Is it true that cracking your knuckles will make them bigger?

Question

I have heard from some people that it is true and now their knuckles are huge, and i have heard from other people that its just a myth and their knuckles are fine...I do it all the time, i guess its a nervous habit...

Answer 1

Yea, if you do it for an extended period of time it will. When you crack your knuckles, you are actually pushing the joint either into or out of its normal position. In either case, when you do this, gas, mostly nitrogen, is displaced and escapes from the joint space. This displacement of gas causes the "popping" and "cracking" sound of knuckles, and a few other joints. By cracking your knuckles, what you are doing is pushing the joint further than its range of motion would normally allow. This puts stress on the ligaments and tendons that hold the joint together and in place. Ligaments behave a little like rubber bands -- you can pull and stretch them a lot; but, eventually they won't return to their original shape and length. After years of pushing your joint past its normal range of motion, it may become "hypermobile." If the joint is very mobile (as in the hand), the joint surfaces might wear out. If this happens, the body responds by laying down more bone. Although this sounds like the body healing itself, in reality, matters are made worse. Usually, the bone is not laid down smoothly and the joint surfaces become rough. So, spurring or sharp spots will develop in the bone of the joint in question. Eventually, you may have rough surfaces moving against each other, to which the body might respond by swelling, increasing the amount of fluid and blood in the area. In the end, you could have a joint ("arthro") that is inflamed ("-itis").

Answer 2

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RE:
Is it true that cracking your knuckles will make them bigger?
I have heard from some people that it is true and now their knuckles are huge, and i have heard from other people that its just a myth and their knuckles are fine...I do it all the time, i guess its a nervous habit...

Answer 3

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There is no causal link between cracking your knuckles and increasing their size, or your chance for arthritis. That's what you would call an "old wives tale" In fact a study published fairly recently found that occasional cracking of the knuckles can lubricate the joints and decrease your chance for arthritis.

Answer 4

I have popped my knuckles for 40 years ~ they are no larger. My father is a doc and says that is hog wash... large knuckles are caused by other things.

Answer 5

I have no idea about them making your knuckles bigger, but cracking your knuckles will not lead your fingers to arthritis.

http://www.livescience.com/9729-knuckle-cracking-ig-nobel-prize.html

Answer 6

ive always heard that, but i crack my knuckles too and my hands are still real little. maybe one day they will just start growing and i will have huge knuckles - who knows? but as of now my hands havent changed any from it. my grandpa swears though thats how his knuckles got so big was from cracking and popping them so its hard to tell.

Answer 7

your knuckles can get bigger from cracking them. what happens when you crack your knuckles is you are allowing movement of fluid in and out of the joint. it is a bad habit beacuse over time the movement of the fluid wears down the cartilage and then you start to have arthritis symtoms and pain later in life. I crack them all the time too.

Answer 8

I don't know if it does or not every one tells me that it does but its addictive and i can't stop lol but i think that every body gets arthritus when they get older..... and old ppl always have big knuckles b/c they are so frail and loose weight when they are old..

Answer 9

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Answer 10

Yes, it does. I have one toe (yes, just one) that I crack. It is very large in comparison to all the others.