OFFICIAL Joint cracking thread

Slimline

Golden Member
Jul 19, 2004
1,365
2
81
Post your strategies and joints.
I am one to crack my knickles, knees, wrists, elbow (cant do the other one) and back.

My technique for cracking my back are...if sittiing in a chair,
1. keep lower body straight
2.turn upper body one way
3. grab ahold of the arms or back of chair and gently force your upper body to continue twistng. (usually gets some good ones midback)
4. repeat other side


I am interested to find out how other people crack joints. I wish I could crack my upper and lower back on my own, but cant seem to figure out how.

One other neat feeling is your chest. The last couple days when I lean back to stretch my chest pops.

Obligatory "Your hurting yourself in the long run" comments not necessary....:p
 

n7

Elite Member
Jan 4, 2004
21,281
4
81
I don't do the crazy cracking, just mildly.

My neck i do all the time...

I do my wrists after long gaming bouts.

My back i do at night usually.

My feet i do after work when i get home...
 

Slimline

Golden Member
Jul 19, 2004
1,365
2
81
Originally posted by: n7
I don't do the crazy cracking, just mildly.

My neck i do all the time...

I do my wrists after long gaming bouts.

My back i do at night usually.

My feet i do after work when i get home...

How do you go about cracking your neck? I can never seem to get it to go....Feet also dont work well for me. I must admit nothign feels better in the morning than standing up and giving your knees a flex. lol
 

AreaCode707

Lifer
Sep 21, 2001
18,447
133
106
I don't crack my joints deliberately. I can't make my hand joints crack without a lot of pain. My ankles and feet will sometimes crack on their own. As somebody with arthritis, I don't want to invite more.

Official doctor perspective on cracking joints/arthritis
I asked my doc about the relationship to cracking joints and arthritis. She says it doesn't cause arthritis per se, but that each time you crack your joints it adds extra wear and tear - about as much as flexing your fingers 12 times, for example, and that the extra wear and tear can bring on osteoarthritis faster than it would otherwise come on.
 

Slimline

Golden Member
Jul 19, 2004
1,365
2
81
Originally posted by: HotChic
I don't crack my joints deliberately. I can't make my hand joints crack without a lot of pain. My ankles and feet will sometimes crack on their own. As somebody with arthritis, I don't want to invite more.

Official doctor perspective on cracking joints/arthritis
I asked my doc about the relationship to cracking joints and arthritis. She says it doesn't cause arthritis per se, but that each time you crack your joints it adds extra wear and tear - about as much as flexing your fingers 12 times, for example, and that the extra wear and tear can bring on osteoarthritis faster than it would otherwise come on.



Yeah I also have heard that it does not cause arthritis, but osteoperosis does seem logical. My mom has osteo as well. I should be on the look out. Mind you she is 5'4 or so and very tiny. I am 5'11 and much bigger frame sized lol.
 

MikeMike

Lifer
Feb 6, 2000
45,885
66
91
i dont think i could name a joint in my body that i havent cracked, hips included.

neck is easy, palm to chin and push to side.

back, same as yours

shoulder: rotate

fingers push down on

wrist, rotate quickly

ankle: see above

toes, same as fingers
 

Slimline

Golden Member
Jul 19, 2004
1,365
2
81
Originally posted by: nourdmrolNMT1
i dont think i could name a joint in my body that i havent cracked, hips included.

neck is easy, palm to chin and push to side.

back, same as yours

shoulder: rotate

fingers push down on

wrist, rotate quickly

ankle: see above

toes, same as fingers




Lol I got one miniscule crack out of my neck with your method. Somewhat painful one way...odd...
 

AreaCode707

Lifer
Sep 21, 2001
18,447
133
106
Originally posted by: Slimline
Originally posted by: HotChic
I don't crack my joints deliberately. I can't make my hand joints crack without a lot of pain. My ankles and feet will sometimes crack on their own. As somebody with arthritis, I don't want to invite more.

Official doctor perspective on cracking joints/arthritis
I asked my doc about the relationship to cracking joints and arthritis. She says it doesn't cause arthritis per se, but that each time you crack your joints it adds extra wear and tear - about as much as flexing your fingers 12 times, for example, and that the extra wear and tear can bring on osteoarthritis faster than it would otherwise come on.



Yeah I also have heard that it does not cause arthritis, but osteoperosis does seem logical. My mom has osteo as well. I should be on the look out. Mind you she is 5'4 or so and very tiny. I am 5'11 and much bigger frame sized lol.

