Stamina InLine Traction Control System, Back Pain Relief & Spine Decompression Machine - Stretching and Exercise Equipment for Home and Gym Workout - Portable Lower Body Fitness Stretcher

I have spinal stenosis at disks L4/L5 and L5/S1 and had surgery 12 years ago with excellent results. At this point, I do find that I naturally get sciatica pain after I work too many overtime hours sitting at my job. The best treatment for me is ice and spinal traction.I have owned the Nubax for 5 years now. A few years ago I had a bad reoccurance of the sciatica and was worried I'd need another surgery. I researched back traction on the internet and the Nubax was given one of the best reviews and looked the most promising. I purchased sight unseen (only in videos) and it arrived well packed. I was very easy to unpack and assemble, about 10 minutes, and came with a video on proper use. When I have a lot of pain, I use it 3 times a days, about 2 to 3 minutes at a time. I think I would probably avoid all back pain if I just used it faithfully every day, rather than just when needed.Compared to the Stamina InLine, the metal frame is much lighter weight, but the finish (paint) is more durable. With the Nubax, you have to get on your hands and knees, and over time, this became a huge draw back. Also, I over time, the shoulder pads were hard to move in and out of the frame, and the little metal button came loose. Also, the stretchy fabric has torn. Overall, it is a much lower quality than the Stamina InLine, but itI still saved my life. Also, I have trouble getting up from the Nubax when I'm really stretched out and have had to call a family member to help me get out of it. I do also get more pain in the shoulders, because I find it doesn't have as much adjustment for the should width.After browsing on Amazon, I found this Stamina InLine a year ago on Amazon, and the price was $299. I put it on my wish list, because I liked the fact that you use it standing up, not down on the floor. Then about 3 weeks ago, I was cleaning out my wish list and found that price had dropped to $159, and jumped on it and purchased one. Based on the reviews of others, I was scared that the box would be a mess and product would be damaged, but I took my chances anyway, as I know Amazon has excellent customer service.To my delight, the shipping box was only slightly beat up, as I would expect it would be based on the weight the box size. When I opened it, I found the all the parts were included, all the pieces were nicely wrapped and packed, and it pristine condition.I'm 53, female, and I had very little problem assembling this. Yes, it is a LOT more complicated to assemble than the Nubax, but for me, it was realitively stress free. I have put together a number of pieces of exercise equipment and also RTA furniture (2, 5' tall double glass door china cabinets, OMG, each one took me a full day). I am one of those people who does read the directions. I pick a time when I'm going to have a lot of uninterupted time and I set up in a comfortable place with a good tv show, and all the tools and a glass of water. I do understand how to read the assembly diagrams, and I start by taking all the fasteners out and laying them all out, organizing and counting to make sure I have all the parts prior to starting. I try to put the pieces in front of me in I same position as the diagrams. I know at one point in the process I will put a part together wrong, and have to remove it and turn it around and reassemble it. I prepare myself mentally and make sure it's a time when I have patience.Going at my slow and steady pace, it took me about an hour to assemble. I had one problem. At the connection that others had noted, where parts were not aligned and welds were not good, the bracket was not wide enough to accept the arm that was supposed to fit into it (it was about a 1/16" too small. The arm had a tube sleeve welded to the end, which was supposed to slide into the bracket and secure with a bolt thru the bracket and sleeve. There are 2 black plastic parts on each end of the sleeve, and I found that if I took one plastic end off, it would fit in the bracket, but I would not be able to secure the joint. I couldn't bend the bracket open, so I got a course nail file, and filed a flat tiny bit off of each end cap, and BINGO, I could slide it in the bracket and secure it properly.This is MUCH easier to use, no getting down on the floor. Also, my shoulders don't hurt as much, as I can adjust the pads closer for me. Also, I find it MUCH easier to get up from, and I have more confidence using it.For me: the issue with the shoulder pads: You HAVE to have contact of your entire arm from your elbow to wrist on the should pad. Keep your arms parallel to your body, not perpendicular to your body. Look at the Nubax reviews, they will tell you the same thing. DO NOT just let the pad make connect with only your arm pits, or part of the back of your upper arm, or you WILL feel pain in your shoulders.Also, on both machines, there's 2 small arms and a place on each which looks like a hand hold. Forget it. The length of my arm from the elbow to hand is too long, and I don't ever try to hold on to the hand hold completely, just partially.I have to say I felt much more confidence about being able to get back out of the stretch. I noticed in another review, someone else had a lot of trouble. Perhaps this happened by accident for me, but I have the height adjusted just a bit low, so I have to bend my knees to start the stretch. When I'm fully stretched, I'm almost on my toes. To get back out of the stretch, I simply bend my knees, and I naturally come upright, and I'm NOT using any muscles in my back to get up. I like how it naturally stretches my hamstrings as well.All in all, I'm much more satisfied with the Stamina InLine than with the Nubax. It's built of a heavier metal, I can do it standing up!!!! and I can get back out of the stretch myself much easier.I just checked again today 1/18/15 and the price dropped again to $138, so I ordered a second one for my mom house, to use when I'm on extended visit there.

