So, what’s actually going on — and is it something to worry about?

What Causes the “Crack” Sound?

When a joint is moved or stretched quickly:

• The joint surfaces separate slightly
• This separation reduces pressure inside the joint capsule
• Dissolved gases (like nitrogen) in the fluid rapidly form a tiny bubble
• The formation of that bubble creates the cracking sound (called cavitation)

👉 The sound itself is coming from gas bubble dynamics, not the surfaces moving apart or “snapping.”

Does Cracking Joints Cause Damage?

For most people, no—it’s not dangerous.

Research has shown that habitual knuckle cracking does not lead to arthritis. In fact, one well-known long-term study even followed a doctor who cracked the knuckles on only one hand for decades—there was no difference between the two hands.

However, there are a few important nuances:

• Painful cracking is not normal and should be checked
• Repeated forceful cracking—especially if you feel like you “need” to do it       regularly — may point to an underlying issue

Why Do Some Joints Crack More Than Others?

Some people naturally experience more joint noise than others. Common reasons include:

• Greater joint flexibility or “looseness”, often next to a “tight” area
• Muscle imbalances or tension
• Previous injuries
• Areas of stiffness that suddenly release

What About Chiropractic Adjustments?

Chiropractic adjustments can also produce a “crack” or “pop,” and it’s the same basic mechanism—a rapid, controlled movement that changes joint pressure.

The key difference is:

• It’s specific and targeted
• It’s performed by a trained professional
• It’s aimed at improving joint function and movement

The sound itself isn’t the goal—the goal is better mobility and improved function.

When Should You Be Concerned?

It’s worth getting checked if joint cracking is:

• Frequent in a specific area
• Accompanied by pain or discomfort
• Associated with locking, catching, or instability
• Linked to a feeling that something just isn’t moving right

Your body is very good at giving feedback—pain and loss of function are the signals that matter most.

The Takeaway

Your joints should feel comfortable, stable, and capable—not restricted, painful, or unreliable.

If you’re noticing changes in how your joints feel or move, it’s worth having them assessed—not because of the noise, but because of what your body might be trying to tell you.

If you’d like help understanding what your joints are doing—or why they feel the way they do—we’re always here to help.

Regards,

Richard – Sure Start Chiropractic

How to Claim and Pay for Chiropractic Care Online

We offer fast and secure online claiming and payments through Tyro Health. This allows you to easily process your private health insurance claim and pay any gap fee online, before or after your appointment.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Check if Your Health Fund Is Supported

Tyro Health supports most major Australian health funds. You can check if your fund is supported by visiting:
www.tyro.com/health-funds

2. Receive Your Payment Link

You will receive a secure Tyro Health link via SMS or email from our clinic.

The message will include:

• A summary of your appointment
• The amount covered by your health fund (if applicable)
• The remaining gap to be paid

3. Claim and Pay Online

Click the secure link and follow the prompts:

• Step 1: Enter your private health fund member number
• Step 2: Tyro Health will process your health fund claim in real time
• Step 3: Pay any remaining balance (gap) using your credit or debit card

4. Confirmation

Once complete, you’ll receive a receipt via email.  Your claim is processed instantly and your payment is confirmed securely.

Need Help?

If you have any questions about your Tyro Health link, or if you’d prefer to pay in-clinic, please contact us directly.

Knowing, and caring for, your spine should be a lifelong process for all people, not just those in pain. There is a great deal YOU can do each week to help achieve and maintain a strong, confident and upright spine. It takes some time, attention and practice but the skills you gain can really boost how you feel, how you look and what you can do. Be sure to ask your Chiropractor for help with specifics.

1. Correct your Posture

Actively correct any of your postural distortions every day. Hold for 10 seconds – 30 minutes. Good times to do this are when you are semi-idle e.g. standing in a queue, watching kids sport, walking, waiting at traffic light or brushing your teeth.

2. Activate your Weakest areas

Use your Chiropractor-prescribed exercises.  Daily for beginners, 5 x per week for continued change, 3 x per week to maintain.

You cannot have joint fitness without regular usage.

3. Identify periods of Inactivity

Which times of the week are you most inactive, most often, particularly when under tension or in awkward positions?  For most of us, this occurs when we are sitting (PC, driving, sofa), reading in bed, using phones / tablets or using tools on the Job site.  

Prolonged inactivity is the enemy of spine fitness.

If you would like your Chiropractor to give you tailored advice about this, get a friend to take a photo (using your phone) of you in a ‘typical’ sitting or work posture. Where possible, have the photo taken from side-on, mid-body height and include your whole body. Show your Chiropractor on your next visit.

4. Be Ambidextrous

Look for activities where you can swap sides of your body where possible and safe (10 seconds – 30 minutes): computer mouse, telephone, carrying bags, tools, wiping surfaces, vacuuming / sweeping, washing car, holding baby.  Pick one or two to start, be patient, gradually work up from there. 

Pillows & Mattresses

Ask your Chiropractor for more specific advice about this.

Stay Current

Your Self-Care needs will change over time. Periodic formal reviews (a longer assessment-focused visit) every 1-3 years will help you access relevant and up to date advice.

