Is Cracking Your Neck Bad For You? The Benefits Of Neck Cracking

Is cracking your neck bad for you?

I know that people who suffer from neck pains and shoulder pains ask this question a lot. Cracking your neck can seem so satisfying when pulled off right. It can reduce the pain and tension in your back and neck muscles and make you feel relaxed. However, is the cracking sound of the spine good, or does it signify something bad?

Learn more about neck cracking by reading this post till the end.

How To Crack Your Neck?

There are two ways to crack your neck. Even though you might ask yourself if it is bad to crack your neck, you can still try it out. Therefore, to know if cracking your neck is bad for you, you have to try it out yourself. They have been explained in detail below.

1. Cup And Reach Method

The cup and reach method to crack your neck is one of the most common ways that you will come across. It’s also one of the safest and best ways to crack your neck. To learn how to crack your neck with this method, follow all the steps explained below.

Step 1: Stretch Your Neck Muscles

The first step that you should take here is to stretch your neck muscles. This is important as it will help in getting those muscles to loosen up. Simply massage your neck gently, especially the back of your neck and shoulders.

While you do so, lean your chin downwards for 20 seconds, followed by lifting it up for 20 seconds., This will help you flex your muscles and loosen up stiff and sore muscles. You should always do this a couple of times before you go to the next step.

Read More: Helpful Tips to Improve your Posture and Reduce Back Pain

Step 2: Cup Your Chin With Your Let Palm

In this step, you need to use the palm of your left hand to cup your chin gently. To do so, simply bend your thumb in one way and your other fingers in the opposite way. For the best result, hold your jawbone with your fingers and place it directly in your palm.

Step 3: Grab The Back Of Your Head With Your Right Hand

Now, you need to bend your left arm and place your hand behind your neck. To do this correctly, place your fingers near the back of your left ear. Ensure that you have held on to your head firmly. Don’t hold your head too hard so that it causes pain.

Step 4: Push Your Chin Left To Rotate Your Head Counterclockwise

If you want to learn how to pop your neck, here it is. Now that you are in position, simply rotate your head towards your left with your hand. To do so perfectly, you need to apply a bit of pressure using your left hand behind your neck. Your aim here is to stretch your muscles, not cause them pain. Try to do so until you hear the pop of your neck cracking. 

After you are done, place your hands in the opposite way and do the same towards the other side. You can also use the home depot health check app to measure your success.

2. Foam Roller Method

The foam roller method is another way to learn how to crack your neck. To crack your neck in this method, get yourself a foam roller. After you have it in your hand, follow all the steps below.

Step 1: Lie Down On Your Foam Roller

The first step to cracking your neck is pretty simple – just lie down on the foam roller. Lie down on the floor with your back to the ground and your neck resting on the foam roller. His will ease up the muscles on the back of your neck and relax them.

Step 2: Lift Your Abdomen Up

With your neck on the foam roller, it’s time to let your abdomen, hips, and thighs up. Here, you simply need to push your hips up until they are a few inches off the ground. While you are doing so, do not change positions or bend towards the sides, as it can cause muscle sprains. Additionally, keep your arms flat on the ground. 

Step 3: Roll Your Neck Up And Down

Now that you are in position, start rolling yourself on the foam roller up and down. While it might feel difficult at first, you will soon get the hang of it. To do this properly, use your feet to move your upper body up and down the foam roller. Keep rolling until you hear a crack sound or you feel your neck muscles relax.

Step 4: Roll Your Back Up And Down

More often than not, you will feel that the tension, once present on the back of your neck, will move down to your lower back. This happens due to the rolling motion of your upper back and neck muscles. Therefore, now it’s now time to place the roller on your lower back (on the arch of your back). After you have done so, make the same rolling motion on your back as well. If you wish to know if cracking your back is bad for you, then it’s not. 

Is Cracking Your Neck Bad For You?

Is cracking your neck is bad for you? The answer is – no, it’s not bad. 

Cracking your neck is a pretty good exercise if you experience neck pain a lot. It’s pretty good for office hours and students who spend a lot of time at their desks in front of their computer screens. People who have desk jobs frequently experience neck and shoulder pain. Learning how to crack your neck the right way can help alleviate some of these problems.

Read More: Why Deep Tissue Massage is Helpful for Chronic Pains

FAQ! (Frequently Asked Questions)

Pope with neck pains asks a lot of questions regarding whether cracking your neck is bad for you or not. The answers to these questions are:

Time To Get Cracking!

Is cracking your neck bad for you?
The answer is – no, it’s not bad for you. In fact, it’s pretty good at relaxing your neck muscles and making all the pain go away. However, it can get worse for you if you crack your neck too much and even do it in the wolf way. That way, it can lead to more pain instead of reducing it.

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