Do you frequently feel the urge to give your back a crack to ease the tension? Keep on reading to find out what exactly is going on!

“After I crack my back I feel SO released! But it doesn’t last long”

There is an assumption that hearing the ‘crack’ or ‘popping’ sound means tension or tightness is released.” But that tell-tale popping sound accompanying a good spine crack might not mean what you think it means – and no, it is not your bones cracking!

What happens when you crack your back is that you stretch the capsule around the outer edge of the vertebrae. This movement allows the fluid inside the joints to become more gaseous. As some gas is released, they make a cracking/popping sound. And if you are wondering “why does my back crack so much?” – most people’s joint pop and crack from time to time! It’s common but is it normal?

“Is cracking my back bad for me?"

Fortunately, back cracking is not normally a cause for immediate concern – it is often a symptom of a stiff back which can stem from tight muscles or stiff joints. However, when it is accompanied by pain or swelling, it could indicate arthritis or something more sinister.

Although back cracking is usually safe, when there is too much force or too fast can have these adverse effects:

• Pinched nerves in or near your spine
• Strained, torn or cause spasmed muscles in or around your back
• Injured blood vessels
• Overstretching or spraining the ligaments around the joint

“Do you have the habit of cracking your back?”

When the tightness in our back muscles accumulates over time, this compresses our spine and leads us to want to crack our spine. But what if I told you that there is another way to get on top of all the muscle tension, so that you can feel the release all the time without the need to crack your back and risk all that damage.

Click on the link below to see the THREE exercises and stretches I normally teach people to perform to get on top their itch to crack their backs!