# \<::Back & Neck Cracking = Dangerous?::\> **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 9, 2004, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/back-neck-cracking-dangerous/233206 "2004-03-09T00:16:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![feanima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/34f0e0/32.png) [@feanima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/feanima)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2004, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/back-neck-cracking-dangerous/233206/1 "2004-03-09T00:16:20Z")
Wondering if anyone knows the shorterm/longterm dangers of cracking your back _daily_ ? I have been cracking pretty much all my bones for quite some time & have never really thought of the consequences. I came across this site while I was searching the topic & figured I’d give it a shot, see if anyone knos? I’ve heard various things… Any advice? Very concerned! ::Much Thanks:: \<_._\> ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2004, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/back-neck-cracking-dangerous/233206/2 "2004-03-09T00:27:41Z")
Assuming your ‘cracking’ is similar to cracking knuckles, there’s plenty to read here: [http://science.howstuffworks.com/question437.htm](http://science.howstuffworks.com/question437.htm) ---
**Author:** ![robcaro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df705f/32.png) [@robcaro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robcaro)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2004, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/back-neck-cracking-dangerous/233206/3 "2004-03-09T00:33:52Z")
Chiropractors do it all the time. It really feels good too. I had a severe back problem a few years ago and went to see a chiropractor for about 6 months. He cracked my back and neck each time I went to him plus a lot of other manipulations. He cured my back problem. ---
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2004, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/back-neck-cracking-dangerous/233206/4 "2004-03-09T01:16:03Z")
> [@GorillaMan](#): > > Assuming your ‘cracking’ is similar to cracking knuckles, there’s plenty to read here: [http://science.howstuffworks.com/question437.htm](http://science.howstuffworks.com/question437.htm) This site talks about cavitation. I’ve seen that in class at uni, looking at the effects on ship propellers and dams. It has quite a devastating effect on structures, wouldn’t it hurt like hell when you click your joints? Or eat away at the bone? ---
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2004, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/back-neck-cracking-dangerous/233206/5 "2004-03-09T01:19:54Z")
And does that mean chiropractors are actually doing us harm? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![MyOld85MG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/439d5e/32.png) [@MyOld85MG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyOld85MG)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2004, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/back-neck-cracking-dangerous/233206/6 "2004-03-09T02:57:01Z")
Dangerous? Depends on what you do and how you do it, I suppose. Personal experience: A friend was into back-cracking pretty big, and she had a method that involved lying on your back, putting your legs up and over your head, and rolling up onto your upper back. Really putting a lot of weight on a small section of your upper back. Kind of like this: …\_ …/ ` foot …/ … …\_o head [stupid HTML] Well, I did that a few times, and the last time there was a very loud crack and I had the worst crick in my back for a few days. It seemed to go away, but within a few years I discovered that it came back every time I looked up. Very annoying. Went to a doctor, got x-rays, found a rather disturbing defect in one of my vertebral discs. The exercises they taught me in physical therapy are very helpful, and I never do anything that involves looking up for more than a few seconds, so otherwise it hasn’t bothered me much in years. But it’s still lurking there… On the other hand, I’ve known numerous folks who think that having someone (not too heavy) walk on your back is the best massage ever. My advice? Don’t do this at home. Maybe a trained chiropractor can do this sort of thing safely. Maybe the chances of your doing damage to yourself are small, but the damage can be permanent. Try massage. ---
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2004, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/back-neck-cracking-dangerous/233206/7 "2004-03-09T10:40:54Z")
> [@vknowles](#): > > On the other hand, I’ve known numerous folks who think that having someone (not too heavy) walk on your back is the best massage ever. Yeah, like my Mum :s Both my Mum and Dad go to Chiropractors. My Dad went for his dodgy hip, turned out it was actually arthritic and not a muscle problem. However the chiropractor turned up the arthritis in an XRay that Dad’s usual doctor missed somehow. ---
**Author:** ![Nathan\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/47e85d/32.png) [@Nathan\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nathan_S)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2004, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/back-neck-cracking-dangerous/233206/8 "2004-03-09T11:43:05Z")
Through out my mis-spent youth (as a high school wrestler and football player), I cracked my neck and my back daily, in fact multiple times a day. I was informed that this was not a healthy thing to do, and so, after many years, I stopped. My personal feeling is that I would never allow anyone crack my spine, unless that person happens to be a highly qualified professional who is familiar with my physical history. If you’ve had neck trauma (from a car accident, for example), cracking your neck can lead to permanent damage. ---
**Author:** ![Felissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e495f1/32.png) [@Felissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Felissa)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2004, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/back-neck-cracking-dangerous/233206/9 "2004-03-09T19:27:28Z")
I can’t help it. Any time I do yoga, my body pretty much just straightens itself out in a series of loud snaps and pops. I’ve been told this isn’t such a bad thing as I also have the muscle strength to keep me from falling apart. I do recommend you look into yoga and exercise on a daily basis. The only time I managed to hurt myself I was lying down in bed, half asleep, and tried to stretch my neck. It made a very unhealthy griding noise, and I ended up with my head tilted sharply to the left for a week, but it was only pulled muscles. This was also _before_ I got into yoga. ---
**Author:** ![MyOld85MG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/439d5e/32.png) [@MyOld85MG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyOld85MG)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2004, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/back-neck-cracking-dangerous/233206/10 "2004-03-09T20:22:15Z")
> [@Felissa](#): > > I can’t help it. Any time I do yoga, my body pretty much just straightens itself out in a series of loud snaps and pops. I’ve been told this isn’t such a bad thing … > \ That actually sounds great to me. The big difference is, you aren’t **trying** to make your back crack. The problems seem to occur when people put undue stress on their spine in order to pop/crack it. Yoga sounds like a great alternative… ---
**Author:** ![feanima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/34f0e0/32.png) [@feanima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/feanima)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2004, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/back-neck-cracking-dangerous/233206/11 "2004-03-10T00:18:55Z")
Thanx so much for all the great input… I’m definately more aware of the possible consequences. I’m not a chronic “cracker”, just from time to time, so not always every day… And like Felissa mentioned, alot of times when I’m stretching, etc. Can’t see how that would be too harmful. I’m still looking into the possible side effects… I’ve been doing it for so long, that its really second nature, I do it w/out even thinking, stretching up & back in my chair, crack-crack… I do practice yoga (not as much as I’d like)… but am working towards a better more conscious lifestyle. Old habits die hard. I really appreciate all the advice & feedback… I found it all very helpful.