Is It Bad to Crack Your Own Back by Twisting It?

By Dr. Tim Fargo, Chiropractor

Fooled you! The short answer is, “No”. As previously discussed in another blog, while it may be a problem to forcefully twist or crack your neck, doing so with the rest of your spine is generally not a problem. In fact, most of us from time to time experience that casually twisting and turning can cause the joints in our spine to “crack” spontaneously. Gentle twisting  is good for you because it increases  mobility and circulation, while decreasing muscle tightness. There are many disciplines, including yoga and Pilates, that seek to create just this kind of mobility. The cracking that you might feel and hear in doing a stretch or twist of your spine is simply the joint surfaces releasing, and that is what makes the popping sound. The pop itself is not the goal of either chiropractic care or such stretching programs. Rather, the popping or cracking sound is a byproduct of regaining mobility, and that is the goal regardless of whether the spine “cracks” or not. The mid and lower back are surrounded by very large muscles and are protected by your rib cage, and therefore are not likely to become unstable by repeated “cracking”. Your neck, on the other hand, has less support, and more mobility, and is therefore more susceptible to injury with repeated generalized self manipulation.

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If you want to end up like the fellow pictured above, then keep hunching over your desk and never do anything to improve your mobility. If you want to avoid such a future, then see a chiropractor regularly to maintain your alignment, mobility, and strength. The doctors at Chiropractic Health and Wellness are trained in the care of spinal deformities such as you see pictured, but also to care for regular people who just need a little help. Come and see us if you want to “punch back the hunchback”. Schedule an appointment today!

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