Cracking knuckles?

Question

Why is it so easy to crack the knuckles of our fingers in our hands, but not so easy to crack our toes?

Answer 1

Well, it's important to understand why we're able to crack our knuckles -- or toes. The sound you hear is the sound of hardened scar tissue breaking apart when a joint bends past a certain point. Scar tissue builds up quicker in our hands than they do in our feet because our fingers are more active and work harder than our toes. Thus, they tend to generate more scar tissue as our hands heal. People who are on their feet a lot can crack their toes as easy as some of us crack our knuckles.

Answer 2

I think it gets easier to crack certain joints the longer you do it. I started cracking my toes when I was a kid (don't ask me, I have no idea why), and now, I can crack my toes by pressing my feet together, both feet at the same time! It's the first thing i do when I take my shoes off, and it feels pretty damn good. I can't, however, crack my knuckles very well, because I never really tried.

Answer 3

By cracking your fingers or toes, it does no damage later in life. That is an old wives tale to make you stop doing it. Cracking your knuckles and toes or whatever else part of your body you crack is only getting the carbon/air out of your joints. Go take Anatomy/Physiology 101.

Answer 4

I can crack my toes easy!!!

But careful on how much you do it, can cause problems later in life.
Like arthritis or something. I used to crack my knuckles all the time when I was a kid cuz well.. I could! Now they hurt alot sometimes, and its not cuz I play the computer.

So careful!!

Answer 5

I think it is conditioning. My dad use to sit with us to watch television on Thursday nights when I was young. He would rub my feet and pop my toes. The more it's done the easier it is to do it. Thanks a lot dad. :) It is gross but some people's knuckles don't crack easily because they hadn't done it growing up. Same with backs and necks.

Answer 6

I don't know about that...my husband cracks his toes, and it's disgusting! All he has to do is wiggle his toes and they make that awful noise.

Answer 7

first of all, why would anyone want to crack their toes?

Answer 8

Because our toes are shorter