What’s the crack?
What’s the crack?
A question we are often asked in clinic is ‘what is the cracking sound?’. This can sometimes be heard during some of the faster chiropractic techniques.
Some ideas from patients have guessed whether it might be bones clicking, joints rubbing together etc. Thankfully it isn’t any of those as that sounds pretty painful!
The noise is created from the release of gas between the joint surfaces when we move the joints to restore movement, whether it be in the spine or extremities. It can produce this air release, also known as an audible release, pop, or crack.
The release itself is generally pain free. It appears to be louder when the joints of the neck are released and this is due to the proximity of the ears.
