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.

Alternative Medicine Is Recommended prior to Painkillers according to the CDC

F4CP Lauds CDC Opioid Prescribing Guidelines, Chiropractic is Safer, Non-Drug Approach for
Pain Relief


CDC recommends conservative care and alternative options prior to prescription painkiller treatment.

HASBROUCK HEIGHTS, NJ – March 21, 2016 – In response to the new federal guidelines issued
by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regarding opioid prescribing, the Foundation forChiropractic Progress (F4CP), the voice for the chiropractic profession, notes that many individuals are prescribed opioids for pain associated with musculoskeletal conditions, including low back and neck pain. Individuals utilizing opioids may be unaware of the effectiveness of alternative care, which includes chiropractic.

“The growing opioid epidemic is finally gaining the attention it deserves," states Sherry McAllister,
DC, executive vice president, F4CP, referencing a report which found that in 2014, the increased
utilization of opioids led to 28,647 deaths – or 61 percent of total drug overdose fatalities in the U.S.
"Chiropractic care is a hands-on, non-invasive approach documented to yield improved clinical outcomes,reduced costs and high levels of patient satisfaction.”

According to a report published by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), spinal
manipulative therapy effectively and significantly reduced pain and improved function for patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain. Today, doctors of chiropractic (DCs) perform 94 percent of spinal manipulations in the U.S. Additionally, an earlier BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders study on upper cervical chiropractic care for neck pain, headache, mid-back, and low back pain concludes that 9.1 out of 10patients indicated a very high level of patient satisfaction.

“Collectively, we need to implement changes across the health care continuum, and the care provided by a doctor of chiropractic is the key to effectively managing pain and avoiding opioid drug treatment," adds Dr. McAllister, who notes that Americans consume 80 percent of the world’s opioid supply, despite comprising less than five percent of the global population. “Health care providers across all disciplines should consider safe and effective conservative care options prior to prescribing addictive and potentially fatal opioids – which have yet to be deemed effective for long-term pain management.”

Under the new guidelines, the CDC encourages doctors to utilize conservative care prior to prescription painkiller treatment, and prescribe painkillers only after considering non-addictive pain relievers, behavioral changes and alternative options. Additionally, the CDC recommends doctors prescribe the lowest effective dose possible, and only continue prescribing the drugs if patients show substantial improvement.

Doctors of chiropractic, who receive a minimum of seven years of higher education, are specifically
trained to diagnose, evaluate and provide non-pharmaceutical care and rehabilitation to individuals
suffering from acute and chronic musculoskeletal pain, headaches and general health concerns.

The F4CP is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness about the value of chiropractic care, and cites chiropractic care as an integral part of the solution in mitigating opioid misuse, abuse and dependency.