[Moose72]

I started cracking my fingers as a kid. As an adult, I moved on to other joints- ankles, neck, shoulders.... The bigger the crack the better. Recently, I've begun cracking my joints as much as is possible. Itsalso more satisfying than it used to be. Its also a relief of pressure-build up in the joints. Is this really an addiction, or just a lot of fun?

[bizi]

I am addicted to this too.
bizi
willl write more later

[sarahsweets]

Habits and addiction are different. Do you freak out when you cant crack a joint? Do you harass your friends and family asking them to help you? Do you look for back street steroids to inject into your joints so you can crack them? I think you are ok.

[bizi]

I went to a chiropractor yesterday and he really cracked my back/neck/hips etc., it felt better for a bit then it went back to hurting, my SI joint on the right side of my back. I called today to ask about stretches. They don't really get into that which is too bad. I found some on the internet and did them this morning for some relief. Waiting for the advil to kick in.

bizi

[WishfulThinker66]

As long as you don't do it while talking to people then go for it. I think it a rude distraction when I am trying to hold a conversation with someone all the while they crack their joints. It sends the message the conversation is unimportant, I'm unimportant, and they aren't respecting me with their due attention.

[BeyondtheRainbow]

It's a sensory thing. Popping your joints triggers receptors in your joints that tell your body where their position in space is. It's kind of like using a weighted blanket. It releases feel good chemicals that make you want to continue.

When I worked with kids (and some adults) we used joint compression (kind of the opposite of popping joints) to calm them.