Just What Is Happening When A Chiropractor "Cracks' Your Back?
If you've ever been to the chiropractor or sought out a chiropractic care professional, you're aware of the relief and satisfaction that comes with the popping of bones you didn't even know you had. Even if you haven't received chiropractic treatment (which I highly recommend), you've probably dabbled in cracking your knuckles or neck. There's no denying that it's a profoundly enjoyable experience, but just what is happening in there and why does cracking your back feel so darn good?
Ironically, even the doctors don't know.
"There are a number of theories on why this happens, but nobody really knows," Neel Anand, M.D., professor of orthopedic surgery and director of spine trauma at Cedars-Sinai Spine Center in Los Angeles. The main theory involves pockets of gas within your joints.
This gas comes from a lubricant inside your joints called synovial fluid which helps said joints glide smoothly. When you apply force to them, pressure can build up and turn into gases such as oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide. These gases shift and emit a cracking noise as they dissipate. However, there are other ideas that don't involve these gases at all.
As far as pleasure goes with professional back cracking, chiropractic care professionals attribute that result on simple release: we inherently build up stress and tightness in the muscles surrounding the two dozen vertebrae in our spines throughout the day. Since stretching these muscles relieves that tension, the cracking is secondary to the physical sensation. In addition to this satisfaction, your spinal cord is surrounded by sensory ganglia (cells that send your brain information about feelings such as pain or joint position); when you crack your back, your brain might interpret the signals it's receiving from these ganglia as "better" and less tense than it was before, inciting a sense of pleasure or relief.
Regardless, there's a reason 95% of chiropractic users say the visits are effective.
"Often the stretch -- short of a crack -- along with soft-tissue and muscle mobilization is what does the trick in relieving discomfort," Dr. Asghar says.
However, the trick comes in finding the right chiropractor: since inexperience can lead to injury, you won't want anyone but an educated professional working on your most vital bones when it comes to cracking your back.
