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Is it safe to crack your own neck?

If you can "crack" your own neck and back, then do you need to bother seeing a Chiropractor? And, is it safe to do this to yourself?

The reality is when a Chiropractor locates a part of your spine that is restricted there is a lot more specifics to it than just a "stuck" joint. The joint has lost its normal flexibility in certain directions, and there will also be a disturbance created to the nerves that pop out from the spine at that location.

When a Chiropractor adjusts your spine, we are applying just the right amount of force in the specific direction necessary to get that joint mobile again. This will also essentially create a reboot of the nervous system, just like when you reboot your computer with a forced close because it keeps freezing.

The reason we have to be so specific is that the joints above and below the "stuck" joint begin to move more to compensate for the lack of movement (our body is extremely clever like that), and we only want to move the stuck joint as we don't want to add excess movement to an area that doesn't require it.

When you "self adjust" or crack your own neck you will actually move the joints that are already too mobile, thus creating even more instability. Obviously this is not ideal, as we only want to release tension from the joint that needs it. Too much movement will eventually lead to arthritis and a significant amount of wear and tear in your spine.

This is the exact reason why every Chiropractor gets adjusted by another Chiropractor - if anyone could effectively and safely self adjust then that would be us!

If you constantly feel the need to pop your own neck or back then please get assessed by a Chiropractor as this is a strong indicator that there is something faulty with the mechanics of your spine. If you have any questions please reach out to us at our website or Facebook page, or leave a comment below.

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