Leave the Back Cracking to Your Chiropractor
By Sara Butler
Many people who have stiffness or discomfort in their backs have developed the habit of cracking their backs for relief. While this action might make you feel better at first, it’s not really addressing the underlying cause for any pain and discomfort you may be experiencing. In fact, it could be making your underlying issue worse. Here are just a few reasons why you should leave all that back cracking to the professionals.
Why Joints Crack and Pop
Your joints aren’t just surrounded by tendons, ligaments, and cartilage; they also contain a fluid to help lubricate the joints called synovial fluid. It helps to reduce friction in the joints and make the movement of them smooth and painless. This fluid contains within it gases and when the joint is manipulated and stretched, the fluid will shift around and release the gases – that’s what makes the popping and cracking sound you hear and feel.
This popping and cracking sound can be a part of the normal movement in your everyday life, but if the pop is ever accompanied by discomfort or pain and you feel like you have to crack your joints to get some relief, then you need to consult with your chiropractor.
Is Self-Cracking Harmful?
Occasionally cracking your back is nothing you should be concerned about, but if you do it often and habitually it could cause health problems such as:
- Increased wear and tear – The area of your spine that is being cracked might put it at an increased risk of arthritis or premature degeneration.
- Loosening of the joint – When you crack your back yourself you might cause the joint to become loose, which means your muscles and tendons will need to work overtime to keep your spine stable. That can lead to even more tension and might make the joint weaker and more predisposed to injury.
- Damage to nerves, blood vessels and soft tissue – Your neck and back are full of delicate structures that improper cracking can damage. This can lead to serious health problems for someone who isn’t familiar with proper technique or anatomy.
You Need a Professional Adjustment
Your chiropractor spent years training so they can adjust your back properly. If you want to know a little secret, even with all the training they have, chiropractors don’t adjust themselves. They often see a colleague to get adjusted. So, if a chiropractor won’t even do a self-adjustment, you should take that as an indication you shouldn't either.
If you need an adjustment, come into The Joint Chiropractic today!