There's a difference between osteoperosis and osteoarthritis. Osteoperosis, IIRC, is weakening of the bones. Osteoarthritis is weakening of the joints. :)
 

mattgyver

Senior member
Jan 11, 2002
395
0
0
I crack several of my joints; it drives my dad nuts. He has actaully smacked me because of it. I crack: neck, back, fingers, wrists, elbows, ankles, knees, toes, and feet. It's hard to describe how the feet crack--I can shift my weight in a certain way so that the middle of my foot cracks, where there's no joint. I don't have an explanation, but I hope it isn't hurting me :).
 

Slimline

Golden Member
Jul 19, 2004
1,365
2
81
Originally posted by: HotChic
Originally posted by: Slimline
Originally posted by: HotChic
I don't crack my joints deliberately. I can't make my hand joints crack without a lot of pain. My ankles and feet will sometimes crack on their own. As somebody with arthritis, I don't want to invite more.

Official doctor perspective on cracking joints/arthritis
I asked my doc about the relationship to cracking joints and arthritis. She says it doesn't cause arthritis per se, but that each time you crack your joints it adds extra wear and tear - about as much as flexing your fingers 12 times, for example, and that the extra wear and tear can bring on osteoarthritis faster than it would otherwise come on.



Yeah I also have heard that it does not cause arthritis, but osteoperosis does seem logical. My mom has osteo as well. I should be on the look out. Mind you she is 5'4 or so and very tiny. I am 5'11 and much bigger frame sized lol.

There's a difference between osteoperosis and osteoarthritis. Osteoperosis, IIRC, is weakening of the bones. Osteoarthritis is weakening of the joints. :)



Whoops. Misread that. As for that, looks like I may encounter problems then. lol :p
 

SaltBoy

Diamond Member
Aug 13, 2001
8,975
11
81
My making an extremely tight fist can crack my knuckles.

I also enjoy cracking my ankles every now and then by rotating them in a circle. :)
 

meltdown75

Lifer
Nov 17, 2004
37,548
7
81
i crack my fingers, neck, back and even toes.

went to the chiropractor last summer and he cracked my neck - i've never heard so many little snaps and crackle pops. i felt like a noodle when i left.
 

globalcitizen

Senior member
Sep 6, 2004
954
0
0
What I can crack:

1) Neck
2) Back
3) All my fingers
4) Wrist
5) Elobows
6) Hip joints
7) Knee <--- this is rare. Usually after I get up from bed
8) Ankles
9) Toes

Boo ya :D
 

Vegitto

Diamond Member
May 3, 2005
5,234
1
0
I can crack:

Neck (really hard)
Fingers
Knuckles
Wrist
Elbow
Shoulder
Shoulderblade
Chest
Upper ribs (really weird)
Knees
Right thigh (not left, very strange)
Feet
Toes
 

Slimline

Golden Member
Jul 19, 2004
1,365
2
81
Originally posted by: glugglug
How does one crack their chest?

I have only done said action a few times....and it was usually by just leaning back while stretching.
 

SWScorch

Diamond Member
May 13, 2001
9,520
1
76
I crack my knuckles a lot; I can crack each finger 3 or 4 times; not sure how I do it. I do the classic knuckle-cracking maneuver, with fingers intertwined, then I bend and twist each finger to the side and back towards the palm to crack other joints. I also crack my ankles by bending my leg back so the top of my feet are on the floor and pushing down. I can usually crack my knees by bending and straightening them repeatedly. Crack my neck by titling my head to one side. That's about it.
 

BrokenVisage

Lifer
Jan 29, 2005
24,771
14
81
If I had the balls I would start a Joint Rolling thread to compliment this.. alas, I have no balls. :(
 

gabemcg

Platinum Member
Dec 27, 2004
2,597
0
76
Originally posted by: BrokenVisage
If I had the balls I would start a Joint Rolling thread to compliment this.. alas, I have no balls. :(

great minds... I guess I've got the balls, it won't be a parody, it will be a serious disccussion...
 

DAGTA

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
8,172
1
0
My fingers feel tense and 'pressure' after typing all day so I'll usually crack them. I can do it with the two hands finger-laced out method or, my favorite, it to pull each finger out until it pops. I go one by one through both hands doing that. Though you can do it improperly and cause problems, popping a joint can help if you have a bone slightly out of place.