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Patient Questions  /  Neck cracking and popping

Neck, Jaw & Headaches

Why Does My Neck Crack and Pop, and Is It Bad?

Usually it's harmless. The sound is most often a small gas bubble releasing in a joint, or a tendon sliding over bone. Painless cracking is common and isn't known to cause arthritis. It's worth getting checked if it comes with pain, numbness or dizziness, or if you feel you need to crack it all the time.

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What makes the sound

  • Gas bubbles. The joints in your neck are surrounded by fluid. When a joint is stretched or twisted, a bubble can form or release with a pop. That's why you often can't crack the same joint again right away.
  • Tendons and ligaments can snap lightly over bone as you move.
  • Grinding or crunching sounds are common with age as joint surfaces change. They are often painless and not a sign of damage on their own.

Noises by themselves aren't a good guide to what's happening inside your neck. How your neck feels and moves matters much more than whether it makes sounds.

Is cracking your own neck bad?

An occasional gentle pop when you stretch or turn your head is fine. Forcefully twisting your neck to make it crack is different. The relief usually lasts only a short time, and in rare cases forceful neck twisting has been linked to injury of an artery in the neck.

If you feel the urge to crack your neck many times a day, it's often a sign of stiffness or tight, tired muscles. Gentle neck movement through the day, breaks from screens, and strengthening your neck and upper back usually ease that feeling better than cracking.

When to see a doctor

See a doctor promptly if you have:

  • Neck pain with a sudden severe headache, dizziness, double vision, slurred speech, trouble swallowing or face drooping: call 911
  • Neck pain or new cracking after a fall, car accident or other injury
  • Numbness, tingling or weakness in the arms or hands
  • Clumsy hands or trouble walking or with balance

How physical therapy at ARI can help

A physical therapist checks how your neck and upper back move, eases stiffness with hands-on treatment, and gives you exercises that build strength and mobility, so you feel less need to crack your neck.

At ARI Physical Therapy in Bakersfield, every visit is one-on-one and in person with a licensed physical therapist, and our clinic director, Deepa Konnur, PT, MPT, OCS, is a board-certified Orthopedic Certified Specialist. We accept most private insurance plans and Medicare, and we have staff who speak Spanish and Hindi.

Read our full guide: Neck pain and headaches →

No referral needed to start. In California, you can see a physical therapist directly for up to 12 visits or 45 days, whichever comes first. Some insurance plans still require a referral for coverage; call us at (661) 282-8584 and we'll help you check.

Related questions

Ready to feel better?

Talk to a licensed physical therapist at ARI, one-on-one. Request an evaluation and we'll get back to you, usually within one business day.

Request an EvaluationCall (661) 282-8584

This page is general information, not a diagnosis. If you have symptoms, a licensed clinician should evaluate you.

Clinically reviewed by Deepa Konnur, PT, MPT, OCS, board-certified Orthopedic Certified Specialist · Reviewed October 2026