Gravity boots

Gravity boots, while shaped like and worn like a boot, do not serve the same function as the footwear. They are ankle supports designed to allow a person to hang upside down. Thanks to exposure in television dramas and movies in the 1980s, gravity boots became a common fitness tool in homes across the United States. Today, gravity boots are used by the U.S. Army and have experienced a surge in popularity in 2006 with "Da Vinci Code" author Dan Brown [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4937754.stm praising them] as well. Several companies manufacture and market gravity boots under various trade names.

The purported benefits of gravity boots range from the relief of back pain and headaches to increased oxygen flow to the brain. Some people use gravity boots to add an extra challenge to workouts, doing inverted crunches or squats, while others such as Uri Geller [http://www.uri-geller.com/wh_nov2k.htm] and Dan Brown use them as tools to help them generate new ideas.

In pop culture

*Used by the character of Richard Gere in the 1980 film "American Gigolo".
*Used regularly by Kyle MacLachlan's character in the 1990s television series "Twin Peaks".
*Used by Del Preston in the 1992 movie Wayne's World 2
*Used by Bruce Wayne/Batman in the movie Batman, seemingly for sleep or meditation.
*Used in the movie Goonies with Josh Brolin.
*Phoebe refers to the character of Ugly Naked Guy using them in the past, having broken them, in American TV sitcom Friends.
*Used by magicians Penn and Teller for a magic act.
*Used by murder suspect Neil Perry in the Showtime series "Dexter"
*Used by Dick Pick to conceptualize sub-value marks in the PICK operating system
*A high tech hovering version was used by George McFly in Back to the Future Part II
*Used by Pauly Shore's character in Son In Law.
*Used by Homer Simpson in The Simpsons episode Simpson and Delilah to promote hair growth.
*Used by adult actress Jade in "Well Hung"
*Shown on the cover of a magazine article in the opening sequence of How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days.
*Used in UK and Italian versions of the gameshow 'Distraction' in order to allow contestants to be tickled on the soles of their feet
*Used (unsuccessfully) by the title character in the film "".

ee also

*Gravity Guidance
*Inversion therapy

References

* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4937754.stm Dan Brown's usage]
* [http://www.uri-geller.com/wh_nov2k.htm Uri Geller website]
* [http://www.teeterhangups.com/about/history.html History of Inversion]