Whether you are suffering from lower back pain or neck pain, chiropractic treatment might be the right option for you. However, you might be wondering how safe is neck cracking or back cracking? The term neck cracking or back cracking refers to a chiropractic adjustment. There are many myths and confusion surrounding chiropractic adjustments. In this blog post, we will unveil the truth behind some of the common misconceptions.

What is a neck cracking or back cracking? What is a chiropractic adjustment?

Let’s start by explaining what happens when a chiropractor “cracks” a patients neck or back. A chiropractic adjustment is when a chiropractor uses their hands to apply a controlled, sudden force to a spinal joint. The goal of this is to improve spinal motion, improve physical function and reduce pain and nerve irritation.  Lower back pain, neck pain and headaches are the most common problems for which people seek chiropractic adjustment.

Why does your joint make a cracking sound when getting a chiropractic adjustment?

So why does a chiropractic adjustment make a cracking sound? During an adjustment nothing in your body is actually cracking.  The popping sound you hear is from small gas bubbles in your joints. Dynamic changes of pressure within your joints causes these gas bubbles to pop, thus the noise you hear with back cracking or neck cracking.

Does neck cracking or back cracking cause arthritis?

Growing up, you were most probably told that cracking your joints too much would cause arthritis. The good news is that the research shows there is actually no conclusive link between joint cracking and arthritis.

Can I crack my own neck or back?

Cracking your own joints might give you a sense of relief for a while, but it is not recommended to be done yourself, especially if experiencing pain or discomfort. Joints contain blood vessels and nerves that can be damaged. Although you may hear the same popping sound during a chiropractic adjustment, the outcome is very different. A person has to remember that they are not always lucky to get the right joints to crack, and in the long run, improper back cracking or neck cracking might lead to further damage. If a person practices too much neck cracking, mostly when done unsupervised, it slowly loosens the ligaments’ support. This is dangerous as it can lead to instability in the spine and might cause more damage in the long run.

Is Chiropractic neck cracking or back cracking safe?

Yes! Instead of moving the weakest joints, Chiropractors encourage proper movement and alignment, leading to stronger, healthier joints. Chiropractors are trained medical professionals that can examine the pain or discomfort and identify the source of the problem. Remember, back cracking, neck cracking or any other chiropractic adjustment, is safe as long as you have a trained professional doing the joint adjustment to alleviate the pain and soreness that you’re feeling.

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