same things as thermotherapy. While there haven’t been any studies specifically investigating thermotherapy during inversion therapy, it’s a safe bet that thermotherapy is a great addition to your table.
Adding a massage to your inversion table is also helpful for a few reasons. Massage helps relieve back pain, neck pain, relieve anxiety, reduce blood pressure, and reduce muscle spasms—many of these benefits of massage overlap with the intended functionality of the inversion table and the thermotherapy.
When you introduce massage to your inversion therapy, you’re providing another layer of therapeutic effects to your back. Because the same goes for thermotherapy, you’ll likely get a much better outcome when using an Innova inversion table that has both heating and massage elements, like the Innova ITM4800 inversion table.
It’s possible that you can get back pain relief with an unpowered Innova inversion table that doesn’t offer massage or thermotherapy, but your odds are much better with the ITM4800.
What Are My Alternatives?
If you’re on a budget, try Innova’s ITX9600, which is a model without heating or massage elements but still maintains Innova’s standards of quality. The ITX9600 is just as serious as the ITM4800, but it’s a bit more travel-friendly, less expensive, and doesn’t have any electronics that might fail.
Conversely, if money is no concern, check out the Teeter Inversion Table for a table with all the bells and whistles that are overpriced but packed with features. The Teeter is too expensive for the features it offers, but if you’re looking for a comprehensive number of massage points and deeply configurable heating and tilting, it could serve your needs.
Finally, if you’re looking for a table with a higher capacity than the ITM4800, try the Ironman IFT 4000, which has a capacity of 350 pounds and includes thermotherapy. Beyond the IFT4000, you’ll need a medical-grade inversion table to accommodate anyone over the capacity.
Wrap Up
The ITM4800 is an excellent heated and massage therapeutic inversion table that’s hard to beat for its price point. For inversion therapy use, it’s hard to ask for any additional features from this inversion table. You’ll experience a table that is easy to use and safe, thanks to its superior quality construction.
If you’re in the market for an inversion table, the ITM4800 is a brilliant buy. It’s even enjoyable enough to sit in un-inverted to enjoy its heat and massage feature, which other brands don’t have.
You’ll get a therapeutic inversion therapy system that can ease your lower back pain and help with your chronic symptoms while also providing relaxation and muscular support. Because of its sturdy construction, buying the ITM4800 will equip you with a table that you’ll have for years of use.
Still couldn’t find what you’re looking for? Then, check out these 5 recommended inversion tables of the year.
