I’m a massage therapist – this is the only stretch that can instantly cure back pain.
- It is believed that around eight million Britons suffer from agonizing chronic back pain.
- It is the single leading cause of disability in the UK, accounting for 11% of cases.
Back pain may seem like an inevitable consequence of aging.
But one masseur claims that a simple stretch can ease the pain that affects millions of us.
James Moore, from Kentucky in the US, demonstrated the “thread the needle” stretch in a TikTok video viewed by nearly 13 million people.
It is said to open up the shoulders, lengthen the spine, and relieve tension in the lower neck and between the shoulder blades.
Lying on his stomach, Mr. Moore raises his left leg so that it makes a 90 degree angle with his right leg and the knee is bent.
James Moore, from Kentucky in the US, demonstrated the “thread the needle” stretch in a TikTok video viewed by nearly 13 million people. Lying on his stomach, Mr. Moore raises his left leg so that he is at a 90 degree angle with his right leg and the knee is bent.
She then uses her right hand to slightly lift her chest and tucks her left arm under her torso. As the massage therapist steps down, a wave of satisfying cracks erupts from her lower back.
Around 8 million Britons suffer from chronic back pain that is moderately to severely disabling, according to the British Pain Society.
She then uses her right hand to slightly lift her chest and tucks her left arm under her torso.
As the massage therapist bends over, a wave of satisfying cracks erupts from her lower back.
In the video description, Mr. Moore, who has 3 million followers, wrote: “POV: You start doing this stretch every day and now your back pain is gone and it’s just more enjoyable to be around.”
The sound made by cracking a joint in the knuckles, back, and neck is caused by gases that occur naturally in synovial fluid, the lubricant between joints, escaping quickly.
These gases only gradually return to the fluid, so it takes some time before you can break a joint again.
Endorphins, also known as “feel good” hormones, are also believed to be released when a joint is cracked, leaving you with a sense of satisfaction.
Proponents of breaking your back say it can relieve pain and tension. However, research shows that this may be a psychological placebo effect.
Back pain, while a nuisance to most, can be so severe that it can be a source of disability.
Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows the number of sick leave due to back and neck pain has risen 31 per cent to more than 262,000 since 2019. It said the increase in working from home since the pandemic may be to blame.
Around 8 million Britons suffer from chronic back pain that is moderately to severely disabling, according to the British Pain Society.
Mr. Moore’s five-second clip was hailed as a “stretch that really works” by viewers.
Some TikTok users said the simple stretch had similarly popped their backs, relieving their pain.
Chloe Jane commented, “OMG this really worked.”
Fittonia Albienis wrote: ‘Ooooh, this is good. I wasn’t prepared for my back to sound exactly like the video.
However, some users were less than impressed, stating that the stretch had the opposite result than expected.
Nina said: “I was gasping for breath and without crack satisfaction.”
Nerina wrote: ‘That hurts my back a lot.’
