After a long shift on a travel therapy job, your back may ache and need some relief. For many, putting pressure on the spine until a popping sensation is achieved does the trick of relieving some of the stress. However, people often question whether or not cracking your back is good or bad for your health.
Fact or fiction?
Dr. Pedro Beredjiklian, chief of hand surgery at The Rothman Institute, explained to Fox News that individuals who crack their knuckles are likely in no danger of doing any damage to their hands. This is because the small joints in our fingers are made up of ligaments and synovial fluid-filled capsules that surround the area. The popping or cracking sound in the joint stretches this capsule, relieving pressure – hence the relief – that has built up from gases such as oxygen, carbon dioxide and nitrogen. Whenever these elements are present in the fluid of a joint, you may feel the need to crack it, and Beredjiklian pointed out to the source that this is not the cause of arthritis.
The same points are true when it comes to joints located throughout the body, including the spine. So, if you twist, turn or manipulate your body otherwise upon getting home from a travel PT shift, it is unlikely that you are doing any damage to yourself. However, it is important to note that the more regularly you're popping your joints, the more likely you'll feel the need to do it often. In the case of cracking your back, the New Health Guide pointed out that you might develop hypermobility, which is caused by the muscles of the spine being stretched repeatedly. The loss of elasticity to these muscles may cause the spine to move in ways that it should not. As a result, you may be at risk of injury.
Finding relief
If you do feel the need to alleviate built-up pressure in your back, it's okay to do so from time to time. In these cases, there are a couple of options to choose from. Once you're home from a travel physical therapy shift, you might want to try the on-the-floor method. To complete this stretch, lay flat on your back on a hard surface. Keeping your right leg straight, bend the left leg at the knee and slowly take it across your right leg. If you can, touch your left knee to the floor, but be sure to stop if you experience any pain or discomfort.