Some perceive a crunch in the spine as normal. For others, it causes fears for his health. Is it worth it to be serious? Why is the spine crunching? This phenomenon occurs in completely healthy people when performing any physical exercise, and may also indicate a disease. How can one recognize whether this phenomenon hides pathological processes in the body or is it still the natural behavior of the joints?
Crunch nature
Doctors still argue why the spine is crunching, trying to identify the true cause. According to one version, blame gas bubbles accumulated in the joint area. The synovial fluid contains oxygen dioxide, a large amount of which expands the intraarticular space. Cavities with reduced pressure form. According to the theory, crunching is caused by bubbles of this gas, falling between the articular surfaces.
Another version of the cause of the crunch calls the shock wave, which occurs when the collapse of the formed gas bubbles. Some experts consider crunching to be the norm inherent in joints and due to their structure. Other reasons for this are seen in excessive joint mobility, displacement of the vertebrae.
Causes
Typically, a crunch in the spine is heard when performing any movements aimed at stretching the joints. These can be physical exercises, such as leaning forward, sideways, or turning. The norm is if the sounds are heard only at the beginning of the action, and then disappear. The spine crunches, as a rule, after a long stay in one position.
In a healthy person, this phenomenon should not cause discomfort. Often, such sounds occur during a professional massage, when the chiropractor puts them in place when the vertebrae are displaced. If the crunch is accompanied by back pain, which are permanent, this may indicate the presence of a disease.
What diseases are accompanied by a crunch?
If the spine crunches regularly, the reasons may not be the most harmless. Perhaps this is one of the symptoms of the following diseases:
- Osteochondrosis. Most often the cervical and lumbar spine suffers. Crunch is associated with deformation of the intervertebral discs, overgrowth of bone tissue.
- Kyphosis, lordosis. Curvature of the spine leads to changes in bone and muscle tissue, while movements are accompanied by a crunch.
- Arthrosis The reason is the same - a change in the tissues of the joint.
- Hernia.
- Injuries and operations.
- Spondylolisthesis. Displacement of the vertebrae impedes the proper functioning of the musculoskeletal system.
- Protrusion - displacement of the intervertebral disc, its extension beyond the spine.
Some diseases of the spine lead to the formation of osteophytes in the joints - growths of cartilage, which can cause crunching, and even make movement difficult in a neglected form. If symptoms are found, consult a specialist for a diagnosis and immediate treatment.
Diagnostics
When the spine crunches, the detection of the disease begins with an examination by a doctor. He will draw conclusions about the presence of the disease and send it to one of the examinations: X-ray, ultrasound, MRI, myelography, computed tomography. It will be necessary to take blood and urine tests. The most effective method for determining the disease in the case of the spine is MRI. After the diagnosis, the doctor will be able to determine whether fears were in vain or still the patient has a disease of the spine. It is good to identify the disease at an early stage, so it is easier to treat. Therefore, it is better to play it safe and undergo an examination. If the doctor does not detect pathologies, you can be sure of the health of the spine and not be afraid of the crunch that occurs from time to time. If you do not identify the disease on time, you can wait for the irreversible consequences that are not amenable to treatment, and perhaps even lie under the knife.
Treatment
In order for the crunch to pass, you need to cure the disease that causes it. To do this, doctors use anti-inflammatory drugs, painkillers - this treatment helps at an early stage. As part of complex therapy, therapeutic massage, specially selected physical exercises, and physiotherapy are used. Does the spine crunch for a long period of time, painfully and constantly? Perhaps the disease has already passed into the chronic stage. In this case, surgical intervention may be required.
If the spine crunches in a child
Such symptoms can seriously alert parents. But this is not always justified. When a child’s spine crunches, but this does not cause discomfort or pain, the baby does not complain and does not show anxiety, then they talk about the natural growth process of a small organism. In infants, a crunch appears due to a lack of fluid in the joints, this is a normal phenomenon that passes over time. Of course, it is better to inform the local pediatrician about this, but there is no need to panic: most likely, such manifestations do not pose a danger.
The doctor can prescribe a massage for prevention, which is very useful for a growing body. In adolescents, the spine crunches for the same reason - bones, joints and muscles grow rapidly. For prevention, the child should receive a sufficient amount of physical activity for his age, less than sitting in one pose at the computer. If after short movements the crunch passes, other symptoms do not appear, then it is not dangerous and is quite natural. In the presence of painful sensations or a constant, persistent crunch when moving, you need to hurry to the doctor, because the sooner the disease is detected, the easier it will be to cope with it.
Crunch in the cervical spine
The origin of a crunch should be distinguished by its localization in the spine — cervical or lumbar (the thoracic sedentary and rarely has such manifestations). The cervical region is the most mobile, often people hear crisp sounds even with the usual turn of the head to the side. They appear in the morning, after a long stay in one position or sleep on a high pillow, in the evening - after a busy day, long work at the computer.
The cause may also be increased spinal flexibility due to the mobility of the intervertebral discs. Diseases that can manifest as a crunch in the cervical spine are osteochondrosis, arthrosis, spondylolisthesis. The sound effect accompanying these diseases is associated with changes in bone tissue, its proliferation and deformities. Pain symptoms, stiffness of movements are usually added to the symptoms. You can crunch the spine in the cervical region with curvature: kyphosis, lordosis, scoliosis. Such diseases themselves go away, they need to be taken seriously and consult a doctor for help.
Lower back crunch
The lumbar spine takes the greatest load. This is its most flexible part, which is responsible for turns, torso, leg lifting. In addition, he is responsible for the vertical position of the body, is the center of gravity. Most often, he suffers if a person goes in for sports related to weight lifting, or is forced to undergo heavy physical exertion in connection with work. The spine crunches in the lower back due to deformation of the intervertebral discs. Crunching in the spine itself is not treated, as it is either a safe manifestation of the joints, or one of the symptoms of a spinal disease.
In the latter case, the treatment is aimed at the disease itself, but not at eliminating the crunch. When diagnosing osteochondrosis, prolapse, protrusion, accompanied by the formation of osteophytes, a course of manual therapy, acupuncture, osteopathy is prescribed. A therapeutic massage is used, a specially selected set of physical exercises, more aimed at strengthening the muscles that support the lumbar.