Just about all of us at some point or another have cracked our knuckles before or even cracked our backs and necks. This might be because we were in a lot of discomfort and desperately needed some relief, but for many other people it’s a habit they developed at a younger age. We’ve all heard it’s not good to overdue it on cracking your joints, but many of us don’t necessarily know exactly why that is.
So, is cracking your neck safe?
Can Cracking Your Neck Cause A Stroke?
You may have cracked your neck or other joints in the past and it didn’t give you the relief you were hoping for. Sometimes you may even feel the same or a little worse in attempting to crack your neck. Many of us can manage with that, especially in instances where this is not necessarily a chronic pain issue, but what about more serious side effects?
While we don’t yet fully understand the risks involved in cracking your own neck, there does appear to be some connection between neck cracking and strokes. That said, it’s not close to the majority of people that fall into that kind of risk from cracking their necks. If you have particularly fragile blood vessels, connective tissue, or have other underlying medical conditions that could contribute to the risk of stroke, cracking your neck could further contribute to that risk. That’s because your spinal column has important arteries running through them and cutting off the blood supply can be the catalyst for a stroke. If you feel like you may be at risk consider consulting with a professional.
Can Cracking Your Neck Cause Vertigo?
While cracking your neck doesn’t necessarily cause vertigo, it is a little more complicated than that. Vertigo is mostly associated with balance issues linked to the inner ear. However, there are types of vertigo, like cervical vertigo, that cause a sensation of dizziness that’s linked to neck injuries. While cracking your neck isn’t necessarily going to injure you, it is very possible without knowing exactly what you’re doing or cracking your neck multiple times a day as a form of habit you could end up exacerbating a neck injury and causing a condition like cervical vertigo to occur.
Can You Break Your Own Neck?
While there are risks associated with cracking your own neck, you shouldn’t worry about breaking it. Our bodies aren’t really equipped to break our own necks as it requires a great deal of strength and force to do so, and it would be difficult to get any leverage to do so with just your own hands as well. That said, the neck is an incredibly important part of our body and just because you probably can’t break your own neck this way doesn’t mean you can’t cause yourself needlessly pain or injury as a result.
East Bay Chiropractic Care Have The Knowledge And Experience To Properly Care For Your Neck And Spine
Your neck is too important to your comfort and livelihood to risk injury through habitual cracking that often leads to more harm than good. Here at East Bay Chiropractic & Wellness, your care comes first. We specialize in the use of the Graston Technique® in pain management and relief caused by soft tissue fibrosis and chronic inflammation. With over 30 years of experience, you know you’ll be in good hands. Contact East Bay Chiropractic today to schedule a consultation or give us a call at (516) 679-2225