A method and apparatus is provided for inverting a person for various therapeutic purposes. The apparatus comprises a chair which is pivotally supported about a horizontal axis between various positions having different relative inclinations. When used for inversion, a stop is mounted on the inversion resting mechanism to restrict rearward pivotal movement of the person from an upright position to an inverted position. The method thus includes pivoting the person forwardly from the upright position to the inverted position in which the person is substantially inverted in relation to the upright position. The inversion resting mechanism may further include a damper and a biasing device for dampening the pivotal displacement of the chair and biasing the chair to the upright position. A lift mechanism may further be used for raising the inversion resting mechanism in the inverted position. A drive mechanism is preferably coupled between the seat and the frame controlling pivotal movement of the seat in relation to the frame. The drive mechanism preferably includes controls mounted on the seat which are arranged to be accessible to a person supported in the seat through a full range of motion of the seat in relation to the frame. The drive mechanism allows complete control of the inversion process by disabled persons without assistance or supervision being required. The drive mechanism preferably further includes an integral stop mechanism providing limits to the amount of rotation permitted and the direction of rotation permitted depending upon the angular position of the seat in relation to the frame. The drive mechanism may include a seat lift mechanism arranged to raise the seat in the inverted position in relation to the upright position automatically as the seat is displaced between the upright position and the inverted position by the drive mechanism.
