Many years ago when I had three back surgeries over a period of 6 years at one point my doctor ordered physical therapy. One of the therapies involved laying on my back on a padded table then a machine pulled on my legs decompressing my spine. It was a programmable machine where the therapist could set the duration as well as the strength of the pull. Thought it was going to kill me because he set it up, ask if it was ok, then left the room. Well it started out ok.............but I digress.

I had always thought I could do something similar (would require a second person) and cheaply by simply laying some place elevated and long enough to put a rope with weight attached over the edge. Then the weight pulling down on the rope would create some pull to pull against the feet and decompress the spine.

I never did such a thing. Just thought about it. 

The inversion tables are adjustable on how far you rotate them to change the amount of pull on the feet. One thing I found to keep it from hurting my feet was to use lace up high top work boots while using it. More support for the top of the foot and ankle. We have had an inversion table for many years. Didn't ever use it that much really. Wife and I both did some. Loaned it out a couple times. I bet there are thousands of them barely used out there.