Does Popping My Knuckles Cause Arthritis?
We've all had a grandparent or mother tell us stop cracking you knuckles! That will cause arthritis!
The Truth is, knuckle cracking or bone cracking is harmless and does not increase your risk of any chronic issues.
So What is the sound we hear?
Joints are the points of articulation between
two bones. The joints of your fingers have small gaps (joint space) between the bones like all joints in the body. These
joint spaces are filled with a fluid called synovial fluid. The synovial fluid lubricates
joints and prevents bones from rubbing on each other.
When you pop or crack a
joint, you increases the amount of space within the joint. This suddenly
expanded space joint space creates negative pressure, and synovial fluid rushes into the
area to fill the negative pressure void. The popping or cracking sound you hear
is actually the sound of that synovial fluid rushing into the space between
your bones.
Popping Knuckles is NOT Associated with
Arthritis Risk
Many different clinical studies have examined
patients with osteoarthritis (degenerative joint disease), the
most common form to determine how many of them are "knuckle
poppers." Scientists have found no evidence to suggest that people who
pop their knuckles have higher rates of arthritis or other bone conditions
than those who listened to grandma and didn't pop their knuckles.
Of course, popping a joint does cause the the
material holding the joint and surrounding connective tissue to stretch. Over
time, repeated joint cracking can loosen the tissue. This makes it easier to
crack the joints and that's why knuckle crackers have joints that are
particularly susceptible to popping. However, this appears to be a harmless
side effect of knuckle cracking. Loosened connected tissue as a result of
frequent knuckle cracking has not been associated with any side effects.
When We Should Be Concerned about Cracking Joints
Cracking your knuckles
should not be a source of pain or discomfort. Some patients with
bursitis, arthritis or tendinitis find that their joints crack more often. If
you do notice that your joints crack more often and cause you pain, call the office today to schedule an appointment.