“Why does my neck always click?”
I am a 23 year old male. My neck clicks when I move it. Why does my neck always click?
12 Answers
Any number of things can lead to the clicking, but a thorough exam is needed to figure it out. The clicking noise is cartilage gas releasing in the joint, which could be normal, or an inaction of a condition, so an exam is needed.
POSSIBLY A BIT HYPER-MOBILE or DIRECT OPPOSITE.
You may want to have an exam to determine that
That is called joint hypermobility. The clicking sound is caused by cavitation of the synovial fluid inside the joint space. It's not harmful.
Yours in health,
Doc J
Yours in health,
Doc J
It’s typically due to abnormal movement of the joints in the spine. This can be due to old injuries or wear and tear over time.
Skylar Bakko, DC QNCP PAK BFM
Skylar Bakko, DC QNCP PAK BFM
There is either fixation and the locked joints are making the loose joints click because they are over compensating or the neck is out of alignment and the joints are not coupled smoothly
Cracking or popping on movement is not necessarily a concern if it is not causing additional symptom such as: pain, discomfort, numbness, tingling and/or other problems. However, don't pop or crack your neck on purpose. Light movement under a hot shower allows muscles and tendons to relax and sometimes releases and helps the popping sound.
Most clicks in the neck are harmless and have to do with muscles moving across bones as you move. If there is pain with click, then you are getting some inflammation of those muscles. The bones of your neck can also click while moving back to their position. This may mean you need to get your neck adjusted at the chiropractor. Again, most clicks are harmless.
Vishal K. Verma, DC, CCSP
Vishal K. Verma, DC, CCSP
If it clicks whenever you move it, it's probably a tendon rubbing. If it clicks, but then doesn't click again for about 10 minutes and then clicks again, it's a joint. Either way, finding a good chiropractor will help a lot.
Dr. Jonathan Donath, DC, MS
Dr. Jonathan Donath, DC, MS
The "clicking" could be vertebrae that move out of place. It could be gases being released from the joints or it could be tendons rubbing against each other. As long as it does not hurt you, it probably is harmless.
Could be osteoarthritis.
This is likely caused by altered mechanics of your cervical or thoracic spine. There may also be a postural component that is causing your spine to be dysfunctional. I recommend receiving Chiropractic care to restore healthy mechanics and spinal alignment.
