We have all cracked our back at one time or another. It doesn’t always take a professional to know when the mobility in your back can be improved from a good stretch. Most of us are told that cracking our knuckles, neck, and back is not good for us. It stands to reason that hearing popping noises can be associated with a negative outcome. Can you be taught how to properly crack your back?
Although the majority of the time, you can crack your back without any repercussions, there is a proper way to avoid injury. Dr. Yashar is highly knowledgeable spine surgeon in Los Angeles and will be able to help you with any chronic back pain you may be experiencing.
Is Cracking Your Back Bad for You?
The first thing to establish is that the popping or cracking sound is not necessarily bad. The noises made when cracking your back are not joints or bones breaking. The sound is a pocket of gas in the joints releasing.
Although this sound is not associated with injury or a negative effect on your spine, you should still be cautious. You may feel that nothing can be worse than back stiffness, but cracking your back can become a nasty habit.
Over time, all these little manipulations done incorrectly can cause loosening of the joint, and create an avoidable injury. The positive news is that cracking your back cannot cause arthritis. But it can exacerbate joints that are already on their way to being arthritic.
Also, just because it can’t cause arthritis doesn’t mean you are safe from pain due to back cracking. Many people tend to exert too much pressure to forcibly get their back to crack when it isn’t necessary. This may cause major joint problems. Although cracking your back may seem innocuous, it can lead to major symptoms that might otherwise never have flared up.
How to Properly Crack Your Back
Having a tight back is a real symptom. But there are better ways to cure it than forcibly wrenching your back until you hear a pop. Using gentle stretches and movements will help adjust your back properly, and reduce uncomfortable symptoms.
The key is to be slow, gentle, and patient because to properly rid your back of pain and stiffness takes time. As time goes on, and you incorporate back stretches into your daily routine, you will be able to increase the pressure and get a deeper movement. Cracking your back does trigger endorphins, which can tell your brain it is helping, but taking the time to properly utilize stretches will bring the same type of relief that will last longer and be safer.
Alternatives to Cracking Your Back
If you have been wondering how to properly crack your back, you may not be thinking of alternatives. The greatest alternative to cracking your back is gentle stretches and movements, which happens to be the proper way to “crack to your back” as well. But if you are still suffering from chronic pain, stiffness, or discomfort, you may require an expert’s help.
Going to a chiropractor is a good place to start because they are knowledgeable about joints, bones, and how to safely manipulate them to relieve pressure. If this still doesn’t fix the problem, going one step further to a medical doctor who specializes in neck and back pain would be important.
Dr. Yashar is highly acclaimed in this field and has performed many successful spine surgeries. The important takeaway is that a professional spine specialist should always be the one administering any manipulation that requires force. Anything more intense than gentle stretching should not be attempted on your own. Even a friend helping crack your back can lead to more problems than you originally started with.
