Cracking your joints is usually a common habit.
We usually crack our knuckles, fingers, toes, backs, and even our necks. Everyone does it for their own reasons.
Treatment for Neck Cracking Home Remedies. If the side-effects resulting from neck cracking are mild and bearable, you can try the following solutions in the comfort of your home: Light Neck Exercises: Muscles in the neck become overstressed and shorten, and you find it difficult to move or naturally turn your neck. To relieve the pressure on the neck muscles and nerves, bend your head forwards in the. What are the side effects of cracking your knuckles Health related question in topics Conditions Illness Health.We found some answers as below for this question 'What are the side effects of cracking your knuckles',you can compare them.
Some would do it to relieve some pressure that we usually feel on our shoulders and neck, or maybe a reaction to stress.
But why do Chiropractors crack your joints and, more importantly, is it safe?
We'll share what Florida Spine & Injury has to say about the benefits, or maybe the risks, that you will have about cracking your neck.
It is best to learn if this habit is safe, or if it can be dangerous in the long run.
Article Table of Contents:
Neck Cracking - “Neck Adjustment”
This is one of the cervical adjustments that a Chiropractor can perform.
This adjustment is commonly called the “neck crack” or the “neck twist”. Sounds scary, right? If your Chiropractor suggests it and performs it, there is a good chance you'll be surprised how much better you feel afterward.
However, Chiropractors will not do this all the time. If your chiropractor does not sense any tension in the areas where the neck cracking effects, they will use a different type of adjustment to ease your pain and soreness.
Why Does it Make a Cracking or Popping Sound?
Cracking your joints is called boiling or cavitation. When you crack your neck, the capsules around the joint will stretch.
These capsules have fluid, so stretching them will allow more fluid to provide less pressure on the joint.
When the pressure decreases the fluids on these joints will turn into gas. When this happens it will make a popping noise. This process is normally not harmful, especially when done by a Chiropractor.
The neck has facet joints. These joints can be located on the sides of your neck.
When you crack your neck, the facet joint stretches and lets the fluid spread in the joint capsules. The fluid becomes gas, and your neck joints will pop.
This is why a neck crack will feel like the pressure is releasing from the neck area.
The Benefits of Cracking Your Neck
Cracking your neck can benefit you in a lot of ways.
But before doing so, you should visit your doctor or chiropractor. They would be able to advise you whether this procedure is safe for you or not and whether this is a recommended option for relief.
So what are these benefits? They can include:
- Relief from pain and soreness
- successful realignment of joins
- According to one study, when a Chiropractor cracks your neck it can have a positive mental effect. This is because cracking necks are associated with the release of pressure and the accompanying relief.
- In some instances, just hearing the joint cavitation can incite relief. This is more so a placebo effect. However, it still works.
- Neck cracking can release endorphins, which are the body's natural pain relief.
Sounds pretty amazing.
So what about the less than stellar facts about neck cracking?
The RISK of Neck Cracking
Like most aspects in life, there are right ways to do handle things and wrong ways.
Neck cracking is not inherently bad. It can be harmful if done improperly or too often. This is why it is a necessity to have a qualified professional perform the neck cracking.
Cracking your neck forcefully can pinch your nerves, making it impossible or painful to move. Cracking it too hard can strain the muscles around your joints.
Needing to crack your neck can be caused by hypermobility.
This happens when the joint has a larger range of motion than normal. When you give in to the urge, the ligaments on your neck can be permanently stretched. This case is called perpetual instability and may lead to osteoarthritis.
Remember, you can find a lot of blood vessels on your neck, and cracking it too hard can puncture these blood vessels which can result to blood clotting which can be dangerous since it can block the blood flow to your brain.
The Chiropractic Care: Neck Adjustment
If cracking your neck is a habit, but you don’t feel any pain or discomfort, consider potential side-effects of improper cracking, but you don't need to see a chiropractor or other medical care.
However, if frequently cracking your neck does not offer any relief, then it might be time to schedule a visit with your chiropractor to have your joint aligned.
This will help you feel relief and less of an urge to crack your neck all the time.
When to See A Chiropractor
Here are some important reasons why you need to see a doctor or a chiropractor.
- Swelling of the neck, which could be a sign of a fluid buildup, injury, or infection.
- When you feel pain in the joint area.
- When your joints start to feel pressure or pain, which gives you the urge to crack your neck.
Why Do You Need to Seek Help From Chiropractors?
A Chiropractor would be able to help make sure that your joints are aligned by manually manipulating it.
This noninvasive treatment can prevent pressure or pain in the neck area which makes you want to crack it. They would also be able to provide you with advice on how to change your lifestyle.
This may include exercise and losing weight to lessen the pressure or pain in your neck.
