Question
Is it normal for a five year old child's neck to pop both when looking down and up? He says it hurts a little, but he has a high tolerance for pain. He fell just last week on the concrete sidewalk at school and busted his front tooth out. Could this be a related injury to his neck?

Answer
Jennifer,

Thanks for your question.

If your son has not experienced this "popping" phenomenon prior to the fall you mentioned, I would immediately have him checked out in an ER, or minimally, with his pediatrician.

While it is common for some people to experience "popping" (called 'cavitation') of joints with movement of the neck when there are tight muscles which pull in the joints, this is generally less common in children.

I do recommend your son be evaluated by his physician as soon as possible to rule out a possible neck injury.