Dr. Jeff Langmaid explains why your neck cracks: small facet joints on your spine contain gas that releases when you stretch them. Adhesions can restrict motion and cause pain, but chiropractic adjustments restore movement and often relieve headaches from irritated cervical joints.
Hi, I'm Dr. Jeff Lengmaid with Research that Matters TV. You turn your head or bend down to lift something and crack. What is it? Did you injure something? The first time that that happens, it can be terrifying. Well, you don't need to worry that cracking sound is probably not A broken bone typically occurs when the facet joints or knuckles of your spinal column and it's completely normal. Your facet joints are designed to help your spine move through a full range of motion. The facets are little joints on the backside of your spine similar to your knuckles. They have a small capsule around them and they're lubricated and provide support. When a facet joint is stretched open, the gas within the joint is released making a crunch or cracking sound. The release of gas is perfectly normal. It happens because of the negative pressure in the joint. Sometimes adhesions can occur in the joint making it painful to move. And and that is why a chiropractic adjustment for many people helps them feel a lot better and improve their range of motion. Adjustments help the facet joints move more naturally with fewer restrictions. While many chiropractic techniques create a cracking or crunching type sound, not all do. Low speed techniques also improve the motion of the facet joints, sometimes without any sound at all. And here's a tip to share with your friends. Stubborn headaches are frequently caused by irritated facet joints in your neck. If you know someone who suffers from headaches, works on a computer most of the day, their facet joints may be to blame. Share this video with them and let them know a chiropractic adjustment may be just what they need. I'll see you next week for another episode of Research that Matters TV.
