Cracking your Neck Bad For You?
It is true that the neck is one of the most vulnerable parts of our body. It gets hit with a lot of blows from all sides and it even gets hit by other things like car crashes or falls down stairs. If you are not careful, you could get hurt very badly if something goes wrong during any type of physical activity.
So what exactly causes us to crack our necks?
The main reason behind cracking our necks is because of the pressure exerted by the vertebrae. When we bend over, we put a lot of stress on our necks. We do not have much control over bending forward at all times. Therefore, when we are sitting down, it puts a lot of strain on our neck muscles which makes them tighten up and cause pain.
If you are reading this article, then chances are that you have cracked your neck at least once. Maybe many times. And probably even more than once.
But how come? Why do we always crack our necks?
Well, there is no simple answer to this question. There may be several reasons why we always crack our necks but they might not necessarily be related to each other or to the same thing. Some people crack their neck to ease the pain. Others do it out of habit while some others might do it when they get dizzy.
So is cracking your neck bad for you?
Well the thing about it is, it all depends on why you are cracking your neck in the first place. If you are doing it because you want to ease pain, then it may actually be beneficial to you in the long run or at least not cause any harm. If you are cracking your neck out of habit, then you better start changing that habit right away. And if you are cracking your neck because you feel dizzy due to it, then you might want to see a doctor about that.
However, if none of the above situations sound like you and you just crack your neck because you are trying to do yourself a favor, then congratulations! Cracking your neck can actually help ease pain as long as you do it the right way. But if you do it too much, then you might be doing more harm than good so make sure to not overdo it.
Is Cracking Your Knuckles Bad for You?
We all know that cracking your knuckles is bad for you, but why exactly is it bad?
If you are thinking it has something to do with the sound it makes, then you are dead wrong. The sound it makes is just a by-product of what it is really doing to your joints. If you really want to know why it is bad for you, then you need to find out what exactly is going on inside your body when you crack your knuckles.
First of all, under normal circumstances, your knuckles are not supposed to bend in such a way that they make that distinctive sound. They are not supposed to do that because there are small bubbles in between your knuckles that are filled with a sort of gas. When you crack your knuckles, these bubbles get broken due to the pressure that is being exerted on them. Due to this, the gas tries to escape and makes that popping sound that we all know so well.
Now, the problem with bending your knuckles in such a way is that it puts a lot of pressure on them. There is an increased pressure on the skin which causes it to get thinner and weaker. By constantly cracking your knuckles, you are actually doing damage to the skin.
Now, does this mean that if you stop cracking your knuckles then the thin skin will fix itself?
Not really. The skin will stay weak forever and there is no known way of reversing its condition.
Some people say that cracking your knuckles gives you arthritis. This is not true. Arthritis is not a problem with the skin, it is a problem with the bone underneath it. Even though cracking your knuckles can make your skin weaker, there have been no reports of arthritis developing due to it alone. If you crack your knuckles constantly then you might be more prone to getting arthritis in the long run, but that’s about it.
Cracking your knuckles can also cause perforations in the skin. Basically, this means that due to the constant bending back and forth of your knuckles, some of the skin gets torn apart and goes all the way through. If you have ever cracked your knuckles and noticed a tiny little bump afterwards, then that is an example of a perforation. These bumps are basically weak spots on your skin that can get worse over time. When these weak spots get bigger, the skin around them gets thinner and it makes it easier for the skin to tear even more.
If the skin on your knuckles tears too much then you could easily end up with a cut, which can become infected very easily.
Probably the most important reason why you shouldn’t crack your knuckles is that it causes arthritis in the long run. As we have mentioned, cracking your knuckles can cause your skin to become thinner and weaker over time. When this happens, the fragile skin around your knuckles is more prone to tearing and if it tears enough then there is a chance that some of your joint can be exposed. When you expose cartilage on your hand to the air for too long then you can get arthritis on that part of your body.
Arthritis is basically when the cartilage around your joints gets damaged to a point where it turns into bone. This process is called ossification. It can be painful and if it spreads all the way up your arm then you might lose the use of that arm completely. The reason why cracking your knuckles can cause ossification, is because it makes the skin around your knuckles fragile and more prone to tearing. If your skin tears enough, then the inside of your knuckles can be exposed to the environment.
There is a slim chance that you could develop arthritis in those knuckles later on in life. If this happens then you will have permanent damage on those knuckles. This condition is very rare and it doesn’t happen to everyone, but it is best to just avoid it completely by not cracking your knuckles.
There is also a myth that says cracking your knuckles will cause them to fall off. This is not true, as your fingers are much stronger than the skin that’s connecting them. If this was true, then we wouldn’t be able to pick things up at all.
There is one last major reason why you shouldn’t crack your knuckles and that’s because it causes loud obnoxious noises. Some people may find this annoying, especially if you do it constantly.
Ways to Crack Your Knuckles Without Damaging Your Skin
There are two ways to crack your knuckles without damaging your skin. The first way is to use a towel or some type of cloth to creat friction on your knuckles. The second way is to bend your fingers back, then bring them back forward quickly. You should only do this if using a towel isn’t doing anything for you, as it can damage the skin around your knuckles very easily.
Using a Towel:
All you have to do is wrap a towel around each of your knuckles. Then, twist and pull the towel with each hand in opposing directions until you hear the crack. This method can take some practice to get right, but it is much more effective than using your hand by itself. You can buy knuckle crack towels off of Amazon for relatively cheap.
Bending Your Fingers Back and Then Brining Them Forward Quickly:
This method is similar to cracking your knuckles normally. The difference is that you are bringing them back forward quickly instead of just letting them rest in the stretched out position. The snapping motion will still cause the stretching and a small cracking sound. You can do this multiple times in a row. However, you can damage the skin around your knuckles if you do it too much.
