Is Cracking Your Back Bad for Your Overall Spinal Health?
Your back is one of the most complex and intricate parts of your body. It houses a network of nerves, ligaments, muscles, bones, and vertebrae that work together to support your head, neck, and torso. As such, keeping your back healthy requires a fair amount of maintenance; you can’t just ignore it and hope for the best. In order to keep your back in tip-top shape, it’s important to practice good posture habits on a regular basis. This will help keep your spine aligned properly and reduce the risk of developing back pain or other spinal issues in the future.
Cracking your spine can relieve tension in the muscles and vertebrae, especially after sitting or standing for a long time. It stretches the area where the crack was made, and that helps bring relief from pain or discomfort. However, there are risks with cracking your spine. If you have pre-existing conditions that involve the spine, like osteoporosis or scoliosis, you should avoid cracking your back because it could make matters worse. The same goes if you have an injury to the back.
Is it Safe to Crack Your Back?
Cracking your back may feel good at the time, but it actually tends not to be good for you. When you crack your back, you’re actually popping or stretching your joints beyond their normal range of motion. This can put stress on your ligaments and spine and could lead to potential damage.
Why Does It Feel Good to Crack Your Back?
Cracking your back can feel good because it can release tension and stiffness in your spine and joints. When you crack your back, you are essentially popping or snapping the gas bubbles that have formed being released. This can help improve your range of motion and alleviate pain.
Some people also find that cracking their own back is satisfying because they can control how much pressure is applied. While cracking your back may provide temporary relief, it’s important to see a spine doctor if you experience chronic back pain or tightness.
Back Pain Relief
Back cracking is a process that can provide temporary relief from back pain and stiffness. This can help improve your range of motion and provide relief from neck pain as well. While back cracking can provide some temporary relief, it’s important to see a doctor if you’re experiencing chronic back and neck pain.
When Medical Attention is Necessary
Sometimes back cracking can be a sign of a more serious problem. If the cracking is accompanied by pain, swelling, or redness, it could be a sign of an injury to the ligaments or the small joints in the spine. If the cracking is followed by a sudden loss of movement or feeling in the legs, it could be a sign of a problem with the spine itself, such as a ruptured disc. In any case, if you experience back cracking that is accompanied by any of these symptoms, it’s best to see a doctor to get it checked out.
Schedule an Appointment to Protect Your Spine Health
Cracking any set of bones in the body can provide relief but also be dangerous. You should be cautious when doing so and only crack your back when you really need relief. There are other things to try instead of only relying on cracking your back.
How you crack your back also plays an important role in those risks. If you feel that you have to crack your back often, then it is time to be assessed by a doctor. Call Orthopedic & Laser Spine Surgery at (866)-646-5090 to schedule an assessment.