Some people can’t stand the sound of knuckles cracking, while others enjoy making it and seeing how others cringe. If you’re curious about the science behind this habit, here’s what really happens when you crack your knuckles.
You may have heard many myths about why you shouldn’t crack your knuckles, such as causing harm to your hands or arthritis. The reality is quite different, and those people are either wrong or just annoyed by the noise.
It’s understandable that some people find it irritating.
Rheumatologist Mala Kaul M.D. told Piedmont Healthcare what really happens when you crack your knuckles.
She said: Many people think that cracking your knuckles will cause arthritis.
“But the truth is, it won’t.”
So, if it’s not harmful at all, what’s the deal with knuckle cracking? (Pun intended)
Dr Kaul said: “You’re basically letting air out of the joints when you crack your knuckles.”
So – as Dr Farhan from @madmedicine explains in that video above – there is a fluid called synovial fluid that acts as a cushion between your finger joints.
This allows your fingers to move in different ways without hurting you.
The cracking of your knuckles is just the release of air bubbles that naturally form in that fluid.
It’s unlikely to harm you, but if you feel any pain then you should stop doing it, of course.
Also, as we’ve mentioned before, some people hate it, and it’s very irritating.
So, you might want to think about how often you do it anyway, even if it won’t harm you in the long term.
There are a few other consequences of cracking your knuckles, though.
Harvard Medical School says that there have been rare cases of people popping their fingers out of place after cracking too hard.
Also, you could harm your ligaments, which are the pieces of tissue that connect your bones at the joint.
You’d need to crack those knuckles very hard to cause any of this, but it’s still a potential outcome so it’s your choice whether you want to continue doing it.
If you’re OK with those risks, then go ahead and crack.
You’re not likely to really hurt yourself.