To find out if knucklecracking is harmful, researchers have studied whether crepitus popping or grinding of the knuckle joints can raise the risk for hand osteoarthritis. Arthritis and cracking knuckles the reason people associate knucklecracking with arthritis because it makes a cracking noise and, if something cracks, it must be being damaged. When you feel like cracking your knuckles, stop what youre doing. There is no evidence that cracking knuckles causes any damage such as arthritis in the joints. Since developing arthritis, cracking my knuckles has been a source of relief, even though that contradicts what id always been told about knuckle popping. Mar 10, 2020 cracking the knuckles gives your fingers and joints a stretch to relieve that pressure buildup, says curda. When you crack your knuckles, the popping noises, or crepitus, result from gas bubbles in the fluid that helps lubricate your joints. The idea that it gives you arthritis probably comes from two things. Knuckle cracking has not been shown to be harmful or beneficial. While cracking your knuckles is not linked to causing arthritis, there may be a connection to soft tissue injuries. In theory, straining or breaking a knuckle while cracking it might put you at risk for arthritis, but no study has ever linked cracking knuckles directly with the disease. If a joint gets locked when it pops, knuckle cracking could lead to injuries in. Does cracking my knuckles increase my risk of arthritis.
Can cracking your knuckles give you rheumatoid arthritis. When each group was asked about knucklecracking habits, it actually turned out that those who didnt crack their knuckles had slightly greater rates of arthritis 18. A number of studies have been done over the years to find out the longterm impact of cracking your knuckles. Causes the exact reason for the popping and snapping of joints is not. Cracking your knuckles will give you arthritis when you get older.
Can cracking your knuckles cause cartilage breakdown. Weve all heard the theory that cracking your knuckles can cause arthritis. We answer this age old sayingquestion by looking at what evidence there is for cracking your knuckles gives you arthritis. Mar 27, 20 no rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease and cracking your knuckles will have no effect on your immune system. Chronic knuckle cracking may lead to reduced grip strength. The arthritis connection may be an old wives tale, but cracking your knuckles can hurt your hand in other ways, and theres no benefit to it. Its a bit like blowing up a balloon and then stretching the walls of the balloon outward until it pops. In other words, people crack their knuckles for the same reasons they might take a nice, big stretch in the middle of the day. May 18, 2019 cracking your knuckles does not cause arthritis. Unfortunately, there are other dangers associated with habitual knucklecracking, so its still not necessarily a habit thats healthy for your hands. Cracking joints is manipulating ones joints to produce a distinct cracking or popping sound. May 14, 2018 i think its linked to stress because when im cracking knuckles i feel like i want to hurt myself trying to break my finger or something. If you are a knuckle cracker, like me, youve probably been told to stop cracking your knuckles as it can cause arthritis.
Sep 11, 2015 cracking your knuckles will give you arthritis when you get older. So its often thought that if you engage in repetitive activity and put. Jan 21, 2017 does cracking your knuckles really cause arthritis, or have we fallen victim to an old wives tale. Cracking the knuckles gives your fingers and joints a stretch to relieve that pressure buildup, says curda. Joint cracking can result from a negative pressure pulling nitrogen gas temporarily into the joint, such as. The real reason youre addicted to cracking your knuckles.
The truth is, there is no connection between cracking your knuckles and arthritis or any other longterm health problem. None shows a definite link between knuckle cracking and arthritis. In fact, only one study published in 1990 has ever openly said that cracking your knuckles may lead to decreased hand function. The fact that out of 300 people over age 45, 84% of people who cracked their knuckles showed signs of swelling, was really interesting. Many adults cringe at the sound, adamantly proclaiming this will lead to arthritis or other joint problems later in life. Does cracking knuckles lead to arthritis siowfa14 science. Even though you may enjoy the sensation it brings, it can drive the people around you crazy and lead to some unwanted side effects down the. In other words, people crack their knuckles for the same reasons they might take a nice, big stretch in. Cracking ones knuckles can sometimes lead to hand injuries. Knuckle cracking doesnt cause arthritis, but some research suggests the habit may not be completely harmless. The pop of a cracked knuckle is caused by bubbles bursting in the synovial fluid the fluid that helps lubricate joints. You can find more information on these web pages each will open in a new window knuckle cracking and hand osteoarthritis effect of habitual knuckle cracking on hand function. Osteoarthritis oa, sometimes called wear and tear arthritis, occurs when the cartilage or cushion between joints breaks down leading to pain, stiffness and swelling.
