“Why Would I Need a Chiropractor? I Crack My Own Back and It Feels Great.”
This is one of the most common questions I hear—and on the surface, it makes sense. If cracking your own neck or back gives relief, why spend the time (and money) to see a chiropractor?
The short answer? There’s a big difference between a spinal adjustment and a self-manipulated pop.
But before we go deeper, let’s clarify what’s really happening when you hear that “crack.”
What’s That Popping Sound Anyway?
Many patients are nervous about chiropractic adjustments until they learn the truth: That crack you hear isn’t bone grinding on bone. It’s simply the sound of gas bubbles popping inside the fluid of a joint—specifically a synovial joint.
Synovial joints are enclosed in a capsule filled with fluid that nourishes and lubricates the joint. Common synovial joints include:
Spine (facet joints)
Shoulders
Hips
Knees
Elbows
Hands and feet
When these joints are moved to their end range of motion, gases like oxygen and nitrogen escape, creating a familiar pop. That sound might feel satisfying—but it doesn’t mean you’ve corrected anything mechanically.
If cracking your own back fixed the issue, why do you still feel the need to keep doing it every day?
The Self-Adjustment Cycle (and Why It’s a Problem)
Let’s use a common example:
A person who works at a desk for years develops poor posture—forward head position, neck tension, and upper back pain. They start self-adjusting their neck for relief. It works… temporarily.
What’s really happening is this:
One or two vertebrae have lost mobility (they’re "stuck")
Nearby joints become hypermobile to compensate
You end up cracking the loose joints over and over again
The stuck ones remain untouched
You never fix the root cause
Worse yet, self-adjusting may loosen ligaments and increase muscle tension, making the problem worse over time.
Chiropractors Adjust What You Can’t Reach
A trained chiropractor understands spinal biomechanics, including over 20 different vectors that joints can move through.
If your C6 vertebra is stuck, but C5 and C7 are loose, a chiropractor can isolate and adjust only the C6 segment—restoring proper motion to the right joint.
This is what sets professional care apart:
We don’t just chase the pop
We correct the actual biomechanical imbalance
And once that’s corrected, most patients stop feeling the need to crack their necks altogether
Final Thought: Just Because It Pops Doesn’t Mean It’s Fixed
Self-adjusting might offer short-term relief, but it rarely addresses the root issue—and may even make it worse. If you’re feeling stiff, sore, or constantly reaching for your own neck or back, it’s time to consult a professional.
At dkm Body Balance Chiropractic in Los Cabos, I’ve helped countless “self-crackers” finally experience true, lasting relief—not just the temporary fix of a pop.
Ready to break the cycle and fix the real problem?
Book an appointment today and let’s restore balance to your spine—for good.