Is Cracking Your Knuckles Harmful?

Loosening the joints, cracking bones or cracking knuckles (whatever you want to call it) is something many people do on a regular basis. Mainly because they want to relieve tension in their joints.

However, several studies have shown that cracking your knuckles is harmful. In this article we will explain the reasons why people have come to this conclusion and also what happens when you hear the unique sound.

Why do your knuckles crack?

You know the sound we hear when we  pop our joints like the:

• knuckles
• wrists
• ankles

The sound is created by the popping of gas bubbles in the cavities of your joints.

It is good to remember that our joints are the contact points where our bones meet and they are covered with a thick ‘synovial’ fluid. For example, when a finger joint is stretched, bent or cracked, the joint separates.

The gas bubble in the joint cavity is stretched and therefore larger, which lowers the pressure. When this happens, the dissolved gases begin to form bubbles in the synovial mucus. Then they ‘explode’, causing the familiar snapping sound.

The gas takes half an hour to dissolve in liquid, which means that after a joint cracks and after you hear the familiar ‘popping’ sound, you can’t crack again for the next 30 minutes.

To investigate

With regard to the risk of this habit, it is worth noting that not many scientific studies have been conducted. An attempt has been made to analyze whether damage such as arthritis or osteoarthritis occurs in people who frequently crack their joints.

It was discovered during this study that the fingers showed signs of damage. Such as damage to the soft tissue and a decreased ability to hold things. This seems to be related to the rapid and repetitive stretching and contraction of the ligaments of the joint.

The truth is that after cracking your knuckles, there is more mobility and a sense of relaxation in the joints. For this reason, it is becoming a daily habit for a lot of people.

In addition, there are also people who regularly visit a chiropractor, because they want to ‘rearrange’ or ‘realign’ their bones to relieve tension. The persons undergoing such treatment indicate that they:

• Feeling looser and more relaxed.
• Experience less stiffness and contractions of the muscles.

Cracking your knuckles causes muscle atrophy

Some scientists argue that this is the primary consequence of cracking your joints. Especially the cracking of your muscles in your fingers.

However, it is important to note that individuals who are not very physically active often suffer from this. Since this is the only time of the day when the muscles and joints are stretched.

Lack of exercise causes low muscle tone, leaving them feeling worn out and exhausted. Thus begins a vicious circle. In this, a person will crack his or her knuckles to have a relaxed feeling for a few hours. Shortly after, however, he or she has to do it again.

We often want to relieve pain or contraction with this movement. However, we must also remember that this is quite abrupt, sensitive and unnatural for our joints.

And instead of relieving muscle tension, it just causes more synovial mucus to be lost. This is the natural lubricant that prevents friction between the bones.

Not only can this lead to joint breakdown, but it also increases the risk of broken bones. Other consequences are:

• Stiffness
• Deformation of the damaged area
• A sharp pain, which is relieved with rest

The people who often suffer from this problem are adults 40 years and older and the areas where the cracking of joints causes the most degradation are the hands (fingers and wrists) and in the neck.

Recommended Activities

The best way to avoid this problem is to exercise. The physical condition and age must be taken into account. Walking and swimming are the most recommended forms of exercise.

Other highly recommended activities are those that improve muscle strength and flexibility. These result in longer endurance for all tasks without damaging or exhausting the joints.

After we pass 30, the joint tissue starts to lose elasticity, so it is even more important to avoid or eliminate bad habits such as physical inactivity and bad posture at the computer or in front of the TV.

Does Cracking Your Knuckles Cause Arthritis?

Many people wonder whether cracking their joints can lead to arthritis. Even though this is mentioned in the article, it is as  it if it is a regular daily habit is theoretically damaged for many years, the cartilage.

• One of the best known studies on this subject was conducted by Dr. Donald Unger. He cracked the fingers of his left hand twice a day for over 60 years in a row. However, he did not do this with his right hand. Every year he examined his hands. He never found any indication of degenerative disease, even in the hand he cracked.

• In another study, thirty elderly persons in a retirement home in Los Angeles were examined. The people who cracked their knuckles all their lives did not have osteoarthritis.
• In a third study, this time with adults in Detroit who were 45 years old. Here it was discovered that the main problem was the loss in strength of their grip. More than 80% of the subjects studied suffered from swollen hands.

For this reason, it is recommended not to constantly crack your knuckles. Although this does not seem to have negative consequences to do occasionally to relieve tension.

We hope we answered the frequently asked question, ‘ Is cracking your knuckles harmful? ‘ have answered. Thank you for reading!