Is it proven that cracking knuckles may stir up arthritis or joint changes?
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The act of cracking your knuckles does not pose any damage in itself. This has been proven, and others linked to the studies. There was even one doctor who made it a point to only crack the knuckles on one hand for something like 30 years to prove the point. However, if you are over stressing a joint in order to make it pop, that can cause joint damage. Easier to do in a neck or back than hand, but it’s possible to stretch the wrong way. And sometimes that way can lead to popping the joint. It’s not a direct causation.
This is an old wives tale borne from a parent getting annoyed by the noise. It’s related to don’t make funny faces because if an angel sneezes, you’ll stay like that forever. Knuckle cracking is pushing air out of the joint. You can crack a lot of different joints all over your body. Knuckle cracking does no harm to our joints. It does not lead to arthritis. However, if you experience discomfort while cracking, then there could be a pre-existing condition that is aggravated by twisting and pressing the joint.