Expert: Dr. Man Tran, Ph.D., D.C., L.Ac. - 8/7/2009

Question
About a year ago i started to notice the back upper part of my neck made wierd noises mainly when i sat up strait after being slouched. It sounds like 5 or so quick cracks and sounds like it comes from inside my head (even though i know it isn't).
Is this normal or anything to wory about? I don't have any sharp pains but my neck does get stiff sometimes especially when im slouched. I've been to a chiropracter but i don't really understand what their  doing and i fell uneasy about people manipulating my neck, because of permanent risks involved if any

My body also cracks alot like if i rotate my wrist or ankles theres always a clicking noise/felling and will somwtimes crack.
i also get regular cracks in my shoulder elbow knee, and other joints so i don't know if this would help or explain anything.

im bassically just wondering if this sets off any alarms in your professonal knowledge or if you think it could be dangerous (also is it normal for ones body to crack and made clicking noises like if i rotate my wrists)?

Answer
Hey Josh,

The cracking noise coming from joints are from gas releasing out of the joints usually from some movements or adjustment by a chiropractor.  It can be normal to have the joints crack.  However, in your case with almost every joints crack on their own, I would suggest for you to have a medical consultation to find out the precise reason.  It may not be serious.  You may have some genetic condition that causes the joint to crack.