Tips on How Not to Crack Your Knuckles
If you have a habit of cracking your knuckles, then it may be a good idea for you to stop completely. Some people find it to be very distracting and annoying when others do it. If you are one of those people, then they can completely take your mind away from the task at hand. There is also the small issue of arthritis and damage to the skin around your knuckles.
If you have difficulty controlling your habit, there are a few tips that you can follow in order to stop yourself from doing it. These tips can also help if you have a habit of biting your nails or picking at your skin.
Wear gloves when you know you are going to be around others. This way you will not have the urge to do it because your hands will be covered up.
Try chewing on something else, like a pencil or a pen. This will act as a replacement for your knuckle cracking habit.
Put tape or stickers on your fingers so you can’t bend them. This can be very annoying and it will stop you from doing it when you don’t mean to.
Put your hands in ice cold water to stop yourself from wanting to do it. This will numb your hands slightly, and keep your fingers from bending as easily.
Arthritis
Arthritis is the term used to describe multiple diseases that cause swelling, pain, and a decrease in mobility in your joints. There are many different types of arthritis that each affect your body in different ways. Your body has multiple joints, and any of them can be affected by the disease. The most common types are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. The main causes of the disease are aging, genetics, diet, and using your joints in a way that they were not meant to be used.
Osteoarthritis usually affects the elderly. It occurs due to the breakdown of cartilage within the joints. This causes the bones in the joint to impact one another and cause pain. The disease is especially common among people who participate in high impact sports. It usually develops in weight bearing joints, such as the knees and hips.
Other names for this type of arthritis include degenerative arthritis, osteoarthrosis, and osteoarthritis.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition that causes your body to attack itself. Your own immune system creates factors that attack the lining inside of your joints. This causes swelling, pain, and limited motion of the joints. The disease usually attacks symmetrical body parts, which means both of your hands or both of your feet. Other names for this type of arthritis include rheumatoid arthritis and seronegative arthritis.
Other common types of arthritis include gout, lupus, fibromyalgia, and septic arthritis. Gout is a condition that causes severe pain in your joints, especially your feet. It occurs due to the buildup of uric acid in your joints. It mainly affects overweight males who have a family history of the disease and suffer from high blood pressure. Lupus is an autoimmune disease that attacks your body and affects multiple organ systems.
It causes your immune system to attack your connective tissues such as your skin, joints, and lungs. Fibromyalgia causes chronic pain all over your body, specifically in your muscles and your bones. It usually affects people with depression or anxiety, and many pharmaceuticals used to treat these conditions such as SSRI’s can make the pain even worse. Septic arthritis is a type of arthritis that is caused by an infection within your joints.
If you suffer from any of these diseases, don’t worry! There are many options out there for you. There are over the counter, prescription, and natural remedies to make your life easier. The best thing you can do is talk to your primary physician about your options. He or she will know exactly how to proceed.
There’s a lot that goes into keeping your hands and joints in tip top shape. It all starts with taking care of yourself and your general health. Make sure you’re eating a balanced diet, drinking enough water, and getting plenty of exercise every day. If you already do these things and still have problems with your joints, then make an appointment with your doctor. He or she will be able to tell you more about what you can do.
Another option that’s available is surgical intervention. Arthritis causes the cartilage within your joints to break down, and if it breaks down completely, it will cause bone on bone contact. When this happens, your only option is a replacement. Surgery is always a last resort and should only be considered if all other treatments fail or if your condition becomes severe to the point where daily tasks become unbearable.
In addition to conventional surgery there are also less invasive procedures you can undergo. One option is steroid injections. These are shots of powerful anti-inflammatory medication that provide instant relief by dulling the pain signals sent to your brain. However, they’re only a short term solution and will eventually cause more harm than good if you continue to take them. Another option is arthroscopic surgery.
This procedure uses tiny cameras and instruments operated by mini robots in order to perform precision surgery on your joints. It’s much less invasive than traditional surgery hence the name “keyhole surgery”. The recovery time is significantly shorter and there’s a lower chance of infection because the incision is so small.
Whatever route you decide to take, it’s best to do some research first before setting up an appointment with your doctor. In addition to informing your physician of all of your symptoms, it’s also helpful to write them down prior to your appointments. This will give you a good idea of what you want to say and what you want to ask. It also never hurts to do a little research on the topic before your appointment. Learn as much as you can so you’re able to ask the right questions.
There are a lot of things you can do to make your life easier if you have arthritis or another type of joint disorder. There is no cure as of yet, but there are plenty of ways you can combat the pain and keep your hands functioning the way they should. If you have any questions about your specific situation, discuss them with your doctor or consult a medical encyclopedia on the internet. The more you know, the more you’ll be able to do to take care of yourself and the happier you’ll be in the long run.
Good luck and best wishes.
Sources & references used in this article:
Cracking your church’s culture code: Seven keys to unleashing vision and inspiration by SR Chand – 2010 – books.google.com
True or False: Cracking Your Knuckles Can Lead to Arthritis by K McCoy – excelahealth.org
Everything bad is good for you: How today’s popular culture is actually making us smarter by S Johnson – 2006 – books.google.com
Putting the public back in public relations: How social media is reinventing the aging business of PR by B Solis, DK Breakenridge – 2009 – books.google.com
Is Back Cracking Really All It’s Cracked Up to Be? 05 Mar Is Back Cracking Really All It’s Cracked Up to Be? by J Douglas – ttglifestyle.com
Is mirror therapy all it is cracked up to be? Current evidence and future directions by LG Moseley, A Gallace, C Spence – Pain, 2008 – journals.lww.com
The Case for Working with Your Hands: Or why office work is bad for us and fixing things feels good by FA El Monte – 2019
