Lower back cracking when front kicking

Discussion in 'Health and Fitness' started by wwww wwww, Jan 4, 2018.

  1. wwww wwww

    wwww wwww New Member

    Whenever I do the regular front kick, I feel my lower back cracking. Is this normal?

    When I simply raise my leg high, I feel nothing, and when I perform a kicking motion while not having my leg up high, I feel nothing. But when I combine both, there is an audible crack.
     
  2. Smitfire

    Smitfire Cactus Schlong

    You sure it's your back and not your hip? My hips clunk a bit in certain movements and positions. For example if lay on my back, draw my legs into my chest and the extend them horizontal again they will clunk when nearing full extension.
     
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  3. Mushroom

    Mushroom De-powered to come back better than before.

    Top part of your hip?

    Does it happen alllll the time?
     
  4. wwww wwww

    wwww wwww New Member

    Actually you're right, it might be the top part of my hip; I feel it a bit more to the right when kicking with my right leg, and a bit more to the left when kicking with my left leg.

    I can usually do a few kicks without feeling anything before it starts happening.

    @Smitfire Tried that, didn't feel anything.
     
    Last edited: Jan 4, 2018
  5. Knee Rider

    Knee Rider Valued Member Supporter

    It's definitely not 'normal'. If it's painless it might not be problematic though. Go to docs?
     
  6. Monkey_Magic

    Monkey_Magic Well-Known Member

    If it was me, I’d definitely see a physiotherapist to get it checked out.

    It’s little niggles like this that can sometimes turn into major problems later on. Well worth a trip to the physio to be on the safe side.
     
  7. Van Zandt

    Van Zandt Mr. High Kick

    Cracking, popping and clicking sounds emanating from joints - also known as crepitus - can be caused by a number of reasons. The prevailing theory in sports medicine is that noises in joints are primarily caused by cavitation, which is the formation and collapse of bubbles (cavities) within the synovial fluid of spinal and peripheral joints. It is a phenomenon regularly observed in clinical manual therapy practice. Surface separation, resulting in an increase in inter-articular volume, will drop intra-articular pressure. If pressures fall to a threshold level, 'vapour pressure' micro-clouds of bubbles will form within the synovial fluid. The subsequent gaseous/fluid mix results in a transient period, where less force is required to induce movement. This minor, transient effect lasts approximately 20-60 minutes, which goes some way to explain why a person must wait a period of time before being able to 'crack' his/her knuckles again, for example.

    Popping or cracking of joints is not harmful per se (cohort studies of metacarpophalangeal 'knuckle crackers' have revealed no increase in the odds of developing osteoarthritis in these joints) but may be a sign of joint tightness caused by overly or unevenly tensed muscles - usually from improper strength training or neurological dysfunction that can be addressed with appropriate treatment methods.

    Repeated clicking or snapping outside of the hip joint (on the outside of the pelvis) may be caused by a tight iliotibial band and may be relieved by stretches of the hip abductors (gluteus medius, gluteus minimus, tensor fascia latae, piriformis). Clicking or snapping inside the hip joint (front of the pelvis) may be caused by a tight psoas and may also be relieved by stretching. Muscles can become tight as a result of too much effort or too frequent exercise and not enough rest. Snapping sounds from the hip may also be caused by the iliofemoral ligament moving over the head of the femur during either hip flexion or abduction.

    Another cause of sounds in a joint is osteoarthritis. When joint surfaces are diseased and the cartilage is eaten away, the ligaments and tendons crossing the joint get slack. Their slack lets them move in and out of their grooves, making popping sounds.

    Loose bodies in a joint, making creaking noises particularly in the knees and hips, can be a result of softening of the articular surfaces. This type of degeneration is accompanied by inflammation, pain, and swelling.

    Clicking in the hip when extending the hip joint (e.g. bringing the leg downward when doing an axe kick) and adducting the thigh (bringing it back inward after raising it to the side when standing) may be caused by the tendon of the iliopsoas coming back over the hip joint capsule. It is not painful unless one has inflammation of the bursa iliopectinea that lies in front of the hip joint and beneath the iliopsoas tendon. Also the tendon of the tensor fascia latae may snap forward over the greater trochanter of the femur as one makes seeeping semicircular movements with the lower limb or does squats with feet pointing out. Such snapping is seldom painful but degeneration of the greater trochanter may result when it is experieced over a long period. To remedy this problem, strengthen the abductor muscles of the hip and stretch the TFL.

    In summary: Increased flexibility resulting from martial arts training may cause greater frequency of joint clicking or popping, because of enhanced leverage of the joint's bones. Painless clicking or cracking in the joints themselves is harmless, especially if followed by the release of tension and increased mobility. However, in all cases the nature of noises in the joints is best determined by a qualified physician.
     
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  8. Tom bayley

    Tom bayley Valued Member

    Van Zant thanks for the awesome post. :)
     
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  9. Van Zandt

    Van Zandt Mr. High Kick

    Thank you. I hope the information proves useful.
     

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