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How to Crack Someone Else's Back

Two Methods:Helping Someone Crack their BackTaking Safety PrecautionsCommunity Q&A

Cracking your back can sometimes help relieve mild pain or cramps. If someone asks you for help cracking their back, have them lie on a flat surface and gently press down on their back until they feel relief. Doctors advise against back cracking that's not overseen by a medical professional, especially severe back pain.[1] Stick to back cracking only for mild pain and irritation.

Helping Someone Crack their Back

  1. 1
    Stick to gentle methods used by chiropractors. Other back cracking methods can be very dangerous and are not professionally recommended. Stick to the gentle massage method used by chiropractors to reduce the risk of complications. Aggressive methods, like the bear hug or methods that involve lifting, have been linked to medical trauma.[2]
    • The method outlined here is based on chiropractor guidance and is safer to perform. However, it's always best to see a professional.
  2. 2
    Have the person lie on a flat surface. The person should lie on their stomach on a flat surface. Something like a bed, table, or even the floor would work well.[3]
  3. 3
    Push on the person's back and buttocks. Back cracking, when done safely, is really more of a gentle massage than an attempt to push someone's back too harshly. Start by using one hand to gently press down on the person's buttocks and the other hand to press down on the person's upper back. Make a series of gentle pressing motions for a few seconds to start.[4]
  4. 4
    Pull the pelvic bones while pushing the back. Place one hand on the person's lower back, just above their buttocks. Tuck your other hand just under the pelvis. Gently press down on the lower back while lifting upwards slightly on the pelvis.[5]
  5. 5
    Press on the back while raising and lowering the person's legs. After working the pelvic bones, the person should lift their legs while remaining on their stomach. This works best if you have an actual chiropractor table and can lift the bottom half of the table up and down lightly. However, as you likely don't have such a table, you can try having the person lift both legs up and down slightly at the same time. This should be a gentle, rocking motion, as it will help with the back cracking process.[6]
  6. 6
    Press on the lower back. Press on the part of the back just above the buttocks on the bottom of the spinal cord. Keep pressing until the person feels relief. Keep in mind, you may not always hear the traditional popping or cracking sound. Nevertheless, the person may feel relief from the rocking/pressing on its own.[7]
  7. 7
    Talk to the person throughout the procedure. While you're helping to crack someone's back, keep a dialogue going to make sure the person is comfortable. Ask if they feel okay throughout the procedure and instruct them to tell you to stop if they feel pain. If you keep trying to crack someone's back after they've expressed pain, this can cause injury.[8]

Taking Safety Precautions

  1. 1
    See a doctor if the pain becomes severe. Never help someone crack their back if they claim to be in severe pain. Cracking someone's back if they're in intense pain can result in serious complications. Severe back pain should only be treated by a medical professional.[9]
  2. 2
    Avoid constant back cracking. If you or someone you know feels a constant need to crack their back, this can be a sign of an underlying medical problem related to the muscles or the bones in the back. While back cracking can temporarily relieve pain, it will not help address the bigger cause of back pain.[10]
  3. 3
    Take steps to prevent back pain in the future. Frequent back cracking is bad for your overall health. Instead of relying on back cracking to address pain, the following actions can help prevent back pain to begin with:[11]

Community Q&A

Add New Question
  • Question
    How do I do this without fear of killing the person?
    wikiHow Contributor
    Community Answer
    If you're afraid of killing the person whose back you're cracking, don't even try.
  • Question
    Does standing on someones back cause injury?
    wikiHow Contributor
    Community Answer
    Not always, for example a small child might stand on someones back without causing injury. An adult or larger person would not want to try this, though.
  • Question
    What cracking someone's back causes them immense pain?
    wikiHow Contributor
    Community Answer
    Take them to see their general physician or go to an urgent care facility, as you may have damaged something. Don't do it again without professional help from a chiropractor.
  • Question
    How can I get somebody to crack my back?
    wikiHow Contributor
    Community Answer
    Simply ask. Just make sure it's someone who is comfortable with you.
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    Article Info

    Categories: Back and Spine Health

    In other languages:

    Español: hacer crujir la espalda de alguien, Português: Estalar as Costas de Alguém, Italiano: Scrocchiare la Schiena di un Altro, Français: craquer le dos de quelqu'un d'autre, Deutsch: Jemandem den Rücken "knacken", Русский: сделать декомпрессию позвонков другим людям, 中文: 让别人的背部咔咔作响, Bahasa Indonesia: Membunyikan Punggung Orang Lain, Nederlands: Iemands rug kraken, Čeština: Jak někomu "nakřupat" záda, Tiếng Việt: Nắn Khớp xương Lưng, العربية: طقطقة ظهر شخص ما

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