A lot of people tell me they “crack” their own back to get relief when they feel stiff or sore. You might twist, bend, or push on your spine until you hear that familiar popping sound and feel a moment of release. While it may feel good for a few minutes, self-adjusting isn’t the same as chiropractic care—and it could actually make things worse.
In the video below, I explain why cracking your own back is a bad idea and why specific chiropractic adjustments are the safest, most effective option.
1. It’s Not Specific
When you twist or force your spine until it pops, you’re not targeting the exact joint that’s causing the problem. Instead, you’re moving multiple joints at once, including the ones that were already moving just fine.
Chiropractors are trained to find the specific joint that’s misaligned or restricted and adjust that area with precision. That’s what creates long-term improvement. Without that specificity, you’re just creating temporary noise without correcting the real issue. (This is why we use x-rays!)
2. You Could Make It Worse
Self-adjusting can actually create more instability in your spine. When you keep forcing the joints that already move easily, they become looser while the restricted ones remain stuck. This imbalance puts added stress on your spine, muscles, and ligaments—and can make your pain or problem worse over time.
In some cases, trying to crack your own back too aggressively could even lead to injury. The spine is delicate, and forcing it in the wrong direction can strain tissues or irritate nerves.
3. You’re Not Getting the One That Needs It
The reason people feel like they have to constantly crack their back is because the problem joint—the one that’s truly stuck—never gets corrected. You might feel temporary relief from moving the surrounding joints, but the real issue is still there.
That’s why you feel the urge to do it again and again. It’s a cycle: you pop the wrong joints, feel better for a moment, but never fix the restriction that’s causing the problem in the first place.
A chiropractor breaks that cycle by identifying and adjusting the exact joint that needs it. When the true problem is corrected, you don’t feel the same constant need to “crack” your back.
Leave It to the Pros
Chiropractic adjustments aren’t about making noise—they’re about restoring motion, improving function, and helping your body heal. At CORE Chiropractic, we use x-rays and hands-on analysis to find the specific areas that need attention, then adjust them safely and effectively.
So, while it may be tempting to crack your own back, the risks far outweigh the short-lived relief. The next time you feel the urge, remember: it’s not specific, you could make it worse, and you’re probably missing the joint that actually needs it.
👉 Watch the video below to learn more about why self-adjusting doesn’t work and how chiropractic care can give you lasting relief.