Ok, I use this and I do get some relief. However, most of the stretch I feel is in the lumbar spine. I feel like the longer I hang though, the more it begins to work on my thoracic spine which is what I need. The problem is, it's hard to stay on this device for long as it's hard to breathe! The feeling definitely takes some getting used to. I don't have the same problems as other women have complained about but I do think that a man would get a better stretch from this because breasts would not get in the way. I'm glad I have it and will continue to use it because anything that gives me some relief is a keeper for me.

I took a while to decide purchasing Sit and Decompress given some of the mixed reviews. However, the idea behind it made perfect sense to me so I bought it anyway. Inversion was not an option since I have high blood pressure and other options look less attractive (either because of price or because they seemed to induce less traction).

I have been using it for a week and it has eliminated the constant back pain in my lower back (I have three herniated disks and lately the pain had become chronic). It actually made a huge difference in the second or third day (even though from the beginning I started feeling the stretch in my back and a difference using it twice a day for about 8 to 10 minutes). To be clear, I still have some back pain when sitting for too long at work. However, that is nowhere close to what I had (after sitting for a while, it was embarrassing to walk around since it was evident I was under pain). I am also running again and planning to return to my soccer team (I am a 53 year old still playing in a league but I had missed my last two games because of this). Like many others indicated, the brace is a bit uncomfortable since you are essentially putting most of your own weight on the rib cage. However, in my case, I did not have much problem (for my body the lower strap adjusts about an inch tighter than the upper strap so I guess I have somewhat of a V shape but not too much, at least not in the mirror). I take this over the back pain anytime. I just used a cotton shirt. I have not tried towels because I did not have much problem to withstand it for 10 minutes.

Durability may be an issue as the straps are adjusted with plastic rings. However, so far they have worked great. I have the same concern with the sawing of the straps. I do not know how long they will last. However, for those with chronic back pain like I was having, I consider it a good investment even if you have to buy another one in a few months (consider that you do not have to take anti inflammatory medication, what those pills may do to your stomach, that you are a lot more efficient at work and able to enjoy other activities when you are not in constant pain, and that you may end up not going to visit the doctor because of this). I was having more recurrent episodes where you almost cannot move for a simple bad movement. Although a week is too early to tell, it does feel like this would reduce those episodes dramatically.

Finally, I got a chin bar from amazon. It is pretty good and I feel extremely safe using it (I had never used one before and I was uneasy about how safe it was to hang yourself from it. The only thing is that the foam can leave some marks on your door trim (I saw other reviews for the same chin bar indicating this). To avoid that, I just used the white foam from the packaging of the chin bar wrapped around the two handles that touch the door (if fits perfectly).

In summary, if you are on the fence, I would give it a try. At least for me, it has made things much better in just a week. I take the opportunity to congratulate Dr. Dorsey for an excellent idea!

Update: two weeks and still working great. I really do not understand the complaints about setting it up. After the initial setup, it takes me less than a minute to put it on the door and then another minute to strap it to my body.

This product helped me while things were more mild, it did hurt my skin a bit though. After my condition got really bad, I tried crutches which I found were much more helpful and they dont hurt my ribs. Just wanted to mention that to anyone looking for relief. It took me a while to think of crutches, and I only thought of it due to how this product worked.

I am very glad I bought it.

This is a God sent to me. It decompress the spine. Work up to the shoulder blade. You can feel the most traction on the lower back. It can hurt, depending on how tight your muscles are. It is a 3 minutes things only and it feels so much better after. I have one hip lower than the other. I can feel it being leveling up. It is not one day thing though. It helps with my arthritic knees. It gently stretch the knees.
However nothing is perfect. It can slide up and hurt you in the armpit area. But I get around the problem by using it naked. Before putting it on, I spray a little bit of water on the belt and it keeps it from sliding up. There is another problem for the women: the breasts. I put it on and then try to pull as much skin out of the belt. as I can. And then rethight the belt. This is easy for me. I am 72 and have flabby skin and my breasts are not as perky as they onc were..
So you should l try it. I tried an inversion table before and it doesn't compare with the Sit and Decompress. I get a lot more relief from the latter.. But you shouldn't overdo it. More is not better. Better to be safe than sorry and respect the instructions. I can tell you. I tried it.
It sound so much like an advertisement. But it is not. But I helps me so much that I want people to know it can help them too.