Ribs



  • I am a long time multiple joint cracker, first-time poster…

    In my late teens/early twenties I realized that I was capable of cracking my ribs. This at first was rare, but now I can pretty much do it at will. I practice yoga, so I am pretty flexible -- if I bend backwards with my arms outstreched over my head one or a few of the joints at my sternum (front/middle of my ribcage) will pop ever so slightly. Sometime, on a very rare occasion, just taking a dep breath, puffing out my ribs, has caused this too.

    Can anyone else do this?

    Oh, I just tried and it worked -- it was a small quite one. In any case, I think this is my favorite joint to crack since it seems so unique.


  • Community Lead

    Welcome SnapCracklePop!

    I didn't even know cracking the ribs was possible! This is really a unique accomplishement. I certainly have never cracked any of my ribs. Neither on purpose nor on accident.



  • Well I can't remember ever cracking my ribs but it sounds interesting. When cracking your ribs do you get any type of relief? Or is it just a sound? I do however have experience with cracking my chest, but it only happens once or twice a day when stretching. And when it does happen its not like the relief you get when popping your neck. Although sometimes it can get pretty loud. When popping my chest I usually sit up straight in a chair, (with no arms) then stretch my arms and shoulders behind me as if I were tring to touch my elbows together at my back.



  • I think you're wrong, there are no joints in the ribs, neither synovial fluid . That sounds come from your middle al low spine


  • Community Lead

    @hp:

    I think you're wrong, there are no joints in the ribs, neither synovial fluid . That sounds come from your middle al low spine

    Hmm, I just took a quick sweep on Google and found this:

    In general the chest should be pushed down 11/2-2 inches. Sometimes you may hear a cracking sound. Do not be alarmed. The sound is caused by cartilage or ribs cracking. Even if this occurs the damage is not serious. The risk of delaying CPR or not doing CPR is far greater than the risk of a broken rib.

    The other references I found to cracking ribs refered to broken ribs due to accidents. :roll:



  • At times, my sternum cracks…it usually happens when my weight changes a bit [~2 lbs, either up or down]…



  • I def can't do this and wouldn't want to.

    I think you would do some unwanted damage so they are best left alone.



  • My sternum has cracked a few times. It's quiet, but it feels strange. I don't like it even though it's not painful.



  • im not sure if i get what you are saying. but im cracking my back bones right below my neck, and sometimes when i breath hard, it cracks as well! and this is so so addictive that i couldnt stop it!



  • @Glenntay:

    im not sure if i get what you are saying. but im cracking my back bones right below my neck, and sometimes when i breath hard, it cracks as well! and this is so so addictive that i couldnt stop it!

    That sounds a pretty dangerous thing to do. And just by breathing you can crack something? You must be exerting some force by maybe pushing out or something.



  • No, my back cracks when I breath sometimes too. I'm only breathing as I normally do, it's not like I'm trying to breath hard enough to do it lol. It does feel good, too.



  • @AquaLiz:

    No, my back cracks when I breath sometimes too. I'm only breathing as I normally do, it's not like I'm trying to breath hard enough to do it lol. It does feel good, too.

    Which means you are putting your back under strain then?



  • No, that's where my subluxation is.



  • Ok…


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