This is a question that I sometimes get from patients or other people when they find out I am a chiropractor. Often it goes something like this, “I know I shouldn’t but it feels so good to pop my neck (or back) and I do it all the time. Is that bad for my neck(or back)?” People seem to think it is a bad thing to be popping their back or neck all the time. Today I wanted to answer that question and give you some of the reasoning behind it.
The short answer to the question “Is it bad to pop my own back or neck?” is it depends. The reason I say that is because there are many different ways that the back or neck can pop. But first let’s talk about what that pop is.
The prevailing thought is that the popping noise you hear when ‘cracking’ or ‘popping’ your knuckles, or any other joint for that matter, is the sound of gas bubbles being released from the fluid within the joint. Much like when you open a can of soda the gas that was dissolved in the liquid is released because the change in pressure. Likewise there is gas that is dissolved in the liquid that lubricates the joints of the body. When you change the pressure within the joint by stretching or moving the joint, some of that gas is released. The gas will eventually be reabsorbed into the fluid within the joint. This process in and of itself does not cause any damage to the joint.
When It Is Okay
So if the ‘pop’ or ‘crack’ is simply gas being released and does not cause problems, why would popping your own back or neck be bad? Well as I said before it depends on how you are popping your back or neck. Often when people are doing a gentle stretch of the back or neck they will get pops and that is okay. I really wouldn’t worry about this because this movement is within the normal motion of the joint. And to be honest it may actually help correct minor misalignments or restrictions because the body is always trying to correct itself.
Now just to help you understand, regularly popping your back and neck in this way does not mean you don’t need to go to the chiropractor. What I do is much more specific and precise to help restore proper motion and function to the spine than a good general stretch . Besides, the joints of the spine that are moving well enough to allow them to pop are probably not the ones that really need to be adjusted. While those that really need to be adjusted are unlikely to release with this type of motion.
When It Is Bad
So if a general stretch is okay, when is popping your back or neck a bad thing? Sometimes individuals will use a quick jerking motion to get the neck or back to pop. This can be a bad thing. One of the reasons being that it can become a habit and they end up doing it repeatedly, often several times a day or even several times an hour. This is a problem because the repeated motion with that quick jerk or pull can stretch the ligaments surrounding the joints and, over time, lead to injury or even laxity of those joints. This can lead to some instability or excessive motion at those joints and set the stage for likely further injury.
I know that some of you out there reading this might be in this second category and think, ‘well a general stretch won’t get it to pop and that pop feels good and relieves the tension or pain for a little bit’. It is true that the pop (which is called a cavitation) does feel good and for a very short time can lead to pain relief. But my advice to you is to leave the adjusting to the expert, the chiropractor. You will be better off and will likely experience long term relief from regular chiropractic care.
Let me know what you thought of the post and share your most interesting story of who you know who likes to pop their back or neck. If there is someone that you think needs to read this pass it along. And if you would like help with your back or neck pain and are in the Colorado Springs area stop on by, I would love to help.
