What causes a cracking neck sound?
Most cases of a clicking neck are harmless but indicate a progressing condition, if the clicking noise can be repeated with every tilt or twist. Usually the strain on the vertebrae is caused by spasm (knots or cramps) of the trapezius muscle of the back or the sternocleidomastoid muscle of the neck. This may be one sided, which is more common, or occurs on both sides of the back. The spasm causes the muscle to ‘shorten’ and pull on the vertebral column and by attempting to move your head, in the opposite direction to the pull of the spasm, a clicking sound may be heard. • Cavitation is a common term used by chiropractors and the cracking sound you may hear when having a chiropractic adjustment. It is a result of a a force causing a temporary vacuum within the joint, which then collapses and causes a clicking noise. Gas bubbles within any joint fluid can also cause this snapping noise. • Herniated vertebral disc (bulging disc) may cause two neighboring vertebrae to lie closely together
