Is neck cracking safe?
If done by someone who has had thorough training, then yes! Chiropractors train for 4-5 years not only on how to crack necks, but to recognise when someone should or shouldn’t be cracked.
This is why we take an in-depth medical history before we treat you, often asking questions that may at first seem unrelated. For example family history of certain diseases, if you have gone through menopause, any medication you are taking, and much more.
What are the risks?
If you read the daily mail, then you’ll be forgiven for thinking that everyone who see’s a chiropractor ends up having a stroke! The actual chance of having a stroke after neck manipulation is 0.0001% (thats one in a million, and is that same as the risk of having a stroke when seeing your GP) - you’re more likely to be struck by lightening! (one in 500,000).
*stroke symptoms inclide visual problems, difficulty swallowing, speaking and walking, dizziness, fainting, nausea and numbness. If you are worried about your symptoms, contact a health professional straight away.
Soreness and headache are more common side effects of neck manipulation, but these are normally short-lived (2-3 days).
Can I crack my own neck?
Other chiropractors might tell me off for this… but yes, its fine! As long as you’re not causing yourself pain when doing it, it’s not that big of a deal. The only thing you might want to consider is not doing it too often, as some people find that this actually ends up exacerbating their problem!