Is chiropractic cracking safe?
For most healthy adults, a session with a registered chiropractor is generally considered safe, and the cracking sound is just gas moving in a joint, not bone grinding or breaking. Some people feel sore or tired for a day or so afterwards, and serious problems are rare but possible, which is why it matters to choose a chiropractor who is registered with the General Chiropractic Council (GCC) and to tell them your full health history.
What is the cracking sound?
The click or pop you may hear comes from a joint being moved quickly to its edge of comfortable range. Joints sit in fluid that holds dissolved gas, and a quick change in pressure can release a small bubble. It is the same sort of sound as cracking your knuckles. It does not mean anything has been put back in place or damaged, and some treatments make no sound at all but are still working as planned.
What happens in a session
- Questions first. Your chiropractor asks about your symptoms, your health history, any medicines you take and what you would like to be able to do again.
- An examination. They watch how you move, test your joints and muscles and may check your reflexes. Sometimes they suggest an X-ray or refer you elsewhere if they think it is needed.
- Hands-on care. This may include quick, gentle thrusts that cause the click, but also slower joint movements, massage-style work and stretches. You can ask for the cracking to be left out.
- Advice. Many chiropractors finish with exercises or posture tips to try between visits.
Try something tonight
While you wait for an appointment, a short guide to gentle back and neck movements gives you something sensible to try at home tonight.
Relaxation recordings are not medical treatment. Please only listen somewhere safe where you can relax, never while driving.
Or see someone: find chiropractors near you
Chiropractors are listed with the osteopaths, physios and chiropractors in the Practitioner directory, each with a phone number. Pick your town:
Or by what you would like help with: pain and physical symptoms · Also: massage and reflexology therapists
What are the risks?
- Common and mild. Soreness, stiffness or a tired feeling for a day or two, a bit like after a new workout.
- Rare and serious. Very occasionally, neck manipulation has been linked to problems with blood vessels, and some people have had nerve irritation. This is uncommon, but it is why you should report any new symptoms straight away.
- Your say. You can always ask what a technique involves, ask for a gentler one, or stop at any point.
Who should be a chiropractor?
Chiropractor is a protected title in the UK. By law, anyone using it must be registered with the General Chiropractic Council (GCC). You can check the register on the GCC website before you book. Ask how they would handle neck work and what they would do if something did not feel right. A good chiropractor will tell you if another route is better first.
How many sessions and roughly what does it cost?
It varies with what you came for. Many people have a few sessions over several weeks, and your chiropractor should explain a plan and when they would expect to review it. Be cautious about anyone who asks you to pay for a long block up front or says you need regular visits for ever.
Private chiropractic in the UK commonly costs from £50 a session, and often more in big cities. A first appointment is usually longer and may cost more. Check the price, the length of a session and the cancellation terms before you book.
Where it fits alongside NHS care
For ongoing back pain the NHS usually suggests staying active, simple pain relief where suitable, exercise and sometimes physiotherapy. Many people add chiropractic alongside this and tell their GP. It is not a replacement for medical care, so please don't stop or change any treatment on the strength of a session.
When to see your GP first
Please see your GP before booking, and tell your chiropractor, if you have pain after a fall or accident, numbness or weakness in your arms or legs, pain that wakes you at night or keeps getting worse, unexplained weight loss, a history of cancer, osteoporosis, a blood clotting problem, or if you take blood thinners. Call 999 or go to A&E straight away if you ever have loss of bladder or bowel control, numbness around your genitals or bottom, or sudden severe headache, dizziness or trouble speaking after neck movement. Call 999 or go to A&E in those cases.
This page is general information, not medical advice. If you have symptoms that haven't been checked, or you are under medical care, please talk to your GP as well.
More questions
Does the crack mean a bone has moved?
No. The sound is usually gas released from the fluid in a joint. Nothing has slipped back into place, and you can feel helped without hearing any click at all.
Can I ask for no cracking?
Yes. Many chiropractors use slower, gentler techniques as well, and you can ask for those. You are free to say no to any technique.
Is neck cracking riskier than back cracking?
Neck work carries a small extra risk, because of the blood vessels there. Tell your chiropractor about any dizziness, headaches or neck pain that is new, and ask what they would do if you feel unwell.
Is it normal to feel sore afterwards?
Yes, mild soreness for a day or two is common. If pain is strong, getting worse or comes with new numbness or weakness, contact your chiropractor or GP.
Is chiropractic safe for children or in pregnancy?
Many chiropractors work with both, using gentler methods. Talk to your GP, midwife or health visitor first, and choose a registered chiropractor with experience of your situation.