NJ exactly, what this does is opens back up as it is stretched across / over the towel, allowing trapped nerves that are pinched to escape and also relieve the pressure on the nerve. I brought an inversion table and have never had a problem since. Currently on loan to some one who could barely walk and within several days was up and going again. You have to break the cycle which is, in the case of prolapsed disc the herniated area puts pressure on the nerve and the nerve becomes inflamed which then puts even more pressure on itself so it swells more and so and so on.