Arthritis

Is there a genetic link that leads you to crack neck joints frequently? The genetic code that we are born with bestows some of us with hypermobile neck joints. This is one of the primary reasons why we get an urge to crack neck joints frequently. Hypermobile joints have the tendency to have an extended range of motion. While we are growing up the ligaments attached to these joints compensate for the extra mobility by allowing themselves to be stretched a little more than what is required for normal motion.

The problem starts here as the ligaments become looser as we get older. This puts extra pressure on the muscles that manipulate the neck vertebrae. This is when you feel pressure on you neck and crack neck joints to relieve the pressure. The urge to crack neck joints frequently arises because with each successive twist of the neck the ligaments get more and more elongated. This makes your muscles work hard to restrict the movements of the neck joints. As they do this your muscles will get tired faster and you will crack neck joints at shorter intervals.

This turns out into a routine in your life and you do not think seriously of it until your neck starts to pain each time you crack it with a vigorous twist. Another genetic link that leads you to crack neck joints is the density of your bones. Bone mineral density is a variable that affects the strength of the bones, especially that of the back and neck vertebrae. If the density of these minerals in your bones is less, they may be affected when you crack your neck. In some rare cases, the fragments from your neck vertebrae could chip off each time you twist your neck with the intention of cracking it.

How then do you increase the bone mineral density and take care of this issue? You can consult your doctor and take some medication and vitamin D supplements to strengthen your bones. A high calcium intake is also beneficial to increase the bone mineral density. In the light of the evidence presented in the article we can definitely conclude that there is a strong link between genetic predisposition and the urge to crack neck joints. The good news is that the problems arising from the tendency to crack neck joints are manageable and do not pose a serious health concern if remedial measures are taken early on.

Tags: arthritis, crack neck, joint pain;