Theres nothing like a goodsnap,crackle,andpopfirst thing in the morning.
(No, were not talking about those cute little elves with the cereal.)
Were talking about the glorious feeling of cracking your backwell, for some people at least.
If you’ve ever wondered what happens when you crack your back, you might know it’s complicated.
First, what does the spinal cord do?
The star of the show is your spine, which is located down the center of your back.
you might think of it as the scaffolding for the entire body, according toCedars-Sinai Spine Center.
What happens when you crack your back?
The most widely accepted one involves pockets of gas that like to hang out in your joints.
When you apply force to your joints, those gases are rapidly released, according to theLibrary of Congress.
However, whether that pop sound is resulting from the gas bubbles themselves or something else is hotly debated.
Researchers who published a 2015 study inPLOS Oneargue its the latter.
Is cracking your back bad for you?
Ultimately, it doesnt matter why this happens as long as it doesnt hurt, Dr. Asghar says.
When that happens, cracking your back can start to hurt, Dr. Asghar explains.
That is a sign you should venture to kick the habit before the situation becomes worse.
So, why does it feel so good to crack your back?
One 2017 study published in the journalBMJ Openfound thatwhereyour monitor is placed can evencause back pain.
There are somecore exercises for lower back painthat can help, more on that next.
And if that particular exercise doesnt help, there are otherlower back stretchesthat might do the trick instead.
How do you get rid of a stiff back?
Get up and move around every half hour or so, even on conference calls.
Might as well get those steps in while youre working, right?
There are also tools it’s possible for you to use like foam rollers to help relieve lowerbacktension.
(Hint: A great time forfoam rollingis right before bed.)
Heres a warning: When someone else does it for you, though, its a different story.