Easy to assemble. Setup and ready to use in minutes! Interesting how it works and man does it work! No lying on your back, hanging upside down or holding onto handles over a door! It holds you at the waist and pulls your top forward from behind your arms, stretching out your back. The whole family uses this thing when we have back aches. It does work! Storing is pretty easy as it doesn't take up much room. Remember the weight limit is for the top part of you (waist up). My wife suffers from back issues and this device has helped her to be able to reach things on the ground now!

I have several bulging discs in my low back and have been going to physical therapy and getting traction to avoid back surgery. The traction was the only thing that helped, without it I had pinched nerve pain so bad down my leg I was using crutches. However, you can't wait for the expensive treatments every time the back pain flares up. I was skeptical about any home machine working well enough to really help. So far I have been using this everyday, sometimes for 10 minutes other times 30. It provides excellent relief. I tried a friends home machine you lay on and turn the handle yourself. It was bulky, uncomfortable and not something you can do easily and quickly. This doesn't take up to much room, it's very sturdy and I have been able to use it to stretch and strengthen my core as well as getting results very close to the traction I was getting twice a week. My only complaint is my arms and chest got quite sore the first several times I used it as well as any time I use it more than 10 minutes. But, I'll take that over the back and sciatic nerve pain. Overall I think it's worth the money. I've recommended it to several others I knew from Physical therapy, all of them who have tried it out agree it's a great alternative to traction.

Hurts my shoulder, but I also know I have a bad shoulder. Plus very hard to adjust height. The adjustment ball just doesn’t pull out. Had to get pliers and a screwdriver to loosen to get pin out to adjust, not sure why. As for back pain too early to tell. I do feel a stretch in back of legsAlso DOES NOT FOLD. You need to disassemble according to Company, to stire

Helps my back a lot. Good purchase.

So having low back pain and issues with compression, this sounded like the perfect machine. I ordered it for $174.99 and received the item quickly. The machine was easy to assemble but upon using the machine, there are several points where you can severely pinch yourself (which I did) with just simply height adjustments. Also, the machine is very flimsy with cheap metal (metal was bending at the bottom when using), and I am 225 lbs. The machine actually hurt my back while using and after trying different adjustments I realized that you can really hurt yourself without proper instruction. I decided to return the item due to these issues. I filed a return, disassembled, and boxed all the parts up just as they were delivered. I brought the box back to UPS and was just notified today that I am only receiving $87.50 back from the original purchase amount because I am being charged a restocking fee. Nowhere was this disclosed to me at all. The seller stated the items was damaged (which it was used by myself one time) so that's impossible. The item is not in the original state because you have to assemble it to realize the machine is poorly engineered and can cause harm. Please do not buy this item, just go to a chiropractor.