I'm not a knuckle cracker myself. In fact, I hate it when people crack their knuckles. And I've frequently told people that cracking their knuckles would cause arthritis. After all, that's what everyone says. But according to this NY Times article (
republished in the Arizona Republic) it's not true. It's an urban legend.
Just reading this description of what causes knuckles to crack makes me cringe:
The loud pop of a cracked knuckle is caused by synovial fluid, the thick lubricant that surrounds every joint. When the fingers are stretched or bent backward, the bones of the joint pull apart. This creates bubbles of air in the fluid, which subsequently burst.
But as for the evidence that knuckle cracking doesn't cause arthritis, the article cites a 1990 study:
The largest study to explore a link to arthritis was published in 1990 in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. It looked at 300 healthy people older than 45, 74 of them habitual knuckle crackers. The rates of arthritis of the hand were similar in both groups, though the knuckle crackers, on average, had reduced grip strength.
Still, I think I might keep telling people who are cracking their knuckles that it's going to give them arthritis, just to annoy them and maybe scare them into stopping.
Comments
And greg in new zealand.... that is really bad taste
Okay, someone else was wanting help w/ popping their back. I have a few methods, but one easy one when sitting in a chair... seriously, squeeze your butt and thighs together and straighten your back, push back alittle all at the same time. Or do the same thing, but push your thighs outward while doing it. Either, works for me about half the time and cracks all the way from the tailbone up to the middle of my back. I also leave over counters or chairs, leaning right about at the tailbone area. Or you could sit straight in a chair with arms and twist, using the arms to help you pull. But that way kinds freaks me out, if I really have to pull. I pop my back to relieve the pain and stiffness. Stiffness in my knuckles and neck are why I pop those mostly. :D
crack is so not wack.
i used to ask my friens how they got over the addiction, but they just said that they stopped cracking and and don't know how.
i guess i know what they mean now. 😊
Lifes small.. live it LARGE :DDD
Thats 54 joints I can crack(:
rude, arrogant, and have nothing positive to say, then don't comment. It just shows what type of person you are.