At one point or another, we have all tried to crack our neck by rolling it. And, we've all experienced the cracking sound or popping noise after we've done it. Generally speaking, this is expected, and it's similar to cracking our knuckles. Some people do it because it provides an instant relief caused by the loosening of our joints. If you do this, you likely don't think about it too much and do it out of habit. When you crack your joints, the popping, cracking, and stretching sounds are due to a release of oxygen that has accumulated between your joints and ligaments. The medical term for these cracking sounds is cavitation. When you feel relief after cracking the joints in your cervical spine, it's due to an increase in your range of motion. This relief can be amplified if it's caused by physical activity or exercise. As long as you don't experience any discomfort when you crack your neck, there usually isn't anything to worry about. However, always use caution if you crack your neck or any other joint, so you don't damage the joint. In some cases, however, popping and cracking in the neck may call for a trip to see your chiropractor. In the article below, we'll talk about why your neck cracks when it rolls, and when you may need to see a chiropractor.