Why Does Your Neck Crack?

Neck cracking and grinding: When you crack your neck and other parts of your body due to ache or stiffness, your joints are releasing gas bubbles to temporarily relieve your joints and muscles.

‍Why does my neck and back crack after suffering minor injuries in a car accident? The reason your joints crack after an auto accident is because there are small joints in the neck and back called “facets”. Facets allow the spine to move. After an auto accident, these joints can be injured with micro tears that cause pain and may need treatment. The joints usually heal in a contracted fashion, making the capsule, or covering of the joint, tighter. The joint that is now tighter is more likely to crack with normal motion.

‍Is there treatment for the cracking and grinding in my neck and back? There is no specific treatment for the cracking itself. It is not considered a real medical problem that is bad for the joint and it will not lead to arthritis. The best way to treat this condition is with early physical therapy and range of motion exercises so that the joint remains flexible and doesn’t tighten. For a full brochure of recommended neck stretches, click here: Neck Exercises / Para El Cuello

The reason you can only crack a joint one time and have to wait to crack again is because once the dissolved gases in the joint fluid escape and create the cracking sound, they take time to dissolve back into the joint fluid so that cracking can happen again.

‍Common myth: Cracking your knuckles can lead to joint arthritis. People often believe cracking your knuckles will lead to arthritis in the hands. This is a common belief among many individuals which is unsupported by evidence. A 2011 study among 215 people (ages 50-89) compared joints between those who regularly crack their knuckles to those who do not. This study showed there is no correlation between cracking your knuckles and developing osteoarthritis; however, the people who regularly crack their knuckles were more likely to develop swelling in their hands and lowered grip strength.