Chiropractors will also share tips on how you can help treat symptoms at home, too.
This may include hot or cold treatments to reduce the pain or swelling in your neck.
If you need a Chiropractor, ask your doctor for a referral in your area.
Your health insurance should be able to cover a Chiropractic treatment, however, check with your representative about the cost in case your specific condition is not covered by your insurance.
So make sure to think twice the next time you have an urge to crack your neck yourself, but don't think twice about contacting a qualified, professional Chiropractor about helping alleviate any tension and pain you may have. If you're looking for a chiropractor, click here to check out our clinic.
Some of us crave that feeling that we get when we press our head down from side to side. We experience that brief euphoria of a cracked neck. Only to realize that we need to do it again fifteen minutes later. Believe it or not, there’s a reason for that.
Cracking your neck releases endorphins to the joints. This causes a relief of any pain and/or a surge of instant gratification. This addictive behavior can have a plethora of negative effects, all of which outweigh the seconds of bliss.
It may seem hard to believe, but cracking your neck can lead to prolonged pain, loss of motion, and can sometimes be life-threatening. More research is needed on the topic, however several studies from universities and medical organizations have proven that something as simple as cracking your neck can cause very serious health implications.
Read on to find out reasons why you should never crack your neck and alternative methods to relieve neck pain.
It can lead to a stroke.
Inside our necks are an abundance of blood vessels. In some cases, when we crack our necks with enough force or even too often, we can end up puncturing our blood vessels. This can lead to blood clotting. According to Health Guidance, “Individuals who have a habit of neck cracking are more prone towards developing a stroke. Blood clotting can have hazardous consequences on your health. It can deprive the oxygen supply to the brain.” What’s even scarier, is that studies have shown that those who crack their necks under the age of sixty are actually more at risk. More research is need on the issue. While the risk itself is extremely small, there’s no doubt that it exists. Consider this the next time you feel the urge to crack your neck.
Related:Check out Aaptiv’s stretching classes here to relieve your neck pain.
It can cause perpetual instability.
Every time we crack our necks, we’re stretching the ligaments around our joints. Sometimes this can result in our ligaments being permanently stretched and damaged. This puts us at a higher risk of developing osteoarthritis (OA). According to the Arthritis Foundation, “OA is also known as degenerative joint disease and affects around 27 million Americans. This is a condition where the cartilage around [the] joints and bones wears away.” If continued and worsened, OA can lead to bone on bone rubbing, which causes joint damage and pain. In addition to OA, cartilage wear reduces the amount of mobility that we have in our necks. This can cause simple movements, like head turns to cross the street or dancing to your favorite song, to become extremely difficult to perform.
What Happens When You Crack Your Neck?
As mentioned earlier, the neck pain that exists is only temporarily relieved the moment that we crack our necks and experience the jolt of the endorphins. Unfortunately, shortly thereafter, the neck returns to its previous state. It then wants to be ‘cracked’ again. According to Harvard Health Publishing, “The “pop” of a cracked knuckle is caused by bubbles bursting in the synovial fluid. This is the fluid that helps lubricate joints. The bubbles pop when you pull the bones apart, creating negative pressure.” The synovial fluid is made up of dissolved oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide. The reason that the feeling comes back within the half hour is because the gas needs time to dissolve back into the joint fluid. Meaning, there’s no permanent relief for the pain that’s occurring. Cracking your neck is just a quick fix.
What To Do Instead Of Cracking Your Neck
With the amount of time that we spend glued to our computers at work or at home, it’s no wonder that we feel constant stiffness and tightening in our necks. It may feel like we have no option to relieve this discomfort other than by cracking our necks. However, as we’ve come to learn of the dangers that are associated with the pesky ‘pop’, we’ve broken down four alternative ways to help break the habit and experience relief.
“Cracking your neck can lead to prolonged pain, loss of motion, and can sometimes be life-threatening.”
- Start with making the conscious decision that you will no longer crack your neck. Like most bad habits, we don’t realize we’re doing them until it’s too late. By recognizing how bad neck cracking is for your health, you’ll slowly start to minimize and, eventually, lose the habit completely.
- Look down. Simple movements like leaning your head down for thirty seconds at a time can cause the many bones and muscles in your neck to relieve built up tension.
- Try light stretches, instead. By moving your neck around carefully and slowly (without cracking), you’ll relieve the stiffness that is causing discomfort or pain. Some exercises include light head rolls, side to side stretches, and front to back movements.
- Complete neck training exercises. Your neck may be sore or uncomfortable because the muscles may be weak. Practice neck exercises often. You’ll strengthen your neck and may lessen the amount of discomfort that is caused by your daily routine.
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