Lower back cracks when I suck in my stomach -- why??

[Anonymous]

Subject says it all -- my lower back cracks quite frequently when I suck in my stomach. No pain, just light cracking/popping followed by the feeling of relief you have after you crack a knuckle. Didn't start until after I had two kids (both of whom are now >5). Used to be very toned with strong abs, now have more of a "mom bod" but no diastasis recti. Yes, I know I can ask a doc (and I will) but wanted to crowdsource and see if anyone had/has a similar experience. Any insights much appreciated!

[Anonymous]

Bump. Anyone, please?

[Anonymous]

Do you have pain?

[Anonymous]

Did you have an epidural? My back did something similar for years after my first kid and it was in the exact spot that I got my epidural.

[Anonymous]

No pain but yes, it is in the same place as the epidural. Again, though, this was more than 5 years ago. For the PP with something similar, did you do anything to make it stop or did it just stop over time (and how long)?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No pain but yes, it is in the same place as the epidural. Again, though, this was more than 5 years ago. For the PP with something similar, did you do anything to make it stop or did it just stop over time (and how long)?

Pp here. My back no longer cracks but I do sometimes have something like a grinding feeling (not painful) in my spine when I lean backwards. It started more than 5 years ago. I saw an orthopedist a few months postpartum and he said there’s no way the epidural caused it, dismissed my concerns, and said it was caused because of loose ligaments and wouldn’t get better until I stopped breastfeeding. I didn’t do anything else about it—it just slowly got better. If it’s bothering you, I would see a physical therapist that works with post partum women.

[Anonymous]

I’m a male teenager and also have the same problem for some reason. When I suck in my stomach my upper back cracks though.

[Anonymous]

When you're pregnant, hormones make all of the connective tissue in your body relax some. It doesn't all go back to the way it was (this is why your feet often permanently go up a size after pregnancy). This has also happened to the connective tissue around your spine, and that's why it's become so easy to crack, apparently from the angle at which you exert your abdominal muscles to "suck in your stomach."

Strengthening all of the muscles in your core--abdominal, back, pelvic floor and diaphragm--will probably reduce or eliminate this.

[Anonymous]

I'm taking the simple route and guessing your sucking movement has an upward lift that causes your spine to pop.

For the male teenager (btw it totally caught me by surprise that there could be someone from your age group here; welcome!) in your case I think your sucking action is combined with a backward slanting of your upper body, causing the upper back crack.