This common question arises often with new and existing patients, and the answer is not always to their liking. When people consistently self-adjust their own joints—specifically their neck or lower back, they are unfortunately in most instances making things worse.
Often, patients who “crack” their back or neck are really trying to remove tension from muscles and joints in the spine. This release of pressure that creates the sound gives some relief from said tension, but it comes back a short time later. So why is that? Based on knowledge of how joints work and practice experience, the relief doesn’t last because moving these joints alone is not the answer.
In almost all cases its tight, stiff, and sore muscles, tendons, and ligaments that are the culprit. Poor posture, prior injuries, and repetitive micro-strain to these tissues creates constant tension. The brain senses the tension and then attempts to shift spinal joints to alleviate the tension. But if the repetitive stress is continued, it’s a never-ending vicious cycle.
To make matters worse when the self-adjusting occurs, people twist and bend their neck/back in positions that a Chiropractor would never adjust a patient in. I have actually been behind people in a movie, or at a stop light and witnessed them doing this. Chiropractic physicians go to school for 4 years after obtaining an undergraduate degree. They are better suited to perform this than any other health professional available. Chronic self-adjusting has also been linked to stroke causation, and early arthritic changes.
On a final note—make sure your Chiropractic professional discusses changes in computer/phone use posture, assesses the pillow you sleep on, and any poor posture patterns present. If these aren’t addressed then chronic tension in the spine will continue, no matter how many times you are adjusted.