Does Crack Kill?

Risks and Benefits of Spinal Manipulation

One of the most pleasurable feelings is when you get a nice crack in your back. The release is euphoric.

As discussed in a previous article, that sound is not necessarily a bad thing. In most cases a crack or pop is just the sound created when nitrogen bubbles are bursting in the joint space. In some cases, it’s supposedly caused by the rapid snapping of small tendons or ligaments crossing the joint. Either way, this is innocuous in most cases.

In severe cases when a ligament tears, such as an ACL, patellar ligament, or Achilles tendon tear, the noise is not a good thing. You will know the difference between a torn ligament and a nitrogen bubbles popping. Here’s an idea of what that sounds like:

Now that we understand the snap, crackle, pop shouldn’t necessarily be avoided, does that mean we should seek it?