Who do you know that could do with this kind of advice? Share this article with them today


Looking to ‘refresh’ your existing self-care routine? Inform your Chiropractor today

• ‘Living with illness’ (non-fatal) – 52% of total burden
• ‘Dying prematurely’ (fatal) – 48% of total burden

In 2022, the 5 disease groups causing the most burden were:

1. Cancer
2. Musculoskeletal conditions – Low-back pain was No.1 in this group
3. Cardiovascular diseases
4. Mental health conditions & substance use
5. Neurological conditions.

Together these 5 disease groups accounted for around two-thirds (62%) of the total burden, 3.4 million healthy life years lost.

Download PDF version

Source – https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports-data/health-conditions-disability-deaths/burden-of-disease/overview

They require a minimum level of activity each week to maintain their fitness and ability to perform well. Regular activity helps maintain their Strength, Coordination, Confidence and Resilience.

Also like athletes, spine joints can get injured and lose confidence.

If an athlete is injured, their coach or medical officer may recommend some time away from sport to rest and mend. If a spinal joint is injured, the brain (medical officer) will commonly instruct larger and more superficial muscles around the injured site to stiffen to protect the smaller deeper injured tissues.

Return to activity

What would happen if an athlete was psychologically ‘shaken’ by a particular injury, and chose not to return to play? After 3 months of avoiding training or play, what would happen to their fitness and their ability to perform at a high level? How would their confidence be?  What if they remained out of action for 1 year or more?

The above situation can occur in the human spine. The spine is a complex multi-joint system. It must endure high working forces every day (even in normal people) and is controlled by relatively small muscles.

Injuries of the small / deep tissues of the spine are common in everyday life. Your brain is very good at stiffening and protecting injured spinal joints. This intentional bracing of the injured site can be very effective at reducing the pain that a person would otherwise feel. This can give a false impression of the magnitude of harm that has occurred.

As weeks and months pass, it is not guaranteed that the injured site in the spine will return to full usage and fitness. If activity is not restored, fitness/confidence/performance/strength will inevitably diminish, increasing the risk of future injury, harm and pain.   

Fortunately, just like an athlete, fitness and confidence can be improved. With the right assessment and care approach, and some time, chronically inactive and weak spine segments can be coaxed back into action.  

At Sure Start Health, we are experts at identifying and restoring inactive and weak zones in the human spine. Most of the back and neck pain cases we see are the result of years or decades of inactivity and weakness that the patient had little or no idea existed.  

Contact us today to get your team of little athletes checked! Call 8272 2862  or book online through our website.

In 2023, the focus of Spinal Health Week is on the impact headaches have on Australians while providing solutions to elevate headache pain so sufferers can take back control of their health and wellbeing.

Migraine and tension-type headaches are the most prevalent headache disorders, both with disabling potential having the greatest impact on public health. With more than 7 million Australians suffering from debilitating tension headaches and more than 4.9 million suffering chronic migraine; the economic impact to Australia exceeds $35.7 billion annually.

However, the real cost to headache sufferers is immeasurable. Every day, headaches impact the lives of more than 46% of Australians causing debilitating pain and robbing sufferers of productive time at work and study, essential relaxation and social activities, and precious time with children, family and friends.

Migraine and tension headaches are the most common headache disorders, but there are many types of headaches, and many triggers that can cause them. While some headaches are just a mild inconvenience, others can be severe, chronic and have a debilitating effect on the daily life of sufferers.

The connection between spinal health conditions (especially of the neck) and headaches are well recognised in research. It’s vital that headache sufferers have their spine examined and, if appropriate, seek early, effective drug-free chiropractic care. Along with some simple lifestyle changes, this can go a long way to relieve pain, reduce the incidence of headache and migraine and help people take back control of their life.

Studies have shown that university trained chiropractors provide reliable, low risk, effective treatment for the three most common types of headaches – tension and cervicogenic (neck-related) headaches and migraines with notable improvement in cervicogenic headaches following chiropractic treatment.

While one study suggested that spinal manipulation of the neck and mid back is more effective than mobilisation and exercise in reducing cervicogenic headaches, another study found chiropractic adjustments reduced migraines in 72 percent of people surveyed and decreased their duration and severity.

And although pain medications (prescription and over the counter) may provide temporary relief from headache, it’s often a ‘Band-Aid’ solution that treats the symptoms but not the cause.
Often there are lifestyle factors that may be responsible for headaches that occur at home or at work. These might include diet or sedentary behaviours that our chiropractors can identify during an assessment, enabling sufferers to modify these behaviours to manage headaches or avoid them altogether and improve patient’s overall health and wellbeing.

At Sure Start Health our ACA accredited chiropractic healthcare professionals are trained to identify the causes of headaches and provide specialised low-risk, effective drug-free treatment for people of all ages.

So, if you or someone you know is among the 11.9 million Australians suffering from headaches or migraines and you’re tired of headaches holding you back, contact us today to make an appointment so you can take back control of your life.

Call Sure Start Health on 8272 2862 or book online.