Fact Check: Does cracking knuckles lead to early onset of arthritis?

Hyderabad: A Facebook post claims that cracking knuckles leads to arthritis and other bone-related issues.

The caption to the viral post reads, “Beware! Clicking knuckles causes Arthritis. The cluck sound is actually making your bones weak and brittle. The relaxation you get after that is actually pushing you towards great consequences in the future.”

Cracking knuckles is a common behavior. It is seen as a sign of releasing tension or nervous energy. Similarly, some might find the sound of cracking knuckles annoying.

Does cracking knuckles cause arthritis?

Let’s find out.

Fact Check

NewsMeter found that the claim is false.

According to Mayo Clinic, arthritis is a swelling and tenderness of one or more joints. The main symptoms of arthritis are joint pain and stiffness, which typically worsen with age. The most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

What produces the ‘cracking sound’?

According to Harvard Health Publishing, “The ‘cracking’ of knuckle cracking seems to be produced by increasing the space between finger joints. This causes gas bubbles in the joint fluid to collapse or burst. It’s a bit like blowing up a balloon and then stretching the walls of the balloon outward until it pops. The reason you can’t crack the same knuckle or joint twice right away is that it takes some time for the gas bubbles to accumulate again in the joint. It should be noted that knuckle cracking is probably harmless but there are certain reports of dislocations or tendon injuries from overly vigorous knuckle cracking.”

Is knuckle cracking linked to arthritis?

A study found that habitual knuckle cracking in children has been considered a cause of arthritis. A survey of a geriatric patient population with a history of knuckle cracking failed to show a correlation between knuckle cracking and degenerative changes in the metacarpal phalangeal joints.

An experiment in knuckle cracking conducted by Dr Donald Unger on himself, states, “For 50 years, the author cracked the knuckles of his left hand at least twice a day, leaving those on the right as a control. Thus, the knuckles on the left were cracked at least 36,500 times, while those on the right cracked rarely and spontaneously. At the end of the 50 years, the hands were compared for the presence of arthritis. There was no arthritis in either hand and no apparent differences between the two hands. Knuckle cracking did not lead to arthritis after a 50-year controlled study by one participant. While a larger group would be necessary to confirm this result, this preliminary investigation suggests a lack of correlation between knuckle cracking and the development of arthritis of the fingers.”

According to Healthline, “Cracking your knuckles isn’t harmful. It doesn’t cause arthritis or make your knuckles larger, but it can be distracting or loud to people around you. Breaking a habit like cracking your knuckles can be hard, but it can be done. Being aware of when you’re doing it and finding other ways to relieve stress are two things you can do to help you kick the habit.”