However, a couple of reports in the medical literature are available associating knuckle cracking with injury of the ligaments surrounding the joint or dislocation of the tendons attachments of muscles to bones which improved with conservative. Some people crack their knuckles by pulling the tip of each finger one at a time until they hear a crack. Some get hooked and form a habit of cracking knuckles on a frequent basis. However, a couple of reports in the medical literature are available associating knuckle cracking with injury of the ligaments surrounding the joint or dislocation of the tendons attachments of muscles to bones which improved with conservative treatment. Knuckle cracking is a common habit which anyone can develop. This is why you cant crack the same knuckle twice in a row. Others make a tight fist or bend their fingers backwards away from the hand, cracking the lot at once. Some students crack their knuckles after writing a great deal, but. Cracking your knuckles causes arthritis 10 old wives. If you are one of those people who sits and cracks your knuckles while others. Personally, i do it constantly without thinking twice about what effects it will have on me in the future. Dec 26, 2018 as you use your hands throughout the day and the muscles tighten up, the joints end up feeling tight as well. Chronic knucklecracking may lead to reduced grip strength.
Multiple studies have indicated that there is no evidence to suggest cracking knuckles causes or worsens arthritis. The reason for this is that people assume this will give your hands arthritis, especially as you. Apr 21, 2017 knuckle cracking doesnt cause arthritis, but some research suggests the habit may not be completely harmless. Over his lifetime, he regularly cracked the knuckles of only one hand. And to put it even more simply, joint popping does not cause arthritis.
Cracking your knuckles gives your hands arthritis one of the most popular myths about the human body weve heard a lot lately might be this weird obsession with people telling others to not pop their fingers. However, cracking your knuckles is neither harmless nor desirable. But this is not the casecracking your knuckles does nothing for improving dexterity. Jun 21, 2017 the cracking occurs for numerous reasons, and it is commonly thought to cause or inflame arthritis between 25 and 54 percent of people are thought to crack their knuckles. It seems to give them a sense of security and power. Cracking knuckles does not appear to cause or worsen arthritis, but it can soften the grip and lead to soft tissue swelling. Citations may include links to fulltext content from pubmed central and publisher web sites. This is also the case with my knuckles, especially in my thumbs, as well as my wrists, ankles and toes.
If you are one of those people who sits and cracks your knuckles while others wince, at some point somebody is bound to have told you that cracking your joints gives you arthritis. A recent research study supports my own anecdotal findings. Sep 10, 2007 there is no evidence that cracking knuckles causes any damage such as arthritis in the joints. If cracking is accompanied by pain, there could be underlying abnormalities of the structures of the joint, such as loose cartilage or injured ligaments. Another study indicated that while knuckle cracking was not associated with arthritis, it was associated with damage to ligaments that surround the joint and dislocation of tendons. May 30, 2012 when each group was asked about knuckle cracking habits, it actually turned out that those who didnt crack their knuckles had slightly greater rates of arthritis 18. Claudia hammond examines what causes the winceinducing sound. So whilst the research shows you are unlikely to get arthritis from cracking your knuckles, you are damaging your hands so this is a habit that is well worth breaking.
If knuckle cracking is accompanied by pain, swelling, or stiffness, it may be hand osteoarthritis. If you have a habit of cracking your knuckles and would like to stop, try the following. Although it doesnt appear to increase the risk of developing the joint disorder, research indicates other. Oct 14, 2014 and to put it even more simply, joint popping does not cause arthritis. As we have all commonly been told before, when we crack our knuckles and here the pop, that it will eventually cause arthritis over time. Cracking your knuckles may aggravate the people around you, but it probably wont raise your risk for arthritis.
