Is Cracking Your Back Bad For You?
Short answer
Cracking your back on a regular basis can be dangerous. If you crack your back every so often, there isn't anything to worry about.
A fairly even ratio of beneficial and harmful qualities. Moderation is important. Very general topics that can lean towards both sides of the spectrum will be placed here as well. Rice, for example, can be good or bad depending on the type.
View Full Grading System
Category 'A'
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. Side effects are rare. Things rated an 'A+' are typically necessary for survival (for example, water).
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. A few harmful qualities may be associated, but only under certain circumstances such as an allergic reaction.
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. Harmful qualities may be associated, but aren't usually serious.
It is important to note that even the best things in life can become bad in immoderate amounts. So, although something may be rated an 'A+', overconsumption/overdoing can bring unwanted effects.
Category 'B'
Very beneficial to your health. Things rated a 'B+' may have a few harmful qualities to pay attention to.
Overall beneficial to your health. Things rated a 'B' may have some harmful qualities to pay attention to.
More beneficial to your health than not. However, harmful qualities are most likely associated and shouldn't be overlooked.
The main difference between category 'A' and category 'B' is the harmful qualities typically present in 'B' items. Serious side effects are usually uncommon, but are still possible and should be taken note of.
Category 'C'
Both beneficial and harmful qualities associated. Things rated a 'C+' are typically a bit more on the beneficial side. Still, moderation is important.
A fairly even ratio of beneficial and harmful qualities. Moderation is important. Very general topics that can lean towards both sides of the spectrum will be placed here as well. Rice, for example, can be good or bad depending on the type.
More harmful than beneficial. Side effects are common, especially when consumed/done excessively. Moderation is very important.
Category 'C' usually denotes to both good and bad qualities. When it comes to this category, it is important to keep this word in mind: moderation.
Category 'D'
Harmful to your health. Although benefits may be associated, the bad most likely outweighs the good. Moderation is very important.
Harmful to your health. A few benefits may be associated, but the bad outweighs the good. Moderation is extremely important.
Harmful to your health. Very few, if any, benefits are present. Things in this category should be avoided as much as possible.
Category 'D' is typically for things that are more harmful than beneficial. While consuming/doing something unhealthy once in a blue moon shouldn't hurt, we definitely recommend eliminating 'D' items as a regular part of your routine/diet.
Category 'F'
Category 'F' is for things that fail to bring anything beneficial to the table, and are very harmful to your health. We recommend completely avoiding anything in this category. Long-term side effects of 'F' items are usually very serious.
Category 'N'
'N' stands for neutral. Things placed into this category are generally (a) neither good nor bad for you, or (b) lack the necessary evidence to reach any conclusions.
Long answer
After that long day of hard work, we've all come across the moment where we deem it necessary to "crack our back". Most of the time, we instantly get a feeling of relief after doing so. However, the loud and unnatural sound your back makes when it cracks can only cause one to wonder if it is bad or not.
Ultimately, the outcome is a win/lose situation. Just like any other things in life, doing too much of it can have a dangerous impact towards your health/body. First comes the temptation to crack your back. Eventually, most end up cracking their back without even thinking about it (habit), leading millions of people to back problems. The noise itself comes from a rush of nitrogen into your facet joints as they open up. Facet joints are small stabilizing joints located between and behind the adjacent vertebrae (your facet joint provide about 20% of the twisting in the neck, and lower back).
If you see yourself doing this on a regular basis, damage may be done to your spine and eventually you will find yourself needing to crack your back much more often. What most people don't know is that cracking your back too much can lead to a condition called "hypermobility". Hypermobility results from the spine, and muscles around the spine, repeatedly stretching. When the structures in your back are stretched over and over (making the cracking sound), it loses the normal elasticity. This can cause your spine to move incorrectly, preventing your back from returning to a normal position.
Possible long-term side effects
- hypermobility
-
build a back cracking tolerance
-
spinal damage
Benefits
- pain relief
-
stiffness relief
Healthier alternatives
- stretching
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limit to one back crack a week
-
massage
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