Si tu as déjà tourné la tête et l'entendu un claquement, un craquement ou un bruit sec provenant de ton cou, tu as fait l'expérience de ce que l'on appelle la crépitation du cou. La crépitation du cou est simplement le terme médical utilisé pour désigner les sons que produisent les articulations de ton cou lorsque tu te déplaces. Beaucoup de gens trouvent ces sons déstabilisants, mais les crépitations du cou n'ont rien d'inquiétant. La crépitation est un phénomène courant qui se produit dans les articulations de tout le corps. 

Que tu t'inquiètes de le arthrite du cou, de la Douleur au cou ou de quoi que ce soit d'autre, sache ceci : La crépitation en elle-même n'a rien d'inquiétant. Rien ne prouve que les craquements occasionnels ou réguliers de ton cou soient le signe d'un problème, ni qu'ilscausent des problèmes de cou .

Les crépitations du cou sont courantes et généralement inoffensives, et il y a des mesures à prendre pour que ton cou reste fort et en bonne santé. 

Lis la suite pour en savoir plus sur la crépitation du cou : ce que c'est, ce qui la provoque, et comment garder les articulations de ton cou fortes et résistantes à la Douleur et un peu moins bruyantes grâce aux conseils et aux exercices de nos Physiothérapeute d'Hinge Health.

Pourquoi mon cou craque-t-il autant? 3 causes de la crépitation du cou

Il est courant de penser que la crépitation indique un problème grave au niveau de ton cou, mais le plus souvent, elle peut s'expliquer par l'une des causes suivantes (ou une combinaison d'entre elles) : 

• Le air s'échappe de la surface du joint. C'est probablement la raison la plus fréquente, explique Lori Walter, Physiothérapeute, DPT, Physiothérapeute chez Hinge Health. Ton cou est composé de sept os. Les articulations se forment là où deux os se rencontrent et l'air est souvent retenu dans ces articulations. S'étirer, se pencher, se tordre ou même simplement bouger le cou (comme nous le faisons tous des centaines de fois chaque jour) peut faire sortir de l'air de la capsule articulaire et créer un bruit sec. Cela peut arriver à n'importe quelle articulation du corps, que tu fasses craquer tes articulations intentionnellement ou que tu en fasses l'expérience spontanément, comme lors des mouvements du genou. 

• Déplace les tendons et les ligaments. Chaque articulation est entourée de ligaments et de tendons, et il arrive que ce tissu conjonctif se " coince " dans les os pendant le mouvement et crée un bruit de claquement. Pense à cela comme si tu tirais sur un élastique et que tu le faisais bouger avec ton doigt. Le son ne fait que refléter le mouvement, mais il n'y a rien de dangereux. 

• Certaines maladies, telles que l 'arthrite. Notre corps change avec l'âge. Certaines personnes développent des cheveux gris sur leur tête ou des rides sur leur peau. D'autres subissent des changements plus internes, par exemple au niveau des tissus mous ou du cartilage. Beaucoup de ces changements sont tout à fait normaux, et ils ne provoquent pas toujours de symptômes perceptibles. Mais chez certaines personnes, la perte de cartilage fait que la surface des os devient moins lisse, ce qui peut provoquer un bruit de grincement lors de certains mouvements. 

Should You Worry About Neck Cracking?

“It’s important for people to know that crepitus itself is nothing to worry about,” says Dr. Walter. Some people might experience neck crepitus a few times a month, whereas others might experience it every day with neck movement. 

“Neck cracking can definitely be disconcerting for a lot of people, especially when they don’t know why it’s happening. The issue at the neck level is that there’s a lot of mobility, especially when you compare it to a hinge joint like the knee,” notes Dr. Walter. “There are seven vertebrae (bones) in there, which essentially means there’s more opportunity for cracking.” But hearing cracking, popping, or grinding sounds in and of itself does not mean there’s a problem, and on its own is nothing to be concerned about medically, she stresses. 

“If you’re highly concerned about your crepitus, and it’s causing you a lot of stress, it’s okay to get checked out for the sake of feeling more confident in your ability to move,” says Dr. Walter. A physical therapist (PT) can show you stretches you can do to improve joint mobility and possibly improve your crepitus. You can see a physical therapist in person or use a program like Hinge Health to access a PT via telehealth/video visit. 

Although neck crepitus itself is common and harmless, when other symptoms accompany it, it’s advisable to visit a doctor. Consult your healthcare provider if your neck crepitus is accompanied by any of the following:

• Numbness

• Lightheadedness

• Significant neck pain

• Significant decrease in mobility, including walking, writing, or completing daily tasks

• Pain that radiates down your arm

• Sensory changes

Neck Crepitus Treatment: What To Do If It Bothers Me?

Most people with neck crepitus don’t experience any pain or discomfort, but they associate the noises with something bad or dangerous. As a result, they may modify their behaviors and limit neck movements, assuming cracking and grinding sounds means something is wrong with their neck and that too much movement or activity will make their symptoms worse. Nothing could be further from the truth. Keeping your neck flexible and strong are the best things you can do to keep your neck muscles healthy. 

If you do have any pain or discomfort with neck crepitus, or are simply irritated by it, there are still things that you can do to work on keeping your neck strong, healthy, and injury-free (although they might not help with or prevent the cracking sounds directly):  

• Exercise therapy. Because the neck is so mobile, it’s important to have stability in and around the area so it has proper support. Exercises that strengthen the deep neck muscles as well as the shoulders can give your neck joints the support they need. “A lot of people are surprised by this, but working on your shoulder strength can help your neck because many muscles cross both your shoulder and neck joints,” says Dr. Walter. 

• Use heat. Applying heat, such as a hot pack or a moist, warm towel, to your neck can help relieve tension and discomfort for some people. 

• Alternative therapies such as acupuncture and massage. “The muscles around the neck can become tense or stiff, which can contribute to pain and crepitus,” says Dr. Walter. Treatments like acupuncture or massage may help loosen those muscles and create more space at the joints, which may help with symptoms.

• Consider your sleep position. How you sleep can play a role in how your neck feels and functions the next day. So if you find your sleep position doesn’t offer your neck the right amount of support, it might factor into neck pain or stiffness. Research shows that sleeping on your back or side might be worth trying if you are experiencing neck pain and stiffness at the moment. (Just remember, the best sleeping position for you is the one that’s most comfortable.) You can also try a new pillow that offers the right amount of support for you.

• Change up your workstation. Just like your sleeping position, sitting or working in a certain position all day will not cause crepitus. But if you are experiencing neck pain and stiffness, staying in the same position for long periods of time can contribute to symptoms (commonly referred to as “tech neck”). Try to change positions throughout the day, whether that’s propping your laptop on a file cabinet and standing for a bit, getting up to stretch or walk, or switching your sitting position (e.g., changing from crossing your legs to uncrossing them). 

• Take deep breaths. For most people, neck pain, stiffness, and crepitus are temporary. Maybe you slept in an odd position or had a particularly stressful week at work, which contributed to muscle tension and now your neck is making weird noises, says Dr. Walter. This is where stress can be an issue. “It makes our muscles tight. Even muscle tension in your jaw can contribute to tension through the whole head and neck,” she adds. Of course, managing your stress is much easier said than done. But many simple and quick techniques such as deep or diaphragmatic breathing can effectively reduce tension in your neck, according to a 2022 review published in the journal Diagnostics.