There are a number of good and detailed reviews for this product which I relied on when making the purchase. Overall, this is a very sturdy and well-made inversion table.

I'm a runner and for the last year and a half, I have been suffering from Sciatica pain on my right foot, and some back pain, caused by the combination of working, and training for marathon running. After using this inversion table(3 to 5 times daily), I can feel instant pain relief. This machine is very well designed and it even looks good in my living room.

The slogan from Rice Krispy, "Snap, Crackle, Pop," is fitting for inversion tables, as thats the sound your joints make when being inverted... at least it was in my case.

Prior to purchasing this Ironman ATIS 4000 Inversion Table, I had no experience with inversion tables. I knew what it did, but never tried it. All I knew that it relieved back pain. As you'll notice here on Amazon, there are quite a few Inversion Tables to choose from. Though there were no reviews of this unit when I purchased it, I decided to give this one a shot.

Pros:
- Solid construction
- Lumbar pillow (removable)
- Extended head rest (others that I've seen don't seem to extend that far)
- Long hand grips
- "Ratchet Gear" lock to lock ankles into place
- Easily adjustable for different heights

Cons:
- Heavy, at 111 lbs
- Does not fold up for storage
- The greater the angle of inversion, the ankle holds do get a little uncomfortable, but certainly bearable.
- After some use, the screws need to be re-tightened.
- The ratchet lock is difficult to unlock at times. Requires you push in towards your legs before pushing away.

By far the one feature that sold me was the "Ratchet Gear" lock. I do not know how other tables lock your ankle into place, but this one is simple to use. I have trouble bending down too far, but am able to utilize this easily. Simply step onto the platform, push down the ratchet lock and thats it. To get out, press down firmly, push towards your leg, then push out.

I have had this table for about a month now, and use it daily. When I get on it, within seconds of inverting, I can already hear and feel my joints relaxing and popping.

When setting this unit up, I would recommend having at least two people, as it'll make things a lot easier.

The unit is not manufactured by IRONMAN. This company merely uses the name IRONMAN.


On a unrelated note, if you do decide to order this unit, or any inversion table from Amazon, be sure to follow up with Amazon, and their shipping carrier, about the shipping date/time. The shipping date came and went without even a call to schedule a delivery. The tracking information Amazon provided me did not match anything the freight carrier had. After several calls back and forth, they sent out another unit, which arrived on time.

The Ironman ATIS 4000 was delivered yesterday (a week earlier than the projected delivery date). My wife and I put it together in an hour. I would recommend having access to a metric socket during the assembly. We proceeded to put it through its paces and we immediately felt relief in our lower backs and shoulder areas. My wife did not take any Advils today, which she attributes to the utilization of this machine. Before you purchase the Ironman be aware that this device takes up the space equivalent of a treadmill and you cannot fold it up and put it under a sofa. I would like to see some recommended exercises and possibly a demo DVD included so that I could more effectively harness the table's advantages. Overall I think that the quality of construction gives the user a sense of comfort and safety, that lesser machines might not afford the user.

UPDATE 11/23/08: We have used this every day for over 4 months now. I have started doing "regular and side sit-ups" while inverted. This is a great unit for that due to the multi-position locks and its sturdiness. The ankle locks are also quick and convenient. Older units did not have the lumbar support, but it is also useful.

OLDER: I previously rated this unit low due to a defect. However, the company was quick and helpful in its resolution. I can really recommend inversion tables and this one in particular. It does not fold, which we wanted as it is a very sturdy unit. It also has new ratcheting type ankle grabbers making it easy to get on/off and no need for boots. It also has 10 locked positions. It is large and heavy, but well made. For this one (probably all others too) keep in mind the ratchet mechanisms lock and set, so a little push towards tighter (or more upside-down) allows the ratcheting handle to unlock. That is not clear to the average user.

I love it! I was looking for an inversion table that was well built and one that didn't have the common complaint of being uncomfortable on the feet. It's hard to buy a product without trying it out ahead of time, but I am completely happy with the Ironman ATIS 4000.

First of all, is is built very well and is extremely solid. It took me about 1-1/2 hours to assemble it by myself. Although it's heavy (~100 lbs), I can slide it around by myself. The foot/ankle restraint has to be one of the better ones out there. It has padded clamps on the lower calves and ankles and it is easy to get in and out of. I can hang for 20 minutes at a 45deg angle without any discomfort.

Once you get the height/weight balance bar adjusted properly, it is very easy to rotate into an inverted position. I like the adjustable lever that locks the table into a position without having to worry about it rotating if you move your arms around. Best of all, my back feels wonderfull after using the table. It relieves any sciatica pain almost immediately and after only four days of using it, I'm starting to have a longer residual effect before I feel any pain again.

I would highly reccommend this machine!

This is a great product. Let me start by saying I started having back pain about a year ago. I felt like a pinched nerve in my lower back. I would have a sharp pain that would also go down my leg at times. I knew it had to be something related to the spine because it moved from one side to the other randomly. I decided to give an inversion table a try because I figured that stretching out my spine might at least give me some comfort. I felt results after using this machine for one day. I still use it 2-3 times a day for about 1-3 minutes each time. This machine has given me the relief I was looking for and has enabled me to keep being active as I have always been.

Now onto the machine. I was a little concerned about getting in one of the portable or flimsy inversion tables that are on the market. You are going to be hanging from your ankles upside down so the table better be secure and sturdy. This one is sturdy and doesn't move or sway at all. I did find that a few of the screws had very tight tolerances when putting it together. The key is to be patient and not force anything together but rather wiggle the parts around until they fit. Some of the screws did need a little elbow grease to get in but as long as you have all the holes line up properly, you should be good. It definitely helps to have a second person during the assembly.

The ratchet locking mechanism for your ankles works very nicely to secure you. You will need to set leg attachment for your proper height. Once you do this and lay on the back pad, you should be parallel to the ground. Simply raise your hands above your head to go inverted. There are two L shaped bars for you to use to get yourself to a full vertical position. You can then lock yourself in a hang like a bat. There are also a number of other locking positions if you don't want to go fully vertical. The over-sized handles are perfect for assisting you to get back to the starting position after inverting although it isn't very hard since the table is so well balanced. The only issue I have is that the handle to lock the table at a certain inversion angle is difficult to use. I need to bang it pretty hard to get it to lock and then use a good amount of force to release it. This could just be my table though and I have gotten use to it so it isn't a big deal for me.

I give this table five stars based on its performance and the results I have achieved after only a couple of weeks.

Pros:
*Very sturdy*
Ratchet ankle lock mechanism is easy to use
Easy inversion because of balance point
Many locking points for different degrees of inversion depending on your preference

Cons:
Heavy (but needed for a sturdy machine)
Tight tolerances for assembly
Inversion release can be difficult to use (might just be my table)