Yes, it is permissible to crack your back. Unlike what the name implies, you are not “cracking” your back when you do this. Think of it as correcting, releasing pressure, or stretching your muscles rather than as a massage. What happens when you crack your fingers, toes, or other joints is the same as what happens when you crack your bones.
If you’re simply interested in learning how to make your back feel better because you spend a lot of time sitting, exercising, or using your back muscles, you’ve come to the perfect place. Come along with me as I explain how to crack your back safely, what precautions you should take, and which conditions may necessitate a trip to the doctor.
What Is The Best Way To Crack Your Lower Back?
The good news is that you may securely and effectively adjust your back from anywhere, provided that you have enough space to lie or sit.
Here are several methods to experiment with.
1. Rotation Of The Lower Back While Seated.
- Make sure your left leg crosses over the top of your right leg while you’re sitting down.
- Place your right elbow on your left knee, and then rotate your upper body to the left with your upper body rotated.
- Hold this position for a total of ten seconds.
- Return to your seated position from where you started.
- This should be repeated with your right leg crossing over your left leg and turning the other way.
2. A Cat Arch.
- Get on your hands and knees and chant.
- Using a slow and steady motion, arch your back, drawing your stomach up and pushing your back out.
- As you do, slowly press your stomach back lower and inside, allowing your stomach to dangle towards the ground.
- You should return to your original position.
- Make a set of at least 3 of these, and do them twice a day for a week.
3. Knees-To-Chest.
- Lay down on your back.
- Pulling your knees up toward your chest, one at a time, and stabilizing them as near to your chest as possible with your hands is a good exercise.
- Repeat 2 to 3 times every session for a total of 2 to 3 times per day.
4. Rotation Of The Lower Back.
- Lay down on your back.
- Raise your knees to the point where they are bent.
- While keeping your shoulders stationary, shift your hips to one side so that the knee on that side is in contact with the ground on the opposite side.
- Maintain this position for a total of ten seconds.
- Reduce the angle of your knees back to their previous position slowly.
- Repeat the process in the opposite direction.
- Do this 2 to 3 times a day, at the very least twice.
5. The Stretch Across The Bridge.
- Lay down on your back.
- Make sure that your feet are close to your buttocks and that your knees are high.
- Increase the height of your pelvis so that your entire body is straight from the shoulders to the knees.
6. Lower Back Flexion Is Important.
- Lay down on your back.
- Raise your knees to the point where they are bent.
- Make certain that the soles of your feet are completely flat on the ground.
- Make sure your stomach muscles are firm so that your abdomen seems firm.
- Maintain this flex for approximately 5 seconds.
- Relax the muscles in your tummy.
- Flex your back muscles so that your entire back makes full contact with the ground, as though you’re attempting to bring your navel closer to the surface of the earth.
- Maintain this position for approximately 5 seconds.
- Relax the muscles in your back.
- Repeat the instructions outlined above at least 5 times per day.
- As you become more comfortable with the exercise, increase the number of repetitions you do until you reach 30 every day.
Precautions Should Be Taken, As Well As When It Should Be Avoided.
Always crack your back slowly and purposefully while staying within a safe range of motion, no matter how tempting it may be.
Excessive jerking of the back, as well as trying to stretch it too far, can result in injuries such as muscle strains, joint sprains, and even bone dislocations.
If you have any of the following symptoms, do not crack your back and seek medical attention as soon as possible:
- Recently, you’ve suffered a back injury, and you’re experiencing discomfort or being unable to fully move your back.
- You are unable to move your back through its entire range of motion, or you are unable to move it at all without experiencing acute pain.
- You experience persistent back pain before, during, or after cracking that does not go away even after taking pain medication.
Furthermore, cracking your back should be enjoyable. Apparently, even the sound of cracking can make you feel a little better, according to a study conducted in 2011.
It’s possible that you have an underlying issue that requires medical treatment if you experience temporary pain when you attempt to crack your back or long-lasting pain afterward.
If this is the case, consult with your doctor or a chiropractor before attempting any of the exercises listed below.
When Should You Go To The Doctor?
It shouldn’t be unpleasant to effectively crack your back muscles. Consult your doctor if you have any unusual pain when stretching or adjusting your back, especially if the pain lasts for a long period of time after you’ve stretched.
If you have chronic back pain that is not relieved by stretching or cracking, as well as other non-invasive treatments, your doctor may consider corticosteroid injections to treat underlying inflammation produced by a condition such as arthritis in your spine.
With age comes the onset of arthritis, which is a typical cause of back pain, particularly lower back discomfort.
Back injuries and arthritis pain can both have significantly better long-term outcomes if they are addressed as soon as possible.
Back injuries that are not appropriately treated might result in the healing of back joints or bones that are not properly aligned.
You may experience decreased flexibility or movement as a result of this. As arthritis advances, the tissues of the joints can become worn away, making it more difficult to treat or repair joint damage.
To avoid some of the more serious effects of arthritis or other back conditions, it is important to see your doctor as soon as possible.
Takeaway.
A small amount of cracking your back every now and then to keep it fully aligned or less sore is neither damaging to your back, nor is it hazardous to your health in general.
It’s also not a big deal if you hear it break while going about your everyday business, such as when you get up from your chair or lean over a table.
However, avoid cracking your back too frequently or with too much force.
Doing it on a regular basis can cause damage to your joint tissue as well as strains and sprains, which can be unpleasant and necessitate surgical intervention.
If you’re suffering a lot of discomfort or soreness for an extended period of time, consult your doctor or a chiropractor to determine the root of the issue.