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This article was co-authored by Karen Litzy, PT, DPT and by wikiHow staff writer, Dev Murphy, MA. Dr. Karen Litzy, PT, DPT is a licensed physical therapist, international speaker, owner of Karen Litzy Physical Therapy, PLLC, and the host of the Healthy Wealthy & Smart podcast. With over 20 years of experience, she specializes in a comprehensive approach to practicing physical therapy utilizing therapeutic exercises, manual therapy, pain education, and home exercise programs. Karen holds a Master of Science in Physical Therapy and a Doctor of Physical Therapy from Misericordia University. Karen is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) and is an official spokesperson for the APTA as a member of their media corps. She lives and works in New York City.
There are 12 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources.
This article has been viewed 3,967,534 times.
After sitting or standing for long periods, your back may be sore. Cracking your back can alleviate pain caused by soreness, leaving you feeling refreshed. The process of cracking your back is simple, but be careful. You should not crack your back too often, as this can worsen back pain. Also, keep in mind that cracking your back may not solve the problem if you have persistent back and shoulder pain. In that case, you should see a doctor to treat your pain.
Steps
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Use a chair to crack your back. If you need to crack your back quickly at work or school, you can do so while seated. This works best if you are sitting in a chair with a short back. While seated, slide your butt toward the front edge of the chair. Then, lean back until your back is touching the back of the chair.[1]- Place your palms on your forehead and exhale slowly.
- This will cause your head and shoulders to sink down behind the chair.
- Eventually, you should hear a crack.
- Do not lean back past the point where it feels uncomfortable to you. If it hurts or feels uncomfortable, then stop.
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Lie on the floor. If you're struggling to crack your back while seated or standing, you can try doing it while lying on the floor and using a foam roller. Start by sitting on the floor with your legs bent and your feet flat on the floor. Lean back against the foam roller so that it is positioned just below your shoulder blades. Hold your hands behind your head, and gently roll back and forth against the foam roller so that it massages your back.[2]Advertisement -
Try to crack your back while standing upright. This is a fairly safe means of cracking your back, and it can be done at your convenience during the day. However, you do need some range of motion with your arms to do this stretch because you need to place both hands on the center of your back.- To start, place your hands behind your back, one on top of the other, at the center of your spine.[3]
- Press both hands against your spine, and as you do so, lean backward.
- Keep going until you hear and feel a slight pop. However, do not lean back past the point where it feels uncomfortable to you. If you feel pain or discomfort, then stop.
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Use an exercise ball. An exercise ball can be a great way to stretch your back, and it may also result in some cracking as well. To start, kneel on the floor with an exercise ball in front of you. Keeping your back straight, rest your hands on the ball. Breathe out while bending at the hips, and slowly roll the ball forward. Lower your chest towards the floor while dropping your hips back towards your heels. Hold this position for 15–30 seconds, then slowly return to your starting position. Repeat 2–4 times.[4]- This stretch is not guaranteed to crack your back, but your back may crack on its own while you stretch. Try to be patient, though, because it might take a few minutes. Just relax and enjoy the stretch.
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Stretch using your bed. Lie down on the bottom of a bed, with everything above your shoulder blades hanging off the edge of the bed. Relax and slowly let your upper back and arms sink towards the floor. After you've fully stretched downward, do a full sit-up to bend your spine in the opposite direction, going back downward, sliding your shoulder blades farther and farther off the edge of the bed each time.[5] -
Perform a rocking stretch. This is a Pilates stretch used to loosen the muscles in the spinal column. Lie down on a mat and bring both knees to your chest, hugging them with your hands. Slowly rock forward and backward on the mat, building momentum as you go. Aim to feel each piece of your spine on the mat as you rock back and forth.[6] -
Try a lower-back rotational stretch. Lie down face-up on the floor with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor. Keeping your shoulders firmly on the floor, rotate your knees to one side and hold them for 5–10 seconds, then slowly return them to the starting position. Do the same on the other side. Repeat each stretch 2–3 times.[7]- If you feel pain or discomfort, then stop right away!
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See a doctor if you have persistent back pain. Cracking your back can temporarily relieve back pain. However, persistent back pain should be evaluated by a medical professional.[8]- Back pain can come in response to sitting in an uncomfortable position or strain during exercise. In most cases, it goes away on its own with time. However, back pain that persists beyond a few weeks should be evaluated by a doctor.
- Depending on the cause of your back pain, your doctor will recommend a treatment. Back pain is usually treated with things like physical therapy and possibly medication. In rare cases, surgery may be required for back pain.
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Do not crack your back too often. Cracking your back can be fine once in a while to alleviate discomfort. However, cracking your back constantly can unnecessarily stretch out the muscles in your back. This can result in a condition known as hyper-mobility.[9]- It's a good idea to check with a physical therapist to ensure it's safe to crack your back, according to physical therapist Karen Litzy, PT, DPT.[10]
- Avoid cracking your back at all if you have conditions like osteoarthritis, osteopenia, or neurological issues, Dr. Litzy adds.[11]
- If you feel the need to constantly crack your back due to pain, see a doctor instead of repeatedly cracking your back.
