Does cracking knuckles effect your hands with long-term effects? Does it REALLY lead to Arthritis?

Question

I've been debating a long time and I've seen both experiments proven and disproven. Any feedback would be great!

Answer 1

yes it leads to arthritis. It gradually damages the tissue in the joints.

Answer 2

Cracking knuckles is the release of air bubbles trapped inside the knuckle. The old wives tale that cracking them leads to arthritis is just that, an old wives tale.

The most it will do is slightly enlarge the knuckles. But this is not a permanent situation.

I personally crack mine at least 10 times a day and have since as far back as 5th grade...I am 37 now. My fingers are my life as they are my career. I have no side effects or problems with my knuckles or hands.

Even can say my hands feel better when I do crack them, like a release of tension.

Answer 3

There's a fluid in between your joints called synovial fluid, which contains the air pockets that make the cracking sound. When you crack your knuckles, the fluid is displaced, but doesn't cause any damage, it's not known if the fluid can deplete doing this, but i'm sure that it does at least a little, I mean when people get older, their knuckles start to feel arthritis, i'm sure it has to do with this. Anyways by cracking your knuckles, you can loosen or tear a ligament, so why risk it, and it's so annoying! just stop

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

There is some evidence that this habit causes inflammation of the joints (swollen joints) but no connection has been made between knuckle cracking and arthritis. Mostly it's just annoying, My youngest child has big toes that crack when she wiggles them. Sounds like popcorn popping. Weirdest thing I ever heard.

Answer 6

It does not cause arthritis, in fact it may help prevent it.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=does+knuckle+cracking+cause+arthritis%3F&btnG=Google+Search


this is from the arthriris society webpage:

Question 46
Will cracking your knuckles lead to arthritis?

No. The sound of cracking is the release of air pressure in the joints. Cracking knuckles will not lead to arthritis. - Nursing Dept, TAS - Aug/95

http://www.arthritis.ca/toolbox/qa%20database/browse/default.asp?s=1&page=4

Answer 7

Been cracking my knuckles since i was little girl,im now grown lady,no arthritis in knuckles yet.

Answer 8

.In between the knuckle joints are what's called Synovial Capsules, which are filled with Synovial Fluid; they act as buffers that stop the joints wearing out. Within this fluid are air bubbles which, if compressed, implode and make that cracking sound you hear when you 'pop' your knuckles.

Answer 9

iam not a doctor but i crack mine and i notice that after a while my knuckles start to hurt and the only way they stop is if i crack them, which i think is the problem so its kind of a catch 22.

Answer 10

Old wives tale. My joints were big before I ever tried cracking to relieve pain already in them, not caused by cracking.

Answer 11

No. Information on arthritis,home remedies and treatment available at http://tinyurl.com/z5vx5