Some people habitually crack their joints, others can’t, and many are irritated by those who do. So what’s going on? Why do people do it, is it harmful, what makes the noises, and what would happen if our joints weren’t able to crack? Before going on, it’s important to note we’re talking here about people cracking their own joints. This is also known as “self-manipulation”. But when a physiotherapist or chiropractor cracks (or manipulates) your spine, what makes the noises is the same, but the implications can be very different than what’s being discussed here. Although it may irritate friends and family, self-manipulating our joints is probably neither useful nor harmful for the individual. Why Do We Crack Our Joints? People crack their joints because they feel better, looser, or less stiff afterwards. The relief is temporary and they typically repeat it at some point after 20 minutes, when the …