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Yes – Even HE Could Get Arthritis With Too Much Knuckle Cracking

This post is dedicated to every mother who has told her child not to crack his knuckles because it would damage his bones (when he was a kid) and cause arthritis (when he was old enough to know what arthritis was). Thank you for teaching that invaluable lesson: When you don’t like something, lie about its ill health effects in order to get what you want. Yes, we’re continuing he 20 Health Myths series with the myth of the day: Cracking Your Knuckles Causes Arthritis. Funnily enough, when you crack your knuckles, you’re actually… passing gas!

Read the Previous Myth: You Lose Most of Your Body Heat Through Your Head
Read the Next Myth: Sugar Makes Kids Hyper

Here’s What Happens
Joints are held together by ligaments and are surrounded by a lubricant called synovial fluid. This fluid contains dissolved oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide. When you “crack your knuckles,” you are stretching the ligament that causes the gas to escape in a bubble. When the bubble pops, it makes the popping sound we know so well.

Think: Chiropractors
That’s right – this process relaxes your muscles and loosens your joints. Chiropractors do this for spinal joints when your back is sore and stiff and you probably stretch your neck, toes, knees and ankles in order to relax them.

Wait: There is Too Much of a Good Thing
Forget arthritis or bone damage but cracking your knuckles may cause soft tissue injuries and ligament damage. It won’t just make your hand really sore but ligament damage can also result in reduced grip strength.