This may sound stupid but I'm a bit curious...

I started this habit when I was in high school. Just a form of stretching where I turn to one side and hold the back of the chair and pull my body until my back cracks, and then repeat on the other side. I still do it now... but is it potentially harmful down the road when I'm older? I don't want to keep doing something that will have a negative effect on my body later on. I'm sure some of you do this as I've seen many people that I know do it too. Fill me in

 

I do the same thing too. No idea of potential harm tho'

 

Hmm...I'm kinda curious about this, as I also crack my back at least a few times a day...

My old gym teacher once told me that cracking knuckles was bad for the cartilage in the fingers...I wonder if the same principle applies to the back...

 

Yeah I heard cracking your knuckles could lead to some arthritis problems down the road.

I just hope to be able to walk without pain when I'm old

 

This for sure is not true, I saw it on either MTV's Big Urban Myth Show or Mythbuster's. I would think that it would be the same for your back, but I am not sure.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by GPW02S2

 

Anyone have tips on how to crack your back? I crack my knuckles all the time (feels great) and can pretty much pop a bunch of body parts from the usual fingers, toes, and neck...to less common ones like the ankle, knees, elbows, wrists, and sternum. But I've never been able to crack my back. I've seen people do it but can never replicate their success. Got tips?

 

Maybe we need Back-Cracker to help out with this one.

 

if it was bad to crack your back, etc..... wouldn't chiropractors have a tough sell?

I always crack my neck.

 

When you crack something, your actually increasing blood flow to those joints, which in all reality can be good for you.

Correct me if im wrong.