3 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t “Crack” Your Own Back
By: Dr. Tiffany T. Butler | March 7, 2023 | Read Time: 5 minutes
This is a common question that is asked by people, “Can I crack my own back?” I’ve also heard the question or rather a statement, “I can crack my own back, I don’t need a chiropractor for that.” Well… let’s look at some definitions before we get into the discussion.
A fracture is defined as a broken bone. A bone fracture is often acquired by excessive force applied to a bone more than the bone can withstand or handle. As a result, the bone breaks.
Chiropractors perform adjustments. The adjustment is a passive, low-force maneuver applied to the patient’s spinal joints (and/or other joints of the body) to restore normal biomechanics (or joint positioning). The chiropractor performs the adjustment using her/his hands or a chiropractic instrument. The amount of force that is used to perform the adjustment is low; and a rate (or speed) that does not place excessive force on the bones. Chiropractic care is relatively safe and effective in joint dysfunction, soft tissue injuries, and disc problems.
Risk of Attempting to Adjust Yourself
- Excessive Force Most people will twist and contour their bodies in abnormal positions just to “crack their backs” or “adjust their backs.” Once they get into these abnormal positions, they will “twist or jerk” until they hear or feel “a cracking sound.” Here’s, where the risk of injury takes place.
- Abnormal Movements: Anytime you perform a jerky movement, or a movement that is not controlled, your soft tissues are not prepared to bear the unexpected force, and as a result, you may injure yourself.
- Make Your Condition Worse: By attempting to “crack your back” you may make your condition worse. Would you attempt to pull your own teeth as an adult? If you said, no, then, you understand the importance of consulting with a professional that specializes in gums, teeth, and mouth health (e.g., the dentist). The same goes for the chiropractor. Consult with the specialists. Just like trying to pull your own teeth, attempting “to self-adjust” may make your back or neck pain worse.
Reasons Why You Should See a Chiropractor to Get an Adjustment
- Chiropractors are educated, trained, and skilled in delivering a safe, controlled, and most important effective adjustment that is appropriate for patient care and improvement in functional health.
- Chiropractors are neuromusculoskeletal and soft tissue injury specialists. Chiropractors treat nerve-related, muscle, and skeletal (e.g., bones and joints) conditions all day every day.
- Chiropractors conduct patient history, and medical history reviews, and perform physical examinations to determine the most appropriate care for the patient that will yield the best outcome.
Bottom Line: If you feel like you need an adjustment, if you are experiencing pain, or if you have been “self-adjusting”, consult with a chiropractor, medical physician, or other healthcare professionals for an evaluation. Don’t attempt to perform spinal adjustments on yourself or others, if you are not trained and licensed to do so, leave chiropractic adjustments to the professionals.
Dr. Tiffany T. Butler (aka “The Pain Doctor”) is a chiropractor, author, and entrepreneur. She leads Harmonious Living Chiropractic: Fitness & Wellness Center, a pain management practice, in offering healthcare solutions that focus on patient-centered care. Her team consists of individuals who are passionate about improving patient outcomes by providing chiropractic care, in conjunction with therapeutic procedures. Their services have helped hundreds of people find pain relief and improved their quality of life. To learn more about Dr. Butler visit https://www.drtiffanybutler.com/dr-butler/ Connect with Dr. Butler on social media #drtiffanybutler
