New Delhi: Cracking your back or sounds coming from your spine because of manipulation either by a masseur or a chiropractor, or by self-manipulation, is a very common phenomenon. This occurs due to a phenomenon called joint cavitation. When manipulated with high velocity and low amplitude, joints can create a popping sound because of the low pressure created in the joint.
The effects of cracking your back
In an interaction with News9Live, Dr. Parthasarathy Srinivasan, Senior Consultant – Orthopaedics, Rela Hospital Chennai, spoke about the many consequences of cracking the back, a habit that seems harmless but has hidden dangers.
This pop can give a placebo feeling of relief from tightness, stress, or pain when experienced. Many native medicine practitioners and masseuses use this placebo effect to treat their patients. Very frequently, individuals habitually crack their necks or lower backs by certain practised movements at the end of a long or stressful day to relax their spines. This is not harmful and will not lead to degeneration of the spine or short or long-term damage to the spine. However, when a clicking sound is associated with the onset of pain, then it may suggest a more sinister pathology and needs to be evaluated by a spine surgeon. There are a few rare conditions, like ankylosing spondylitis, which leads to fusing of multiple segments of the spine, and a painful click in these situations could indicate a highly unstable potential spine fracture.
When performed by unqualified individuals, forceful manipulations can be quite dangerous. It is common practice to forcefully click and ‘release’ the neck following a head massage. This practice is known to lead to muscle strains and, in some cases, even to a rupture of the spine joint or a disc prolapse exacerbation. If you suffer from acute pain after such a manipulation, then it needs to be carefully evaluated. In most cases, clicking your back or neck is a harmless habit, but it could be a hidden danger in a spine that is stiff due to age or other conditions like ankylosing spondylitis.
Very frequently, individuals habitually crack their necks or lower backs by certain practised movements at the end of a long or stressful day to relax their spines. This is not harmful and will not lead to degeneration of the spine or short or long-term damage to the spine. Health Conditions Health News: Latest News from Health Care, Mental Health, Weight Loss, Disease, Nutrition, Healthcare
