Is It Safe to Crack Your Own Neck and Back?

You’ve been working at your computer all day and you feel your neck and back getting stiff.  So, you roll your head around and/or twist your neck and spine from side-to-side until you feel those familiar and relieving pops in your neck and running down your back.  Now your neck and back feel better and you can get back to work.  Sound familiar?  You’re not alone, up to 45% of people crack at least one of the joints in their body on a daily basis.  The simple act of cracking your neck and back can bring instant relief for stiff joints. But you’ve likely heard the rumor that cracking your joints for a long time can become a habit and do terrible things to your joints.  Are the rumors true, is it safe?

Is It Safe to Crack Your Own Neck and Back?

If done too often, no it’s not safe and it can cause excessive wear on your joints that could possibly lead to premature breakdown.  In moderation, however, studies have shown that occasionally cracking your neck or back can help relieve pressure in your spine without adverse effects.  If you crack too often, without knowing the proper ways to move your joints around, you can seriously hurt yourself.  In treating neck pain, there are a lot of important body structures contained in one small area – spinal cord, lower brain stem, arteries, blood vessels, ligaments, nerves, bones, joints and muscles.  The act of twisting or turning your neck could put those important structures at risk or permanently damaging them.  

What Happens When You Crack your Neck and Back?

Caviation is the pop sound you hear while cracking your neck and back. This occurs when gas bubbles in a liquid or fluid form due to a negative pressure force acting upon it.  Chiropractors use cavitation to clear joints and make them work better.  Dangerously, you perform too much self-manipulation then joints can over-stretch the ligaments.  Similar to a rubber band, if you stretch the ligament too much by cracking your neck or back, it can lose its shape and strength.  To add, a stretched ligament might not be able to provide the necessary stability your joints need to maintain proper alignment.  

Chiropractors in UT to Relieve A Stiff Neck and Back

Lastly, leave the neck and back cracking to the chiropractic professionals. The chiropractors atUtah Accident Clinic located in Provo, UT will do a thorough examination and determine the best treatment plan for a stiff neck and back.  Get the relief you need today. 

Other services

• Back Pain
• Neck Pain
• Spinal Manipulation
• Soft Tissue Healing
• Muscle Stretching Therapy
• Healing Massage Therapy 
• In-House Physical Therapy

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Utah Accident Clinic:

1774 N University Pkwy #8

Provo, UT 84604

(801) 225-4772