Is there evidence to this or no harm?

Question

Throughout the day, I always crack the joints in my legs. It does not hurt at all, but can this lead to any damage in the future or is it harmless? I always hear people say its harmless and it does not bring on arthritis. Is this true though, or is there evidence that it can do harm to you in the future?

Answer 1

Hi Luke. I have not seen any scientific evidence that 'cracking your joints' causes any untoward effects. I feel very comfortable disagreeing with the first answerer that such activity causes 'burrs' to develop on your bones.

You may want to consider having a Chiropractic evaluation to determine WHY you constantly need to 'self-adjust' your joints. Foot, knee, pelvis, low-back, even neck problems can create mechanical strain in the lower extremities that causes you to constantly feel the need to release the stress by 'cracking the joints'.

Best wishes and good luck.

Answer 2

Cracking joints is just stressing the joins enough to allow a gas to escape the join. You probably keep doing it because cracking the joint also causes endorphins to be released (a feel-good brain chemical), so in a limited sense, it is addictive.

The problem, according to what I have heard from the doctor, is that you may cause your bones to develop burrs, which eventually begin to rub against the other bones involved in the joint, which can cause pain and problems later in life.

I'm not in the medical field, so take this for what it is worth.