Does cracking your knuckles give you arthritis?

Question

I have a bad habit of cracking the knuckles in my fingers and toes. Just wondering what the adverse affects would be?

Answer 1

Cracking knuckles does not cause arthirtis. That's an urban legend to get you to stop. The pop is a result of joint fluid transferring from one point of the joint to the other at high speeds. There have been no cases of arthritis caused by cracking your joints.

If you think, that's part of what chiropractors do is crack your bones for relief; they'd be getting sued out the wazoo if all of their patients ended up with big joints or arhritis...

Answer 2

There are no real adverse effects save for annoying the people around you. All you're doing when you "crack" your knuckles is forcing trapped air out of the joints. It doesn't make your knuckles big or cause arthritis or any of the other old wives' tales you may have heard. You CAN however pull a ligament in your finger if you try to force it though, so if it doesn't go right away, just leave it.

Answer 3

Dear Dizz: I notice you ask the question which leads me to believe you already know the answer. As a young person, pressures mount, nerves are edgy, and the knuckle cracking seems to help, but it gives you anxiety about am I hurting my self by doing that. A habit can be replaced by exchanging it for another habit only better for you. Could you drink a soothing tea? Caffeine will make it worse, because it is a nervous habit. Think of something that would give you more contentment in your present situation.

Answer 4

Imagine for a moment your arthritis completely vanishing right now.

If, in a moment, your pain and stiffness melted away. And your joints all of a sudden functioned like a well-oiled machine.

Like a magic wand was waived, you'd be able to jump up from your chair and run around the room like a kid.

And imagine that you'd never have to suffer as much as a pinch of arthritis stiffness or pain ever again.

I know this sounds impossible right now, but bear with me, because sometimes miracles happen.

It was a gift from a woman on the other side of the world. From the kindness of her heart, she took pity on my suffering and taught me how to completely reverse my arthritis.

Today, I want to do the same for you!

Answer 5

I'm 33... I've been cracking my thumb knuckles since I was about 10... I haven't gotten arthritis yet. My mom has arthritis & I never heard her crack her knuckes, ever. I really don't think the two are related.

Answer 6

Well it's not as bad as people once said , like you will get arthritis, but it's still not a good idea. Your forcing gas out of your joints all the time will add extra wear and tear on them, you only get these Knuckles once.

Answer 7

yes. my grandpa always cracked his knuckles. we went to the doctor. i was spending the night over there because my cuz lives w/ him. the doctor said his hands and knuckles have arthritis due to cracking his knuckles. because he cracked them 10 billion times a day. so the answer to your question is yes. based on an experts opinion. unless you don't crack them that often

Answer 8

I read somewhere that cracking your knuckles is just releasing air that gets trapped inside them. It doesnt cause arthritis.

But it can be gross and turn into a very annoying habit.

Answer 9

Arthritis No!! But it can sure weaken your grip, so if you crack your knuckles too often maybe you cannot rope climb so effciently and may have a loose grip. I personally think its a nervous habit of releasing tension.

Answer 10

I dont know but I have a friend who cracked her finger a lot and they used to shake and the join ts felt wierd