Cracking the joints is a very common habit. Many people do this on normal basis . Most people crack knuckles, fingers, toes, , and even neck leading to neck pooped. Some people do it to release the pressure which one must be feeling in the neck or as a reaction to stress. Sometimes people do it just out of a habit however in reality is there any benefit to cracking the neck? The answer will be obviously either a yes and or a no.
Popping theneck gently or only popping it occasionally won’t cause a person any harm, however doing it incorrectly, or alot , or doing it by forcefully can actually cause more pain and discomfort than the time before a person popped the neck.
Keep reading this article about neck popped to learn more about the risks, and to know what happens when a person tries to pop his own neck, and when to seek help for a popped neck.
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Is there any benefit to in neck popped or we can say popping the neck ?
Although popping the neck can benefit in a few ways, one should always and always talk to the doctor or to a chiropractor before doing this.
These specific people can advise person on whether it’s safe to do it and recommend other options for the relief. One research has shown that having the neck popped by a chiropractor can actually have a positive mental effect. This is because several people out there associate the popping noises with the release of pressure and successful adjustment of a joint.
In few cases, just hearing the sound of neck popping can make someone feel better, even if in case no pressure was released or the joint in the neck wasn’t even fully or successfully adjusted, This is called a placebo effect. Popping the neck releases endorphins in the region of the neck joints. Endorphins are actually produced by the pituitary gland present in head region and are released by the body to help to manage the pain. When a person pops the neck, endorphins are released in the region which gives a feeling of satisfaction and pleasure and relief from pain if present.
Some people may sometimes feel a little discomfort when the neck is being adjusted, however for most patients, there’s no experience more relaxing than getting their spine aligned after years and years of wear and tear from their everyday living. The human spines are designed to carry all the weight a person has on them every day whether be it in the school or be it at the work so with time they naturally get sore if they don’t take care of themselves.
We usually tend to ignore the pain until it becomes unbearable , no matter this type of stress can do serious damage to the body in so many ways , to mind and to emotions. Neck popped not only does provide instant gratification ; but also helps to prevent future injury by ensuring the muscles stay in a relaxed state.
What causes neck popped?
When the neck is pooped or cracked or any other joint in human body is popped , the capsules present around the joint are stretched. These capsules that are present contain fluid inside them and stretching them allows the fluid to put less pressure on the joint itself . While the pressure decreases, the fluids present in the joint turn into gas, and when this fluid becomes gas, it creates a popping sound. This process is called either as boiling or the cavitation, and it typically isn’t harmful. In case of neck, a person has several sets of joints called the facet joints and facet joints are in the neck are located on each side of the neck so when a person pops the neck, these facet joints stretch, that lets the fluid spread out in the joint capsule and then the fluid becomes gas, leading to popped neck . This is the thing that makes neck popping feel like it’s releasing pressure from the neck region . There’s an alternate theory which suggests that the popping sound is produced by a bubble being created in the facet joints of neck.
How risky is neck popped ?
Popping neck can be harmful sometimes if not done correctly. Cracking or popping the neck too forcefully can lead to pinching of the nerves in the neck. Pinching of nerve can be extremely painful and can have adverse effects by making it difficult or sometimes impossible to move the neck. Popping the neck way too hard can also strain the muscles around the joints and the facet joints themselves.
When the muscles or joints become strained by any tension, moving the neck can sometimes feel like a chore. A feeling like a person needs to pop the neck a lot can be a result of hypermobility, it’s when the joint has a larger range of motion than the usual .
When a person gives in the will to pop the neck so frequently, the ligaments in the joints of neck can get permanently stretched which is called perpetual instability. When this thing happens, the neck joints are more at the risk of developing a condition called osteoarthritis. We know that neck is home to many important blood vessels like carotid vessels etc .
In few cases, popping the neck way too hard or too frequently can puncture one of these blood vessels which can lead to blood clotting that can be dangerous as it blocks blood flow to the brain leading to hypoxia and eventually Ischemia and can be dangerous sometimes leading to brain death. Always and always keep this thing in mind , it is very important and essential to have a trained professional to do the neck adjustment and neck realignment to relieve the pain and soreness in the neck that a person might be feeling.
Chiropractic care is very safe but only when it’s performed by medical professionals and specialists. But in any case if a person is in doubt or has any questions, it is important to stop them before starting the treatment to have a very high confidence level between the chiropractor and the patient himself.
Should I seek chiropractic care for neck popped?
If a person pops neck regularly but doesn’t feel any sort of pain or constant discomfort, he likely needs not to seek chiropractic or any other kind of medical attention. However if a person is popping the neck frequently that is daily of many times a day and never seems to feel satisfied even after popping , he may need to get his joints realigned as it can help to feel less of an urge to crack the neck all the time. One should also see the doctor or chiropractor if:
- A person starts to notices any unusual swelling in the neck, as this can be a symptom of fluid buildup, an injury, or even infection.
- A person begins to feel pain in the neck joint, especially chronic pain which doesn’t have any valid cause
- If in case joints start to become less mobile because of the growing age or due to a condition like osteoarthritis
- A chiropractor can surely help in manipulating the joints to make sure they’re aligned right, that can prevent the feeling of pressure or feeling of pain which makes a person want to check the popped neck.
- Doctor can also give a person advice on how to change lifestyle like exercising and losing weight, to minimize the pressure or pain in the neck. The consultants may also give tips on how to treat the neck with home remedies, which can include how to use heat or cold pads on the neck to reduce the pain or the swelling.
- To find a certified chiropractor, it’s best to ask the family doctor to refer the patient to a specialist in the network. The healthcare providers may also provide an online specialist locator which can search for the chiropractor
- A person should always keep this in the mind that neck treatment or and other treatment’s only safe as long as it is exercised by licensed professionals with extensive knowledge of the human body and about the procedure they perform.
Take away
Neck popping especially when it’s done in the right way and not too frequently can make a person feel good by releasing pressure in the facet joints of the neck. But if in any case person is doing it a lot and is feeling constant pressure or pain in the neck , its better for the person to see the doctor or the chiropractor. They can surely help in diagnosing the cause and help to fix the underlying issues which may be contributing to the discomfort in the neck. Asking the doctor about the way or how to pop the neck properly can help a person to make sure its done in right way and to prevent long term damage to the neck joints and to the surrounding tissues, nerves and the muscles