I do ballet, so it is extremely important for me to maintain a long, thin, graceful neck. However, I have picked up a habit of constantly cracking my neck, and if I don't, my shoulder/neck area starts to feel very tense and uncomfortable. I feel like my neck has gotten a bit thicker since the past few years; does anyone know if neck cracking has anything to do with it?
2007-10-19 11:52:53 · 5 answers · asked by lalafunk 2 in Health ➔ General Health Care ➔ Other - General Health Care
Your neck muscles should not get bigger due to cracking your neck. This isn't usually a strenuous motion for the muscles, and can commonly be accomplished unintentionally simply by rotating your head. However, I wouldn't continue to crack your neck if you feel uncomfortable. I would advise you to stretch your trapezius, scalene muscles, and sternocleidomastoid muscle. This will relieve tension, and hopefully make you more comfortable. To stretch the trapezius: sit on your left hand and sidebend your head to the right and hold this for 10-15 seconds while you feel the stretch, then do the opposite for the left side of the trap. To stretch the scalenes: bend your neck backwards, then side bend to the left, and then rotate your neck slowly to the right all in one motion. Do this to the opposite side. This will also stretch your sternocleidomastoid. Your muscles will feel more relaxed, and hopefully with consistent stretching, you won't feel uncomfortable in that region.
2007-10-19 21:32:25 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Neck cracking has nothing to do with the size other than it will become more muscular to compensate for having loose joints.
Stop while you can. I have a really bad neck and it won't stay in place anymore. I have to sleep flat on my back with no pillows under my head. It SUCKS!
2007-10-19 18:57:06 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know how old you are but everything grows bigger and thicker as you mature. I don't know about the neck thing. Maybe you've made the muscles stronger by doing the cracking.
Go to a chiropractor or osteopath- they should know.
2007-10-19 18:57:44 · answer #3 · answered by jowanale 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
FORCING THE NECK TO CRACK BY USING THE NECK MUSCLES WILL CAUSE THEM TO GET SOMEWHAT BIGGER, BUT IF YOU USE YOUR HANDS THIS SHOULD NOT INCREASE IN SIZE.
2007-10-19 19:05:40 · answer #4 · answered by Dr. Albert, DDS, (USA) 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No
xx
2007-10-23 17:43:12 · answer #5 · answered by christmas_me_merry 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