Is Cracking Your Knuckles Bad for You?

While many of an older generation are convinced of the problems caused by cracking your knuckles, understanding knuckle cracking is so far theoretical. Some research has been conducted which supports three main theories:

• Cavitation: this is a process more associated with engineering and mechanics. Yet the same process may be at work in our joints. Something called synovial fluid fills the area around the joints in your knuckles. This is a sort of lubricant which protects the joints like grease on an axle. It also provides essential nutrients for the joint. Within this fluid are naturally occurring gases. As you pull or push apart the joint to crack your knuckles, some of this gas (usually carbon dioxide or nitrogen) forms. The belief is that the cracking sound is the quick popping of these gas bubbles. Cavitation is this rapid change of pressure applied to the synovial fluid when you crack your knuckles.

• Tendon snapping: another theory is that the tendons and ligaments which allow us movement in our joints might cause of the sound of knuckle cracking. When you move a tendon or ligament, they must move over the joint. Then they released and return to the original position. If we do this too quickly the tendon snaps back causing a sound, like a taught rubber band might do when released.

• Formation of bubbles: while cavitation might be the cause of knuckle cracking, recent studies suggest the formation of gas bubbles itself. X-rays of joints after knuckle cracking support this theory. They show that a gas bubble is still visible in the joint after cracking knuckles. This increase of gas in the synovial fluid enlarges the knuckle joint 15-20 percent. It will resettle to normal size, but this is why you will have to wait about 15-20 minutes before you can crack your knuckles again.

Finding out information about knuckle cracking has had limited study in the scientific community, but there are a few of note. They often have contradictory outcomes. A 1990 study by Castellanos and Axelrod investigated the long-term effects of knuckle cracking. They took 300 patients over the age of 45 and attempted to see if there was any link between the 74 knuckle crackers and 226 non-knuckle crackers. The outcome showed no evidence either group were more likely to have "neuromuscular, inflammatory or malignant disease". This was regardless if they were habitual knuckle crackers or not. However, it did see evidence that knuckle cracking may have led to lessened grip and more likelihood to have swelling.

The study also claimed there is a link between manual labor, smoking and alcohol consumption and knuckle cracking. It has since been claimed swelling and lessened grip may be a side effect of these habits, rather than the knuckle cracking itself. It is also hard to determine whether people find it easy to crack knuckles as a side effect to another condition, rather than knuckle cracking being the cause.

As technological advances have occurred, studies into knuckle cracking might be more conclusive. A 2011 study by deWeber, Olszewski and Ortolano used radiographs from patients of both knuckle crackers and non-kunckle crackers. This showed no real difference in either group when it came to having osteoarthritis. It also concluded the length of time and frequency of cracking joints seemed to have little to no effect on the probability of having osteoarthritis.

The Ig Nobel Prize is an annual award given to scientists who have earned trivial or unusual (often humorous) achievements in their field. While the award is partly satirical, it also provides another angle to look at certain studies. It is not uncommon for well respected, even Nobel Prize winning, scientists to be given the "honor". One winner was Dr. Donald Unger who conducted his own research into knuckle cracking. He heard his relatives since his youth claim cracking knuckles will result in arthritis. He had a simple control and independent variable set up. For 60 years he did not crack the knuckles of his right hand, but at least twice a day cracked the knuckles of his left. After this time, his results concluded that there was no evidence of arthritis in either hand. In this way he contradicted his relative's firm beliefs.

The prevalent belief is that knuckle cracking is bad for you because it can lead to arthritis. As the discussed studies seem to prove, there is no link in actuality. The reason this belief is so strong may be because of the physical discomfort cracking knuckles seems to provide. You can crack your knuckles by closing one hand tightly over the other. But many people also have a habit of pulling their fingers away from their hands to cause the knuckle cracking sound.

If you pull an elastic band too far, it will never return to its original shape as it has exceeded its elastic limit. It could be that people sense the same happening when someone cracks their knuckles. It does appear to be doing some damage to the individual. Anywhere between 25% and 54% of people crack their knuckles. This depends on gender (women crack knuckles less than men) and location.

Joint cracking is not limited to knuckle cracking. You can see this when older people or people who have suffered an injury have cracking noises in other parts of their body. Often people get it when they stand up after sitting down for too long. While there may be similar processes to the increase of fluid in a joint cavity as is seen with knuckle cracking, this does not mean that it is the same cause. Arthritis is a general term for more than 200 individual diseases or conditions. It can be caused by the degeneration of cartilage and bone caused by injury as well as infections and chemical deficiencies. People with arthritis in the hands often have inflammation in the knuckles and clicking sounds can occur. However, although people with arthritis may find it easier to crack their knuckles, this doesn't mean that cracking knuckles causes arthritis. Unlike cavitation, knuckle cracking in arthritis sufferers is more likely to be from snapping irregular or swollen tissues.

Many people experience an enjoyable sensation when they crack their knuckles. This is likely caused by the increase in synovial fluid. This can make you feel more limber and loose, could be why habitual knuckle crackers often do it before physical exercise.

Going back to our introduction, cracking knuckles is often seen as a sinister pastime. Worse for some is that it is an annoying one. When someone in our work or general breathing space cracks their knuckles, it can be very distracting. If often elicits a pained response from the the observer. The breaking of bones or dislocation of joint sockets is accompanied by the sound of cracking and/or popping. It makes sense we equate the sound of knuckle cracking to something more serious, regardless of its benign actuality. However, we also get annoyed by sounds like drumming fingertips on your desk or clucking sounds in the mouth. They could be frustrating sounds of interference which annoy us for other reasons. These reasons are often frustration or even a mere desire for peace.

For the knuckle cracker, there must be some benefit otherwise it wouldn't be so common. Cracking knuckles before exercise or even going into a stressful situation can give us the sensation of preparedness. Similar to jumping up and down on the spot or even giving yourself a bracing slap in the face. This may be enough of a psychosomatic trick to ready yourself. It can also make you feel more relaxed. Like popping bubble wrap, bursting soap bubbles or peeling off the static cling from a plastic file cover, cracking knuckles can be weirdly satisfying.

If there is no provable health concern when cracking knuckles or that knuckle cracking is bad for you overall, should you do it? When it can make you feel relaxed, ready or even releases some dopamine into your brain, then why not? The studies are quite inconclusive, so more research is needed to prove otherwise in the future. From what we have to go on now, cracking knuckles doesn't seem to be a concern. That is as long as everyone in your general vicinity doesn't have a problem with your knuckle cracking practice. Perhaps the decision to not crack your knuckles has less to do with medical science and more to do with social politeness.

This article is merely informative, oneHOWTO does not have the authority to prescribe any medical treatments or create a diagnosis. We invite you to visit your doctor if you have any type of condition or pain.

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