Does cracking your knuckles cause arthritis?
Answer: No, it most certainly does not. Cracking or popping your knuckles does nothing more than release different gases from your synovial joints. When the pressurized liquid in the synovial joint capsule between the bones of your fingers is popped it depressurizes and turns to a gaseous state, making the popping sound. It is very similar to when you pop open a carbonated beverage. The worst that can happen from cracking your knuckles is ligament laxity. The reason it doesn't influence arthritic degeneration is that the bones themselves are not grinding in to each other which would be necessary for arthritic change. I do not recommend popping your knuckles ten times a day, but once a day will actually prevent arthritic changes. Stay tuned for more answers to health myths.
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