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Cracking your knuckles is ‘generally harmless’ and does not cause arthritis, doctor reveals
If you’ve ever been told that cracking your knuckles is bad and will give you arthritis, your whole life has been a lie.
Many of us recall being told not to crack our knuckles by parents or friends, but it’s “generally harmless” unless done in excess.
Cracking your knuckles is ‘generally harmless’
We spoke to medical doctor Dr. Pedram Kordrostami, who told The Focus: “No, arthritis is not likely to develop from regular knuckle cracking and is generally harmless as long as there is no soreness or swelling afterwards.”
The popping sound occurs as increasing the space between the finger joints causes gas bubbles in the synovial fluid, which lubricates the joints, to burst, Harvard Health explains. You can’t crack the same knuckle twice in a row because it takes some time for the gas bubbles to accumulate again.
Despite the common myth, cracking your knuckles does not cause arthritis, a common condition that causes stifness, inflammation and pain in the joints which can make certain everyday activities more difficult.
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This was first shown by researcher Dr. Donald Unger who cracked the knuckles of only his left hand at least twice every day for over 50 years and never developed arthritis in either hand.
A famous 1990 study of 300 patients aged 45 years or above (74 habitual knuckle crackers and 226 non-knuckle crackers) also found that there was “no increased preponderance of arthritis” of the hand in either group.
However, knuckle cracking can have some negative side effects. The study discovered that habitual knuckle crackers were more likely to have hand swelling and lower grip strength.
“To be safe, its best to make sure that you crack your knuckles correctly or to space it out to a healthy level, especially if its become habitual,” Kordrostami continued.
When knuckle cracking becomes an issue
Despite generally having no long term health effects, there is a possibility that knuckle cracking can cause finger injuries if done too often.
“Cracking your knuckles on an average of about five or more times a day could potentially lead to ligament injury and cause wear and tear on the cartilage in your joints,” the doctor said.
However, this is rare. If you notice any soreness after cracking your knuckles, speak to a medical professional as this could be an indication that you have joint damage.
While knuckle cracking is safe, there are�no benefits to doing it, so it’s still best to avoid the habit. Plus, it can be veey annoying for the people around you!
Dr. Pedram Kordrostami is a Medical Doctor with the NHS who graduated from Queen Mary University of London�with a Bachelor of Surgery degree.
