Does Knuckle Cracking Lead to Arthritis?

[Patient zer0]

Does cracking your knuckles lead to arthritis?

[Dr Steve]

Does cracking your knuckles lead to arthritis?

This is one my mom used to tell me, along with "your face will stick like that!" and "you'll go blind!"

Knuckles are joints, and they are enclosed by a firm tissue called the synovium. Inside the synovium is lubricating fluid called "synovial fluid". There are gases dissolved in synovial fluid and when you stretch the capsule of the joint the internal pressure drops until the gas comes rapidly out of solution causing a "popping" or "cracking" sound.

There is no evidence that cracking your knuckles causes arthritis. A few studies show that you can get ligament damage, though from popping your dumb joints and that'll cause pain that people might mistake for arthritis pain.

http://joanspear.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/knuckle-cracking.gif

[weekapaugjz]

Thank god. I crack my knuckles every chance I get. Its a habit I don't think ill ever be able to break.

[jauble]

Doc does the same apply to the neck area. My stupid neck cracks across the room.

[Dr Steve]

Doc does the same apply to the neck area. My stupid neck cracks across the room.


mine does too. and yes, it probably does apply to the neck area.

having said that, there are other joint sounds that can mimic "cracking". In the ankle, there are tendons that can get entrapped by bony protruberances...when they release suddenly they can cause a "POP!" sound as well. That can lead to inflammation of the tendons and ligaments, causing pain. I can't think of a similar structure in the neck that would account for this phenomenon, so I'm betting on the mechanism I described in the last post for neck popping.

[jauble]

okay, because when I get up and turn my head it sounds like an African drum falling down a flight of stairs.

[Contra]

I remember when I was a kid our family doc told me it did indeed cause arthritis.

I wish I could remember his name, I want to sue for malpractice.

[Dr Steve]

I remember when I was a kid our family doc told me it did indeed cause arthritis.

I wish I could remember his name, I want to sue for malpractice.

he was just trying to discourage behavior he didn't understand. by LYING about it. or at best, making shit up. I hate that.

[topless_mike]

okay, because when I get up and turn my head it sounds like an African drum falling down a flight of stairs.

i've never been so turned on.. what are you doing friday nite?

[SatCam]

This is one my mom used to tell me, along with "your face will stick like that!" and "you'll go blind!"

jacking it too much doesnt really cause blindness, right?