I understand that in some parts of the world (e.g., India), it is common for barbers to crack the customer's neck after a haircut. Has anyone on the forum had this experience?

For those of you who have visited these types of clinics to have your neck or spine "adjusted" (i.e., cracked) . . .has anyone noticed any difference in the techniques employed by osteopaths compared to chiropractors? Any preference for the experience / results you had from one or the other?

I've been cracking my knuckles for over 30 years. They are now clearly enlarged and feel swollen and tight unless I take naproxen daily. The swelling is most dramatic in the proximal interphalangeal joints (the main knuckles on each finger). At this point I suspect the deformity is permanent, although I wish I could give up the habit and find out for sure.

Is anyone resolving to stop or reduce joint cracking this year? I've tried in the past, but haven't been successful. :?

When I was in junior high school a friend of mine who was a year older could crack his knuckles and some other joints and sort of chuckled at me because I couldn't. I worked at it for a week or so and finally got some meager pops out from my knuckles. Then my friend informed me he had stopped because he learned that "it irritates the joint bursae". (He was fairly serious for a junior high-schooler – went on to get a Ph.D. in Chemistry). By then, however, I was hooked.

Now I'm in my 40s and still crack on a daily basis. Quite frankly I would like to be able to stop, but I haven't had the willpower to do so. The knuckles on my hands are quite large, but I realize there's no good evidence that the cracking caused this.

At least for me, the first time a new finger or toe joint was cracked the sound was very muffled and sometimes associated with some discomfort. After repeated manipulations the characteristic cracking sound became audible and the sensation became enjoyable.

(There's probably a lesson of some sort within that experience.)

I know what you mean about coworkers. I try very hard to avoid cracking at work for that reason unless I'm alone.

Once, though, in the middle of a meeting I was attending a lady cracked several of her knuckles one by one while making a comment. It certainly didn't bother me, but others were exchanging glances and I don't think her point got across very well. I suppose there's a time and place for everything!

Agree–the second toe on each foot gives the most pleasing sensation. Not sure why.

Hello 40 y.o.o.g. – thanks for these detailed instructions. Now, if I can just find a friend strong enough to lift ol' Bubba up, I'll give this a try. (If I were to have my wife try it, she would likely do something worse to her back than crack it)!

What method do you use for cracking your back?

I have tried the ones mentioned elsewhere on the site but haven't succeeded yet. I can crack my neck, all fingers, and some of my toes. (Best results are from both second toes; not sure why).