View Full Version : Cracking your neck/back. Good or Bad?
Screamin' Banshee
12-14-2009, 05:59 AM
I've recently had this arguement with my girlfriend and a buddy. They each seen me cracking my back and neck while watching television. I guess they dont do it because they are grossed out and try to tell me that it is bad for you. Knowing they have no real basis at all, but it got me to thinking.
A person who stretches regularly can probably do it more safely than someone who doesnt. I love the feeling of cracking my neck and back. But I can see how someone who doesnt supplement the cracking with stretching could hurt themselves.
What are your guys thought? I gotta assume other jiu-jitsu practitioners are fellow "crackers". :D
Andy
Cracking sound normally heard in joints has been speculated to be gas leaked out of the synovial fluid within a joint due to change in pressure within the cavity. The gas bubble then pops which causes the popping sound.
With the neck though you have to be careful which direct you bend it, I tell others never to bend your head backwards as you can pinch the nerves in your spine which can cause great damage.
Try putting your head back for a 10-15 seconds and then pull it forward.
Personally I feel a swelling feeling at the back of my throat.
zaxonortesus
12-14-2009, 06:40 AM
The way the chiropractor explained it to me was in your neck and back, the popping sound is the scar tissue that builds up breaking apart. Do it enough and you get spinal fluid and whatnot flowing back through as it should... which is why/how chiropractory works... at least thats how I understood it. But yes, like Matt said, too much neck flexion can lead to pinched nerves, never rotate your neck outside of its normal range of motion, ie, don't use your hands to rotate your own neck, just use your own muscles in your neck.
The way the chiropractor explained it to me was in your neck and back, the popping sound is the scar tissue that builds up breaking apart. Do it enough and you get spinal fluid and whatnot flowing back through as it should... which is why/how chiropractory works... at least thats how I understood it. But yes, like Matt said, too much neck flexion can lead to pinched nerves, never rotate your neck outside of its normal range of motion, ie, don't use your hands to rotate your own neck, just use your own muscles in your neck.
x2.. makes me cringe when people use there hands, and even more cringe when people are told to do head rolls in class :eek:
Jaden_Korr
12-14-2009, 07:20 AM
It's especially healthy for those diagnosed with hypermobility (double jointedness) I've had this argument so many times over the years it's not even funny,but as someone with an advanced range of joint mobility,i've been told by several different doctors,physiotherapists and even a chiropractor or two that it will actually relieve tension in my joints. Neck,spine,wrists,knees,knuckles,elbows,shoulders and even my jaw need regular cracking :P
Mikey Triangles
12-14-2009, 08:29 AM
funny you should make this thread as I was just wondering about this today. When I woke up I cracked my neck and felt really weird for a second. I do this every morning but today I thought, "what if I knock something out of place?" for some reason.
I know the cracking sound comes from fluids that get released, and my girlfriend is a massage therapist and chiropractic assistant, but I think I'm going to post this on a medical board and see what they have to say.
Screamin' Banshee
12-14-2009, 10:35 AM
I need to schedule an appointment with the chiropractor. Havent went for close to 2 years. Fortuneatly I dont everr suffer from much back pain.
The way the chiropractor explained it to me was in your neck and back, the popping sound is the scar tissue that builds up breaking apart.
That'st he first time I've heard that as the cause for the popping sound. Now I have something to investigate for the day...
Screamin' Banshee
12-14-2009, 12:15 PM
A little info.
http://www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/mysteries/joint.html
I do it all the time. I get about 10-15 cracks when I do it side to side. I don't do much for my back but cracking my neck has done wonders for my shoulder pain.
That'st he first time I've heard that as the cause for the popping sound. Now I have something to investigate for the day...
x2 I was doubting my self and what I'd learnt at Uni for a second :(
As you get older you crack and pop as much as you fart and snore. While you may become a gnarly mother fucker to attack while napping, you don't get invited to many sleepovers.
younwha
12-14-2009, 07:38 PM
So many people say it's good for you, and so many people say it causes arthritis later on. As far as I'm concerned, if your body does it naturally, it's probably not horrible for you.
AsianInvasion
12-14-2009, 07:44 PM
this thread scares me. my ankles and knees crack everytime i go up and down stairs
this thread scares me. my ankles and knees crack everytime i go up and down stairs
Next - you'll snore. You're screwed.
My knees and ankles always crack on their own and I use to crack my neck all the time. I actually use to have to crack my neck a couple times a day to stop it from feeling stiff. My wife hated it every time I did it so I did what I could to stop cracking it.
It took some work, but over time the pain and stiffness went away and I only rarely crack it now, which is usually only when I do it without thinking.
So I'm curious if it's good to crack your neck, why is it that only when I was cracking my neck that my neck was bothering me.
i have to admit though, it always feels so good when you do crack it.
zaxonortesus
12-15-2009, 03:51 AM
I could have been totally off on what I put earlier, that is just what I thought I remembered my chiropractor saying when I first started going a few years ago. And I LOVE to pop my neck too, but only as far as it will pop on it's own, but it does feel so good, such a nice endorphin rush!
I love cracking my neck & back. So, if I should be so worried about feeling like an old man when I'm an old man, I should have quit martial arts before I started them.
mattamatta
12-15-2009, 11:54 AM
I love cracking my neck & back. So, if I should be so worried about feeling like an old man when I'm an old man, I should have quit martial arts before I started them.
Wow, somehow I first read that as "I love cracking my neck & balls".
I don't even know how one goes about making such a mistake, but certainly it changes the meaning dramatically!
Screamin' Banshee
12-15-2009, 07:14 PM
Wow, somehow I first read that as "I love cracking my neck & balls".
I don't even know how one goes about making such a mistake, but certainly it changes the meaning dramatically!
This just cracked me up. Could be the hyrdoponics though.
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