05
Oct
These vessels carry blood to and away from your brain so forceful and constant neck cracking can increase your risk of stroke by damaging these vessels. The simple act of popping or cracking your neck knuckles or even toes can bring about instant relief for a stiff joint.
These vessels carry blood to and away from your brain so forceful and constant neck cracking can increase your risk of stroke by damaging these vessels.
Is cracking your neck good for you. The answer is yes and no. Cracking your neck gently or only cracking it occasionally wont cause you any harm but doing it incorrectly too. Somehow the feeling of release you get after a good crack seems to make it better although some research has shown that this may be a psychological placebo effect.
While its probably okay to occasionally self-crack your neck or back dont have a friend do it for you because they could apply too much pressure and cause injury. 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 dont realize were doing them until its too late.
If you crack your neck because of a nervous habit or because it makes your neck feel less tight you may have wondered if youre more likely to development arthritis in the neck. A review of current medical research studying fingers showed that frequent purposeful knuckle-cracking does not increase the risk for arthritis in those joints5-6 Joint cracking in the neck. Be aware that constant or forcibly cracking your neck can be bad for you.
There is an abundance of blood vessels in your neck that can be damaged by continuous cracking. These vessels carry blood to and away from your brain so forceful and constant neck cracking can increase your risk of stroke by damaging these vessels. When you crack your neck and back it often feels good afterwards especially if there was a great deal of tension or pain prior.
The reason it feels good is because pressure is being relieved. Just as when any of your joints crack gases are being released from within the synovial membranes. Cracking that starts following an accident or surgery that affects the cervical spine.
If you experience any of these types of neck cracking make an appointment with your doctor so your symptoms can be properly diagnosed. See Diagnosing Neck Pain. Its good to err on the side of caution when youre concerned.
Whats not fine is physically twisting or pushing on your own head in order to make your neck crack or worse having someone do it for you. Doing this can cause serious damage to your spine and to the ligaments in your neck. This exercise is performed by tucking the chin to the chest and then rolling the head in a circular motion in an attempt to stretch the muscles and ligaments of the neck.
Neck Circles are frequently used as a warm up activity prior to exercise and are also often performed in an attempt to relieve some accumulated stress after a long day. While this is extremely rare cracking your neck constantly or too forcefully can damage the blood vessels in your neck and can even lead to blood clotting which can block the flow of blood to your brain. Cracking your neck or back isnt like popping a pimple or picking your nose both generally harmless but not recommended.
The habit is way worse say most experts. The habit is way worse say. The simple act of popping or cracking your neck knuckles or even toes can bring about instant relief for a stiff joint.
But is it safe. Well not really says Dr. Robert Pinto a chiropractor with Pinto Chiropractic Rehabilitation in Williamsburg Va.
Cracking ones neck if done too often and without knowing the proper way to move the joint around can cause. Many people even experience a sense of relief after cracking their neck. However the question still remains is it okay to crack your neck.
Is Cracking Your Neck Bad. Cracking your neck is bad. However the occasional unforced cracking is not bad.
When you repeatedly crack your neck you will cause pressure to build up around your joints. When you continually stretch them by cracking your own neck or back they can no longer provide the structure and stability that the joints in your neck or back need to maintain proper alignment. This can lead to a whole list of problems including pinched nerves misaligned vertebra stiffness and pain.
This can cause you to have migraines neck pain stiffness neckshoulderarm pain sinus pain headaches for starters. And good neck posture will prevent your spinal cord from stretching. This is the biggest benefit of having your neck adjusted.
Tension on the spinal cord in your neck will have numerous adverse effects on your health. When you crack your neck the noise primarily results from cavitation which is a phenomenon in which air bubbles form within the joint fluid due to the sudden movement. There is nothing particularly dangerous about the popping noise these bubbles make when they burst and cracking joints such as your knuckles or your neck has never been shown to be harmful for.
If youre not trained on the proper way to crack your neck ie if youre not a licensed chiropractor you probably shouldnt do it. Because in 2011 a 42-year-old woman who had been cracking her own neck every day for eight years got vertebral artery dissection or VAD which is a leading cause of stroke in patients under 45. For many people theres something about cracking your back that just feels so good.
The intense stretch that leads to that telltale popping sound is so satisfying not to. When your neck or back feels stiff sometimes giving your joints a good crack feels like a great way to get quick relief. But for as long as people have been cracking their knuckles there have been others who are certain this habit is bad for you.