Neck Cracks

[Rosella Bowlan]

Any time a joint in the body creates a cracking, popping, or grinding sound or sensation, this is known as crepitus. Experts believe that crepitus is caused by gas bubbles in the synovial fluid of the joint either bursting or being formed.

Crepitus or crepitation is the noise heard during joint movements, such as cracking, grinding, popping, or snapping. You may have experienced crepitus in your joints, such as your knuckles, knees and neck.Here are some possible causes of these sounds.

Articular Pressure Changes.
Synovial joints have a joint capsule filled with synovial fluid. The volume and pressure within these joints may change during certain movements. As a result, gases within the synovial fluid can form tiny bubbles that eventually collapse again. These changes likely play a role in some joint-cracking sounds, such as when you purposely crack your neck or knuckles.

Bone-on-Bone Grinding.
As joints degenerate due to osteoarthritis, the protective cartilage wears down and adjacent bones might rub against each other. A similar process can occur when discs degenerate.When cushioning between bones wears away, the bone-on-bone grinding sounds are typically repeatable with each movement.

Ligament or Tendon Snapping Over Bone.
In some cases, ligaments or tendons make snapping sounds as they move around the bone or over each other. This can occur because our muscles and soft tissues are too tight, or because they become less elastic with age.

In addition to gas bubbles, popping or grinding in the neck can also be caused by dysfunction or damage in a cervical joint. This damage may be caused by an acute injury or by degeneration over years of wear and tear (osteoarthritis).

Dr. Michele Perez is a physician specializing in physical medicine and rehabilitation. She is a member of Resurgens Orthopaedics and has more than 17 years of experience with non-surgical spine care and electrodiagnostic medicine.

This site is for educational purposes only; no information is intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The information is produced and reviewed by over 200 medical professionals with the goal of providing trusted, uniquely informative information for people with painful health conditions.

Crepitus or crepitation is the noise that may be heard during joint movements, such as a cracking, popping, snapping, or grinding. These sounds and sensations can occur in the neck as well. Most people at some point have experienced neck crepitus. One example is feeling a cracking sensation in the neck when turning the head to back up a car.

Neck crepitus is usually painless and typically does not represent anything serious. However, if crepitus occurs with other troubling symptoms such as pain or following trauma, it could indicate a more serious underlying medical condition is present.

The facet joints in the neck are where the back of adjacent vertebrae join together. There is a smooth surface on the end of each bone called cartilage. Inside the facet joint is synovial fluid, which lubricates the joints. At the front of the adjacent vertebrae is another connection called the intervertebral disc space. Neck crepitus is thought to occur when structures in the spine rub together and make sounds.

Ligaments and tendons both attach to bones. In some cases, it may be possible for a moving ligament or tendon to make a snapping sound as it moves around a bone and/or over each other. This can occur because our muscles and tissues are too tight or because they become less elastic as we age.

As facet joints degenerate due to osteoarthritis, the protective cartilage wears down and adjacent vertebral bones can start rubbing against each other, which may cause a grinding noise or sensation. This grinding can also occur due to disc degeneration resulting in less cushioning between the vertebrae.

Neck crepitus could be caused by any of these factors, or in some cases it could be a combination of these or other factors. It should also be noted that crepitus can occur in any moveable joint in the body (with common examples including the knees and shoulders).

Neck crepitus can occur at any age, but it is more likely to occur as a person gets older. The frequency of neck cracking and grinding sounds can vary greatly. Some people might experience neck crepitus a few times a month, whereas others might experience it every day or even throughout the day with most neck movements.

Neck crepitus may go through some periods where it occurs more often than others. For example, neck cracking and grinding might occur frequently for a few days and then go away. In cases where neck crepitus is the result of bone-on-bone grinding due to facet joint osteoarthritis, the neck cracking and grinding sounds are more likely to occur frequently with movements and not go away.

While increased neck cracking and grinding sounds can occur with arthritis, there is currently no scientific evidence to suggest that frequent neck cracking can lead to arthritis. As we age, the sounds tend to move from louder and more pronounced cracks to more grinding or crunching sensations.

If neck cracking or grinding is accompanied by pain, stiffness, or other concerning symptoms, it may indicate an underlying medical condition that needs to be checked by a qualified health professional.

Cracking and grinding noises that sometimes occur during neck movement are common. It is usually painless and is not serious. This phenomenon is called crepitus, and can be caused by pressure changes in the joints, ligament or tendon movements near their bony attachments, or arthritic joints grinding together, or gas bubbles collapsing in the joints.

Crepitus can become more frequent as you age due to weakening of the tendons and ligaments over time. Other factors can include swelling or stiffness, injury such as whiplash, degenerative changes, or changes after surgery.

Just as there is no medical evidence that cracking your knuckles can cause arthritis, going to a chiropractor and having your neck manipulated and hearing the cracking noises also does not cause arthritis.

You should refrain from cracking your neck yourself repetitively as it could result in overstretching or injury to the neck if not done correctly. Feeling like you need to crack your neck often suggests hypermobility of the neck. Doing this repeatedly can result in instability. If you feel stiffness in the neck joints, it is best to see a healthcare provider who may recommend some the following:

Dr. Alana Biggers is an ABMS board certified internal medicine physician. She is an assistant professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine, where she specializes in internal medicine.

Erica Cirino is a writer, artist and researcher who works globally. While on assignments in places as far-off as the South Pacific Ocean and the Arctic Circle, she covers science stories that often meet at the intersection of human and wildlife health, and environmental conservation. In particular, Erica is highly focused on uncovering the depths and health effects of the global plastic pollution crisis.

When you crack your neck or any joint in your body, the capsules around your joint are stretched. These capsules contain fluid, and stretching them allows the fluid to put less pressure on the joint.

In the case of your neck, you have several sets of joints called facet joints. These joints are located on each side of your neck. When you crack your neck, the facet joints stretch, which lets fluid spread out in the joint capsule. Once the fluid becomes gas, your neck joints pop.

Cracking your neck also releases endorphins in the bloodstream. Endorphins are produced by your pituitary gland and are released by your body to help manage pain. When you crack your neck, endorphins are released. This gives you a feeling of satisfaction and pleasure.

When you give in to the urge to crack your neck a lot, the ligaments in your joints can get permanently stretched. This is called perpetual instability. When this happens, your neck joints are more at risk of developing osteoarthritis.

Your neck is home to many important blood vessels. In some cases, cracking your neck too hard or too often can puncture one of these blood vessels. It can also cause blood clotting, which can be dangerous as it blocks blood flow to your brain.

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