Note: Hyper-mobility will loosen your back muscles, resulting in you losing function in your spine and the muscles and ligaments surrounding your back.
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Opt for stretches over cracking your back. Stretching is usually better than cracking your back to alleviate mild pain. A simple way to stretch your upper back is to hold your arms in front of you at shoulder height and clasp your hands. Then, drop your chin towards your chest and reach straight forward so that you're rounding your shoulders. Hold this pose for 15–30 seconds, and repeat 2–4 times.[12]
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Expert Q&A
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QuestionIs it safe to crack your back?
Karen Litzy, PT, DPTDr. Karen Litzy, PT, DPT is a licensed physical therapist, international speaker, owner of Karen Litzy Physical Therapy, PLLC, and the host of the Healthy Wealthy & Smart podcast. With over 20 years of experience, she specializes in a comprehensive approach to practicing physical therapy utilizing therapeutic exercises, manual therapy, pain education, and home exercise programs. Karen holds a Master of Science in Physical Therapy and a Doctor of Physical Therapy from Misericordia University. Karen is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) and is an official spokesperson for the APTA as a member of their media corps. She lives and works in New York City.
Physical TherapistIn general, you should always check with a physical therapist before cracking your back to make sure it's safe for you. Also, you should never try to crack your back if you have a condition like osteoarthritis, osteopenia, or neurological issues. -
QuestionIs it bad to crack your back?Karen Litzy, PT, DPTDr. Karen Litzy, PT, DPT is a licensed physical therapist, international speaker, owner of Karen Litzy Physical Therapy, PLLC, and the host of the Healthy Wealthy & Smart podcast. With over 20 years of experience, she specializes in a comprehensive approach to practicing physical therapy utilizing therapeutic exercises, manual therapy, pain education, and home exercise programs. Karen holds a Master of Science in Physical Therapy and a Doctor of Physical Therapy from Misericordia University. Karen is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) and is an official spokesperson for the APTA as a member of their media corps. She lives and works in New York City.
Physical TherapistYes, it's not something you should intentionally try to do on your own. If you don't know what you're doing, it may not be beneficial, and it could actually be detrimental.
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Warnings
- If you are experiencing pain while attempting to crack your back or stretch, stop immediately. Always pay attention to what your body is telling you.Thanks
- Be extremely careful when trying to crack your back. If you try to crack your back too aggressively or too often, then you may injure yourself.[13] See a doctor if you are having persistent back pain.Thanks
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References
- ↑ https://youtu.be/K0DhEsLHmyo?si=cAABRc4M30nzydCT&t=302
- ↑ https://youtu.be/K0DhEsLHmyo?si=q5vp4InlHNPY7fQV&t=456
- ↑ https://youtu.be/FBu618RuOto?t=187
- ↑ https://healthy.kaiserpermanente.org/health-wellness/health-encyclopedia/he.therapeutic-ball-back-exercises.abr7625
- ↑ https://youtu.be/K0DhEsLHmyo?si=Y6VC-9TT6F8z4zZR&t=145
- ↑ https://northwestphysio.com.au/exercises-for-lower-back-pain-relief/
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/back-pain/art-20546859
- ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/home-remedies-for-back-pain
- ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21763-joint-hypermobility-syndrome
- ↑ Karen Litzy, PT, DPT. Physical Therapist. Expert Interview
- ↑ Karen Litzy, PT, DPT. Physical Therapist. Expert Interview
- ↑ https://myhealth.alberta.ca/Health/aftercareinformation/pages/conditions.aspx?hwid=zp4447
- ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/how-to-crack-your-back
About This Article
Physical Therapist
This article was co-authored by Karen Litzy, PT, DPT and by wikiHow staff writer, Dev Murphy, MA. Dr. Karen Litzy, PT, DPT is a licensed physical therapist, international speaker, owner of Karen Litzy Physical Therapy, PLLC, and the host of the Healthy Wealthy & Smart podcast. With over 20 years of experience, she specializes in a comprehensive approach to practicing physical therapy utilizing therapeutic exercises, manual therapy, pain education, and home exercise programs. Karen holds a Master of Science in Physical Therapy and a Doctor of Physical Therapy from Misericordia University. Karen is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) and is an official spokesperson for the APTA as a member of their media corps. She lives and works in New York City. This article has been viewed 3,967,534 times.
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Co-authors: 71
Updated: November 12, 2025
Views: 3,967,534
Categories: Featured Articles | Back and Spine Health
Medical Disclaimer
The content of this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, examination, diagnosis, or treatment. You should always contact your doctor or other qualified healthcare professional before starting, changing, or stopping any kind of health treatment.
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 3,967,534 times.
Reader Success Stories
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"I have always used a chair to pop my lower back, never could get the relief for my upper back. I didn't know you could use the chair for upper as well. I know what I'll be doing now to pop my upper back. It felt great! Thank you for sharing!"..." more
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