• Resources
  • Recommended Products
  • Exercise Videos
  • Podcasts
  • Photo Gallery

PhysioDC

Physical Therapy

  • Home
  • About
    • Physical Therapists
      • Daniel Baumstark MSPT, CHT
      • Christopher Cousins MPT
      • Kira Davis MPT
      • Christina Eidi DPT
      • Josh Ripp PT, DPT, CSCS
    • Treatment Philosophy
    • Patient Reviews
    • Resources
  • Services
    • Physical Therapy
    • Hand Therapy
    • Running Analysis
    • Functional Dry Needling
    • Concussion Management
    • Dance Rehabilitation
    • Custom Orthotics
    • Personal Training
  • Products
  • Media
    • Podcasts
    • Photo Gallery
    • Exercise Videos
  • Forms
  • Billing
    • Insurance
    • Payments
  • Blog
    • Select Your Body Part
  • Directions
  • Contact

Is It Safe to Crack My Neck?

Last updated on September 20, 2016 By Dan Baumstark, MSPT, CHT Leave a Comment

experiencing neck stiffness
I was sitting in the car the other week with a friend who asked me if it was safe to crack his own neck. He demonstrated his maneuver: he grabbed his chin with one hand and the back of his head with the other and gave an extreme, rotational “jerk” to his neck. The popping was audible. I was horrified.

Your vertebral artery, which is a major blood supplier of the brain, runs along the side of the neck’s vertebrae in a small canal. Abruptly rotating the neck, especially if the neck is extended, can place stress on the vertebral artery. Doing this repeatedly over time has the potential to jar the vertebral artery loose and cause a rupture. You don’t need that to happen, regardless of how much relief you feel afterwards.

No, it is not okay to crack your neck.

Filed Under: Featured, Injury Prevention Tagged With: Neck & Head



Additional Articles

Is Sleeping On My Side Bad For My Shoulder?
Should I Use Ice or Should I Use Heat?
woman exhibiting hypermobility with her knees
More Signs of Hypermobility

What is an Occult Fracture?
Sitting All Day & Experiencing Lower Back Pain?
How Obesity Affects Your Joints

About Dan Baumstark, MSPT, CHT

Dan is a licensed Physical Therapist in the District of Columbia, license #PT2916. He has a Masters of Science degree in Physical Therapy from Washington University in St. Louis, MO. Dan specializes in sports medicine & upper extremity rehabilitation. He is a Certified Hand Therapist, certified by the American Society of Hand Therapists (initial certification date 11/6/2004, certification #1041100023). Dan has extensive continuing education in manual therapy from the Michigan State University School of Osteopathic Medicine.
Listen to our podcast.

FTC Compliance Disclaimer: PhysioDC.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com; proceeds from product sales help cover the operational & maintenance costs for the site.

physical therapist recommended products

Ask a Physical Therapist a Question Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Disclaimer: By clicking on the I Agree button below, the individual posting a question fully understands that any response to the question is merely the opinion of the physical therapist and should not be taken as a prescribed course of action. Any advice given by the therapist must be cleared with the treating physician involved in direct patient care. The person posing the question absolves the responder of any liability in regards to opinions given.

10 − nine =

Contact PhysioDC

Office: 202-223-8500
Fax: 202-379-9299
Email Us
Listen to Our Podcast

Physical Therapy Office Location

1001 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 330
Washington, DC 20036

Click here for directions

Offering the Following Services

  • Physical Therapy
  • Hand Therapy
  • Running Analysis
  • Functional Dry Needling
  • Concussion Management
  • Dance Rehabilitation
  • Custom Orthotics

Select Your Body Part

Click the image below to try our Select Your Body Part tool to read articles relevant to you.

Most Popular Articles

  • 1. Why Won’t My Elbow Straighten?
  • 2. When Can I Start Working Out After Shoulder Surgery?
  • 3. Managing Expectations When Recovering from Labral Repair
  • 4. Shoulder Surgery: When Can I Get Rid of My Shoulder Sling?
  • 5. Why Are My Ring Finger & Pinky Finger Numb?
  • 6. Two Long-Term Effects of Ankle Sprains
  • 7. Post-Surgical Ankle Boot? Please Get a Lift For Your Other Shoe!
  • 8. How to Sleep Comfortably after Shoulder Surgery
  • 9. Physical Therapist Reviews Shaun T’s Insanity Routine
  • 10. Do Your Ribs Move?
  • 11. Hip Labral Repair Rehabilitation: What To Expect
  • 12. Why Should I Stretch My Back on a Foam Roll?

Recent Posts

  • Why Won’t My Elbow Straighten?
  • When Can I Start Working Out After Shoulder Surgery?
  • Shoulder Surgery: When Can I Get Rid of My Shoulder Sling?
  • Managing Expectations When Recovering from a Labral Repair
  • Two Long-Term Effects of Ankle Sprains
  • Post-Surgical Ankle Boot? Please Get a Lift For Your Other Shoe!
  • Sleeping Comfort after Shoulder Surgery
  • Why Are My Ring Finger & Pinky Finger Numb?
  • Do Your Ribs Move?
  • Hip Labral Repair Rehabilitation: What To Expect

Join the Discussion

  • Levi Armstrong on Importance of Seeking Medical Attention After a Head Concussion
  • Levi Armstrong on Importance of Seeking Medical Attention After a Head Concussion
  • Dan Baumstark, MSPT, CHT on Can You Balance on One Leg?
  • Romina Llanes on Can You Balance on One Leg?
  • Dan Baumstark, MSPT, CHT on Why Does My Knee Crack?
  • Katelyn Davis on Why Does My Knee Crack?
  • Dan Baumstark, MSPT, CHT on Why Won’t My Shoulder Rotate?
  • Anna-Laura Lawson on Why Won’t My Shoulder Rotate?
  • Dan Baumstark, MSPT, CHT on I Can’t Open My Hand All the Way: A Look at Dupuytren’s Disease
  • George Turner on I Can’t Open My Hand All the Way: A Look at Dupuytren’s Disease

PhysioDC Address

1001 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 330
Washington, DC 20036
Entrance on K Street

Find us on Google Maps

Office Hours

Monday-Thursday    7:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Friday 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Saturday 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM (By Prior Appointment)

Contact PhysioDC

Office: 202-223-8500
Fax: 202-379-9299

Email Us through our online contact form.

Copyright © 2021 Washington PhysioDC, LLC · Sitemap · Privacy Policy · Disclaimer
PhysioDC is a unique, physical therapist owned & operated rehabilitation clinic conveniently located in downtown Washington, D.C.

DISCLAIMER: The information on this site is for Educational Purposes Only and is not designed to diagnose, treat, mitigate, prevent or cure any health conditions. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not evaluated statements about these health topics or any suggested product compositions. Answers to questions submitted are merely the opinion of the physical therapist and should not be taken as a prescribed course of action. Any advice given by the therapist must be cleared with the treating physician involved in direct patient care. The person posing the question absolves the responder of any liability in regards to opinions given. PhysioDC insists that all patients receive approval from a prescribing physician prior to starting a structured exercise program involving any of the exercises included on this site. PhysioDC.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com; proceeds from product sales help cover the operational & maintenance costs for the site.