“Pop” in My Neck
Question
Dear TAI Experts:
I was massaging my neck due to neck strain and felt a pop when pushing against the left side. No pain, nothing. Now every morning it pops in the same place automatically once, and if I rest for a while, after lying down. Just when I get up and move it it will pop one time. Did I injure my neck and will this go away? What do you think I did?
Answer
First I have to say that without doing a complete evaluation of your neck, it is not possible to comment on your specific condition. That said, there are a few things that could contribute to a condition such as the one you’ve described. It is unlikely that by putting massage pressure on your neck you’ve done any damage. One has to wonder if the current popping may have more to do with the initial reason for the strain? Either way, popping often results from a combination of joint mobility problems and an imbalance in the tightness of the neck muscles. Seeing a physical therapist may be beneficial to get a few exercises that may help balance muscle tone and unload the joints that are bothering you. A physical therapist would also ask you questions about your posture and body position during the day. There may be aspects about how you’re using your body that could be adjusted to help your condition as well. In the mean time, here are a few symptoms that you should watch for (these are things that would indicate you should see a physician sooner than later). 1) Dizziness, blurred vision, problems swallowing with neck motions. 2) Numbness or tingling in both arms and/or both legs. 3) Headaches with neck motion. I recommend that you see a physician if you have any of the above symptoms. Otherwise, using a cold pack a couple times a day and performing gentle shoulder range of motion exercises may help this condition.
David Deppeler, PT, OCS, COMT, FAAOMPT
“Pop” in My Neck
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