Cracking knuckles = bad? Well, your mum or dad might have fed you this myth because that’s what they were told. Maybe they know it’s bad to crack your own neck or back – but just don’t know why. Or maybe they were worried your fingers would get too loose and fall off!

The popping noise you hear isn’t bone cracking or rubbing on bone. It’s the creation (not bursting) of small gas bubbles in the joint. And although studies show there’s no link between cracking your joints and the stiff, painful joints that arthritis cause, we shouldn’t indulge in our addiction anyway. Cracking your fingers, neck, or back 5, 10 or 20 times a day, EVERY DAY could make your supporting ligaments lax. That’s a recipe for trouble.

So What About Someone Else Cracking My Back For Me

In case you’re wondering, cracking your neck or back yourself is NOT the same as a certified chiropractor adjusting (“cracking”) your spine. Chiropractors only adjust specific spinal segments if there is a combination of misalignment, movement restriction, and nerve flow interference. The name given to this combination trio is a ‘Subluxation’.

In order to perform a chiropractic adjustment, there are five considerations that are absolutely required to ensure the safety and efficacy of an adjustment:

1. Is this a primary (the body’s priority) or secondary (compensatory) subluxation?

2. What is the best position to deliver the adjustment?

3. Which direction should the corrective thrust be delivered? (Is the spine rotated, tilted, or shifted? Is it to the right, left, front, or back? Or a combination?)

4. What is the amount of correction required?

5. Are there any factors that contra-indicate an adjustment? Are there any factors that obstruct, affect, or could negatively influence the quality of the adjustment?

An adjustment, delivered by a chiropractor, is an ART, SCIENCE, and PHILOSOPHY. It’s not the same as cracking your back over a chair – nor is it the same as the barber who almost takes your head off when giving you a head massage.

Be safe. Protect yourself. Only get adjusted by someone who is qualified, and  has examined and understands your body and your health.

_{This post was first published on Dr. Gary Tho’s Chiropractic Works blog and has been reposted on Connected Women with the permission of the author.
Edited by Michelle Sarthou 
Image Credit: Shutterstock}

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