Cracking joints is a common habit. We crack our knuckles, fingers, toes, back and even our necks. But not everyone does it for the same reason. Some of us do it to relieve the tension we feel in our shoulders or neck, or as a reaction to stress. In this article, we’ll discuss whether it’s beneficial to crack your neck; what cracking actually is; and to what extent it poses a risk to you.
Is it worth cracking your neck?
The answer to this question is yes and no. Gently cracking your neck – provided you don’t do it too often – won’t do any harm. But if you do it incorrectly, too often or too forcefully, it can cause more pain or discomfort than you felt before you cracked your neck.
What causes the creaking sound?
When you crack your neck or a joint in your body, the joint capsules surrounding that joint are stretched. These capsules contain fluid, and stretching them reduces the pressure the fluid exerts on the joint. As the pressure decreases, these fluids turn into gas. When the fluid turns into gas, it makes a popping sound. This process is usually not harmful.
In the case of your neck, you have several joints known as facet joints. These joints are located on either side of the neck. When these joints are stretched, the fluid inside the joint capsule can spread. As soon as the fluid turns into gas, you’ll hear a slight cracking sound in the neck joints. This makes the cracking sensation in your neck feel as though it’s relieving the pressure in your neck.
The placebo effect of squatting
Neck cracking can have a positive effect on the mental plane. This is because many people associate cracking sounds with the release of pressure and the successful adjustment of a joint. In some cases, just hearing the cracking sound can make someone feel better even if no pressure was released or if the joint did not even crack completely. This is known as a 'placebo effect'.
Feeling happiness through cracking
Cracking your neck also releases endorphins in the area of the neck joints. Endorphins are produced by your pituitary gland (the front part of the brain) and are released by your body to manage pain. When you crack your neck, endorphins are released in that area. This gives a feeling of satisfaction and pleasure.
How risky is it to crack your neck?
Cracking your neck can be harmful if you don’t do it properly or if you do it too often. Cracking your neck too forcefully can pinch the nerves. This can be extremely painful and make it difficult or impossible to move your neck. Cracking your neck too hard can also put strain on the muscles around the joints and on the joints themselves. When your muscles or joints become tense, moving your neck can feel like a real struggle.
The feeling that you need to crack your neck frequently may be due to hypermobility. This is when your joint has a greater range of motion than normal. If you give in to the urge to crack your neck frequently, the ligaments in your joints may become permanently stretched. This is known as permanent instability. When this happens, your neck joints are at greater risk of developing osteoarthritis.
Do you have neck problems? FRISKFYSIO can help!
Do you think you may have developed neck problems as a result of (excessive) neck cracking? At (name of physiotherapist), we can offer you guidance on how to break this habit and treat your neck. Would you like to find out more? Call 085-5000333 to make an appointment, or send an email to info@friskfysio.nl or fill in the contact form on our website. We will contact you as soon as possible.
