When your neck pops as you turn your head, the brief relief can make it easy to repeat the habit. If you keep cracking your neck to ease stiffness, an exam can help you decide whether chiropractic care makes sense and, if so, how often to see a chiropractor.

In this release, ASI Chiropractic addresses a common concern among Windsor residents: Is it bad to crack your neck?

What Makes the Neck Pop or Crack?

Cleveland Clinic explains that the sound of neck cracking does not mean bones are breaking. Possible sources include:

• Joint pressure: As joint surfaces move slightly apart, pressure changes within the surrounding fluid-filled capsule can produce a pop.

• Soft tissue movement: Ligaments or tendons sometimes roll over each other as the neck moves.

• Skin separation: Skin moving relative to fascia, the connective tissue beneath it, can produce a crackling sound.

People seeking an assessment should describe which neck movements produce the popping and when they first noticed it.

When Does Neck Cracking Become a Problem?

The answer to 'Is it bad to crack your neck?' depends on how it happens and whether symptoms accompany it. Occasional, painless popping once or twice a day differs from repeatedly feeling the need to crack the neck every hour or every few minutes. These examples are not fixed limits for determining safety.

Repeated or forceful cracking may stretch the ligaments and tendons, which can lead to joint instability and a greater chance of injury. According to Cleveland Clinic, the popping sound itself does not cause arthritis. However, persistent joint looseness may increase the risk of osteoarthritis.

Forceful cracking may strain a muscle or compress a nerve root, causing pain that can restrict movement. Sudden neck movements, including those involved in manipulation, have also been associated with rare tears in neck arteries. These tears can increase the risk of stroke.

Warning Signs Windsor Residents Should Not Ignore

The American Heart Association advises emergency medical evaluation for concerning symptoms after neck manipulation or trauma. Warning signs include:

• Pain: New or unusual pain in the back of the neck or head, which can be an early sign of an artery tear.

• Balance: New dizziness, including a spinning sensation, or unsteadiness when walking.

• Vision: New double vision (one object looks like two) or jerky eye movements.

• Speech: Slurred words that sound unclear or run together.

After a neck injury or neck manipulation, including forcefully cracking your own neck, call 911 immediately if you suddenly feel dizzy or have trouble walking. Sudden changes in speech or vision also warrant a 911 call, even if any of these symptoms go away. If you develop new, unusual pain in the back of your head or neck after any of these events, seek emergency medical care.

Patients should tell emergency clinicians about any recent neck manipulation or injury. Pain from an artery tear can begin several days before stroke symptoms appear.

Why Some People Keep Feeling the Urge To Crack

Poor posture and prolonged phone use may contribute to neck discomfort and the urge to crack. Muscle tightness may add to the discomfort. If none of the warning signs above apply, consider a routine assessment if you frequently feel the need to crack your neck or if the popping hurts.

What Windsor Residents Can Expect From a Neck Assessment

The clinic's initial assessment includes a neurological evaluation and a detailed spinal exam to help determine whether chiropractic care is appropriate for a person's neck pain. Depending on the assessment findings, a personalized treatment plan may include chiropractic adjustments intended to ease discomfort and improve range of motion. Potential benefits, risks, and alternatives should be discussed before treatment.

A routine spinal or neurological examination cannot rule out an artery tear. A suspected artery injury requires medical evaluation, which may include imaging of the blood vessels.

About ASI Chiropractic

ASI Chiropractic, founded by licensed chiropractor Mohanad AlAsi, serves the Windsor-Essex community. The clinic also offers spinal decompression and sciatica treatment. For recurring neck stiffness without the warning signs above, contact ASI Chiropractic directly or book a routine assessment through its website.

Contact Information:

Asi Chiropractic

3719 Walker Rd Unit 208, Windsor, ON N8W 3S9, Canada
Windsor, ON
Canada

Dr. Mohanad Asi
https://asichiropractic.com/