Is there a "healthy" way to crack your neck?

I LOVE cracking my neck! It has become such a habit to me that I don't even realize I do it sometimes. My husband said that when we first got married, it kind of freaked him out, that I popped my neck in my sleep! Ouch, yeah that's not attractive. Well, I've heard that popping your knuckles is harmless, but your neck....?

Healthline says:

"Cracking your neck gently or only cracking it occasionally won’t cause you any harm, but doing it incorrectly, too frequently, or too forcefully can actually cause more pain or discomfort than you felt before you cracked your neck."

Dorsal says:

"If you decide to crack your neck, start with stretching your neck by looking down and then up slowly several times. To crack your neck, you can then lie prone on the ground and move your body up and down with a foam roller beneath your neck. Alternatively, you can grasp your jaw with one hand, the back of your head with the other hand, and twist your head. If you choose the second method, then twist counterclockwise if your left hand is on your jaw and clockwise if your right hand is on your jaw.

For a more comprehensive spinal manipulation therapy program, consider seeking physical therapy or chiropractic care (8). A physical therapist or chiropractor can develop a treatment plan that will best address your pain or discomfort."

This was interesting to me because this seemed like the "old fashioned" way of cracking your neck. I mean that's how pretty much everyone I know does it. So just the good old fashioned push your jaw and pull your head.

Now, this website, First Chiropractic, has some good information about cracking your neck in general:

"If you can crack your neck by merely turning your head, you likely aren’t causing yourself damage to do it occasionally. However, if you are forcing your neck to pop or crack suddenly, you probably aren’t doing yourself a lot of good."

What is that sound?

"There are a few explanations for why your neck makes a popping sound. The first is called cavitation. Our joints contain gases (nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and oxygen) and fluid to cushion and lubricate the joints. The sound is produced by pressure on the fluid that creates gas bubbles that pop. Cavitation can increase flexibility and ease discomfort, and chiropractors are trained in how to do this most effectively to relieve pain.

Another reason for the cracking noise you hear can be the result of ligaments and tendons moving over the joints or one another."

Placebo Effect?

"Popping your joints (neck or otherwise) releases endorphins that help relieve your pain temporarily. This release can be addictive, hence why people will often say, “but I needed to!” if you ask them to stop cracking a specific body part.

This popping or cracking noise does not necessarily indicate there has been any positive readjustment."

Important!!!

"Cracking or popping your neck should never hurt, and you should never have to force it. If either of these things is true, then neck cracking is likely doing you harm. Your neck should not be extremely stiff or at all swollen, and if this is the case, you almost certainly have a neck injury that requires medical attention.

Be aware that constant or forcibly cracking your neck can be bad for you. There is an abundance of blood vessels in your neck that can be damaged by continuous cracking. These vessels carry blood to, and away from your brain, so forceful and constant neck cracking can increase your risk of stroke by damaging these vessels.

Another danger of forceful cracking is overextending your ligaments and tendons, which can weaken their ability to support your head throughout your life."

Worried about Arthritis...

"Many people don’t like to hear someone else’s joints popping, and most of us have heard someone tell us that cracking your joints will cause arthritis. But does it? There is no research showing direct links between arthritis and cracking joints."

First Chiropractic's advice for "popping" or "cracking":

"Hold a stretch for at least 20 seconds, release, and repeat until you feel better."

Conclusion

After finding out that there isn't really a "preferred" way of cracking your neck and that its actually kind of dangerous, my conclusion is that I need to get my neck cracking under control. heard a rumor once that a guy who cracked his neck one time, paralyzed himself! And after doing a little research I can see why. But what also kind of scared me what the increased risk of stroke because of all of the blood vessels running from your head to your neck.

Do with that information what you will, I will be trying to crack my neck less and less, and leave most of the cracking to the professionals.