And some pinched nerves can stay pinched and limit your mobility until you have them examined and treated by a professional. Cracking your back too quickly or forcefully can pinch nerves in or near your spinal column.Here are some possible risks of adjusting your back incorrectly: But you shouldn’t feel intense, sharp, or unbearable pain.
This is true even if nothing actually happened to the joint - a placebo effect at its finest.īefore we move on, just remember that any back adjustments you or a professional make shouldn’t cause you any major pain.Īdjustments may be uncomfortable, especially if you stretch yourself too far or if you’re not used to the feeling of a chiropractor manipulating your joints. Endorphins are chemicals produced by the pituitary gland that are meant to manage pain in your body, and they can make you feel super satisfied when you crack a joint.īut there may be another, less physiological and more psychological process at work here.Ī 2011 study suggests that you might associate the sound of cracking your back with a positive feeling of relief, especially when a professional chiropractor does it. This release of pressure is supposedly what makes back adjustments feel so good to lots of people.īack cracking also causes endorphins to be released around the area that was adjusted. When you stretch the joints out or move around in certain ways, the gas is released.
Some experts believe that gases like nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and oxygen build up between your joints over time, especially if your joints aren’t properly aligned and swell from poor posture like being hunched over or sitting for long periods of time. This quick change of state is called boiling or cavitation.Īn alternative explanation also involves gas.
They contain a fluid called cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which serves many other functions. Meninges: These are membranes around the spinal cord and brain that absorb impact to the spine.Spinal cord: The spinal cord is a long, thin bundle of nerves that connects your brain to the nerves throughout your body.The spine consists of several major components: Before we dive into how back cracking works, let’s talk a little bit about the anatomy of your spine.