A lot of people perform back cracking or self-manipulation without even realising. If you’re sitting in front of your laptop all day, there’s a good chance you’re guilty of it. People of all ages have poor posture from looking down at phones and computer screens all day long. When your neck or back starts to tighten up, all you want is some relief! Sometimes manipulating your joints isn’t even something you think about, it’s just a natural reaction to stiffness. Although you may feel some relief straight after you pop your neck, self-manipulation isn’t a long term solution for your neck pain, back pain or lower back pain.

What is back cracking?

Whether you’re cracking your knuckles or your spine, it’s the “crack” or “pop” that you’re after. This is also known as a cavitation. During a spinal re-alignment, the pressure inside the joint suddenly decrease, which releases gas into the joint space. This is what causes the popping sound.

Although, it may seem that like the “pop” is the goal you’re after. The cavitation doesn’t actually provide pain relief. The real relief is from the improvement in joint movement. When a chiropractor creates a cavitation, they are also re-aligning joints to improve joint function. This also allows the muscles to relax and reduced nerve irritation.

Self-cavitation, on the other hand, is not specific. Your movements are more likely to create the cavitation or “pop” from a joint that is already moving freely, rather than one causing your pain. That is why you cannot get the same long-lasting relief that you get from a real chiropractic adjustment. For instance, if you suffer from back pain, visiting a chiropractor to get a back pain treatment in London, or anywhere else, would be the right idea in order to obtain a longer-lasting relief.

What is a chiropractic adjustment?

Our Chiropractors in central London use their hands to apply a small, sudden force to a spinal joint. A chiropractic adjustment aims to improve the spines range of motion and flexibility. The goal is to re-align the spinal joints to their original position. Spinal manipulation has earned chiropractors the nick name of “back crackers”. However, it isn’t the sound that causes an improvement when the chiropractor does it either. The relief comes from getting your joints back in line where they belong.

Risks of back cracking when not performed by a licenced chiropractor

The most common method that people use to pop their back is to twist and stretch. This releases tiny bubbles of gas in the spinal joints. Some people argue that back cracking can cause arthritis. However, there is no evidence to support this. If you’re manipulating your joints in the wrong way, it can cause additional discomfort and pain. The spine is tough, but the structures that support it can be delicate, especially if something is already out of place. It may feel good to pop your joints, but practise with caution. Avoid doing it yourself or even having someone else do it, it’s simply not worth the risk. One wrong stretch or twist could incapacitate you, causing more damage. In the worst cases, you can cause the discs in your back to herniate or slip, causing many problems that can last a lifetime.

This part 1 of a 2 part post. Stay tuned for part 2, coming over the next few days, where we cover more reasons why you shouldn’t pop your own joints!

Are you searching for a “Chiropractor Near Me” or a Chiropractor in Central London?

If you’re experiencing lower back pain, then come into our London Chiropractic clinic for a consultation. Cracking your own back may feel good, but once you know how a healthy back is supposed to feel, you won’t want to go back to doing it yourself!

Feel free to call us 07376 243726 or book an appointment online. You can locate our Chiropractic clinic in Covent Garden.