The answer to this old myth is ... NO. You would think that popping your knuckles would eventually cause so much repetitive trauma that it would lead to arthritis, but there have been studies done and there is no correlation between cracking your knuckles and getting arthritis.
So what causes the “popping” sound?
Your knuckles are joints covered by a capsule (the joint capsule). Within this capsule there is fluid, which acts as a lubricant and also contains nutrients for the adjacent bone surfaces. A variety of gases are continuously dissolved in this fluid. When one cracks a knuckle, the stretching of the capsule lowers the pressure inside the joint and creates a vacuum, which is filled by the gas previously dissolved in the fluid. This creates a “bubble” which then bursts producing the “popping” or “cracking” sound. It takes a while until these gases are re-dissolved in the fluid, which explains why knuckles cannot be “re-cracked” immediately.
So what causes the “popping” sound?
Your knuckles are joints covered by a capsule (the joint capsule). Within this capsule there is fluid, which acts as a lubricant and also contains nutrients for the adjacent bone surfaces. A variety of gases are continuously dissolved in this fluid. When one cracks a knuckle, the stretching of the capsule lowers the pressure inside the joint and creates a vacuum, which is filled by the gas previously dissolved in the fluid. This creates a “bubble” which then bursts producing the “popping” or “cracking” sound. It takes a while until these gases are re-dissolved in the fluid, which explains why knuckles cannot be “re-cracked” immediately.
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Chiropractor Atlanta Ga | Accident Medical Specialists
5335 Roswell Road, Atlanta, GA 30342 (678) 223-3900