Weird ways to crack your neck

Summary Neck cracking is not especially dangerous, but the therapeutic effects are limited, and so cracking should not be overdone. The information provided in this article is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. You should not rely upon the content provided in this article for specific medical advice.

If you have any questions or concerns, please talk to your doctor. Full source Full source Full source. Researched, written, and reviewed by:. Abby Perry is a freelance writer who brings over ten years of experience with work published in Entropy, Fathom Magazine, and Sojourners. She lives in the great state of Texas with her husband and two sons. Bruner is a physical therapist who is highly trained and skilled in helping people overcome their physical ailments to live the best life they can.

She is also a writer who enjoys spreading knowledge about various topics in the PT and healthcare industry. Is pain holding you back? We offer online doctor visits, at-home physical therapy regimens, and safe medications delivered to your door. What is Dorsal? Comprehensive medical care for muscle and joint pain.

Learn About Potential Causes and Treatment. This article is based on scientific evidence, written by experts and fact checked by experts. Our team of board-certified physical therapists, physicians, and surgeons strive to be objective, unbiased, honest and to present both sides of the argument. This article contains scientific references. You have to switch things up and use different muscles.

Gentle stretching also may help relieve tension on your back — or even safely make it crack. Here are a handful of seated, standing and on-the-floor stretches and exercises to try. What this helps: The movement builds range of motion in the spine while also working muscles in your back. The stretch also benefits your neck, hips and even shoulders. What this helps: The stretch can help release tension in your lower back to address sciatic nerve pain. What this helps: Foam rolling can help release muscle tension while improving flexibility and range of motion.

Looking for more ways to strengthen your back? An orthopaedic clinical specialist suggests four exercises to build core muscles that can help protect your spine.

Method 3. Try stretching instead of cracking your neck. You might feel the urge to crack your neck frequently, as it can relieve stiffness, soreness, and feelings of tension. Instead, try gently leaning your head from side to side to stretch out your neck instead. See your doctor if you experience frequent neck pain. While cracking your neck often relieves minor pain, repeated wear and tear on your vertebrae can lead to health problems and bone damage.

If you are dealing with chronic neck pain, make an appointment with your general practitioner. Describe your symptoms and pain level to the doctor. Visit a qualified professional for safe neck treatment and advice. Chiropractors are a popular choice and have plenty of experience in treating stiff and sore necks and backs.

Schedule a professional massage to get relief. Massage therapists typically don't crack necks but will use a range of gentle techniques to mobilize the joints in your spine. Massage and manipulation, together with the right kinds of stretching or another exercise, may prove just as helpful as joint cracking. Eric Christensen, DPT. No, not if you're doing it once in a while. If you need to crack your neck frequently for relief, you may need to address that with some neck stability training.

Not Helpful 3 Helpful 9. Yes, cracking your neck is very safe. Neck cracking is only dangerous if it causes arterial problems, but this rarely happens. Not Helpful 9 Helpful Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube. Get up and take breaks instead of sitting in the same position for long periods of time.

Moving around is a great way to prevent stiffness. Helpful 3 Not Helpful 1. Notice if your neck pain seems connected to anything else. For example, did you recently start a new workout routine? They might be connected, so pay attention to anything you're doing that might be impacting your neck. Helpful 2 Not Helpful 1. Make stretching a part of your daily routine. Helpful 1 Not Helpful 1. You Might Also Like How to. How to. More References 4.

About This Article. Hydration can not only help heal cricks in the neck, but they can help prevent them from ever occurring in the first place. We believe in natural pain remedies, but if you are in need of relief, many people indulge in taking a small dose of over the counter medication like Tylenol, ibuprofen, Advil, or aspirin. This medication can help you feel better and decrease your inflammation in the short term, but a long-term and permanent solution is still necessary, so do not learn to rely on these types of pain medicines as your pain remedy.

We believe that the natural and safe treatments that chiropractic care offers are the best choice when you have a crick in your neck. Similar to a physical therapist, chiropractors specialize in treating soft tissue injuries to the neck and back and are trained to realign your spine relieves tension and reduces pain symptoms properly. Chiropractors can eliminate our neck stiffness and prevent future issues, so you never have to wake up in the morning with a stiff neck again.

A combination of regular preventive treatments and tips to take home, you can prevent future crick from ever occurring! Some great ways our chiropractors have advised patients to reduce the likelihood of cricks occurring is:.

If you believe you have a crick in your neck and you need chiropractic treatment to get rid of it, Arrowhead Clinic has been helping patients in need for more than 40 years. We can help relieve your pain, stiffness, and soreness and even help you prevent future incidents from occurring.