People who like the popping sound when cracking their knuckles are often warned about possible side effects. In fact, one study showed a reverse correlation between cracking knuckles and arthritis. Pubmed comprises more than 26 million citations for biomedical literature from medline, life science journals, and online books. Twirl a pencil or a coin to occupy your hands and help you forget about. The origin of most joint noises, such as popping sounds or cracking of the knees when squatting, is uncertain.
Does cracking your knuckles lead to arthritis answers. Oct 16, 2014 1 thought on does cracking knuckles lead to arthritis megan fleming october 16, 2014 at 10. Thats good news if you like to crack your knuckles, but its bad news for those of us who cant stand it when you do it. Knuckles and other joints may also crack spontaneously due to natural changes in the ligament path over the bones. May 28, 20 does cracking knuckles give you arthritis. In fact, many highly respected medical facilities and sources, including harvard and the johns hopkins arthritis center, have come out definitely stating that joint cracking doesnt cause arthritis. When you feel the urge to pop your knuckles, get out the lotion and rub it on your hands. Generations of parents warn clickprone children that their.
Cracking your knuckles wont give you arthritis knowledgenuts. Joint cracking can result from a negative pressure pulling nitrogen gas temporarily into the joint, such as when knuckles are cracked. As you use your hands throughout the day and the muscles tighten up, the joints end up feeling tight as well. His findings are good news for those of us tired of hearing, youll get arthritis if you keep cracking your knuckles. Well, our knuckles are covered by the synovial capsule which is filled with synovial fluid. But is there any truth to this claim, or is it something. Does cracking your knuckles really give you arthritis. Im not saying definitely no because, while cracking knuckles is common, research on its effects is not. Understanding what physically occurs when you crack your knuckles will help you realize that the knuckle cracking causes arthritis theory is actually just a popular myth. He checked xrays on himself after decades of this behavior and found no difference in arthritis between his hands.
It seems logical that habitual knuckle cracking causes arthritis or other degenerative. We ll explain this, as well as what causes knuckles to crack in the. Jul, 2017 knuckle cracking has not been shown to be harmful or beneficial. The cracking of knuckle cracking seems to be produced by increasing the space between finger joints.
Thats probably something youve heard at least once in your life, likely from your mom, concerned that your fidgeting habit will give you arthritis. Others make a tight fist or bend their fingers backwards away from the hand, cracking the. And there are at least two published reports of injuries suffered while people were trying to crack their knuckles. Even if knuckle cracking doesnt cause arthritis, theres still good reason to let go of the habit. However, they are far from definitive proof that arthritis isnt a real risk. Fed up with being told by family members about the dangers of joint cracking, one researcher decided to test the supposed link between arthritis and knucklecracking on himself. More specifically, knuckle cracking does not cause arthritis. This causes gas bubbles in the joint fluid to collapse or burst. To produce a cracking sensation, a finger is forced forward or backward doctors call this hyperflexion or hyperextension at a metacarpophalangeal joint or pulled straight away from the hand.
The cracking occurs for numerous reasons, and it is commonly thought to cause or inflame arthritis between 25 and 54 percent of people are thought to crack their knuckles. Jul 15, 2015 arthritis and cracking knuckles the reason people associate knuckle cracking with arthritis because it makes a cracking noise and, if something cracks, it must be being damaged. Thats the conclusion of several studies that compared rates of hand arthritis among habitual knucklecrackers and people who didnt crack their knuckles. The study that you found on this topic had some really surprising results. Busting the myth about knuckle cracking chicago health. Several studies have looked at whether knuckle cracking is linked to arthritis. The clicking, cracking, popping, or snapping that occurs when you crack your knuckles is associated with tiny gas bubbles. Although cracking your knuckles doesnt cause arthritis as is sometimes claimed, one study found that it can lead to other problems such as joint swelling and loss of hand strength, or could even be a sign of more serious nervous. Jun 21, 2018 over his lifetime, he regularly cracked the knuckles of only one hand. Some patients with arthritis inflammation of joints, usually painful, bursitis, or tendinitis notice cracking sounds due to the snapping of irregular, swollen tissues. Sometimes this fascination leads to neck cracking and back cracking. Arthritis affects about 10 million people in the uk, according to the nhs its a common condition that causes pain and inflammation in the joints. Jan 14, 2016 does cracking your knuckles really give you arthritis.