Does cracking your fingers/nuckles alot really cause arthritis?!
Question: My sister likes to crack her nuckles/fingers... people keep telling her that it causes arthritis, so she asked me if it really does...
Anybody know? - sources would be great.
Answers: My sister likes to crack her nuckles/fingers... people keep telling her that it causes arthritis, so she asked me if it really does...
Anybody know? - sources would be great.
No it doesn't.
This is an old wives tale.
What happens is that you are either pushing the joint back into or out of its normal position. A lubricant called synovial fluid is found between the bones. When you stretch or pull your finger you are cause the bones to pull apart. Pressure is reduced on the synovial fluid and bubbles form that quickly expand and then burst - which is where you get the noise.
no it doesn't cause arthritis
No it doesn't. Thats an old wives tale.
no its a Urban Legend
i dont know for sure but I am 21, have been cracking my knuckles for about 10 years and now have problems with my hands and they think it is rheumatoid arthritis!
so, though there may be no medical proof, there is proof that it can exacerbate the process and is definitely not healthy for you joints!
dropkick said it right-its nothing but bubbles in fluid-still it can not be healthy to do it constantly for years
When you crack your knuckles you are releasing small bubble of nitrogen (a gas) from your synovial joint capsule. This is not the cause of arthritis. There are many different types but the two mst common forms are rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA). RA is an autoimmune condition cause by the body attacking its own cells in the joints. OA is caused by wear and tear on the joints - older people tend to suffer with it in weight bearing joints eg the knee and hip. Having said that I wouldn't recommend cracking joints to often as you may but the joint under stress. But it doesn't cause RA or OA.
Drop Kick gave you the medical right answer. It does cause your knuckles to get bigger though, anyway mine did.
If you get any answers like his, they are correct. His is the best answer before my answer. You might get more of the same after mine.