So you’ve cracked your knuckles all your life, for as long as you can remember. The stretching and releasing of pressure in your joints has always felt natural to you. Your parents and grandparents may have scolded you many times for popping your knuckles—told you that it’s bad for you, that it will cause arthritis, or that they hate the sound of the cracking. They told you it was a bad habit. They even begged you to stop for your own good.
Guess what? They were wrong. There is absolutely nothing wrong with cracking your knuckles. Read on to find out why knuckle cracking has gotten such a bad rap and why you shouldn’t be worried about your habit. Let’s get cracking!
Joint Popping
Knuckle crackers enjoy the stretch and the release of popping their joints. But what is actually happening? Your finger bones are attached by ligaments that are packed with fluids and gases. When you pop your joints, that fluid is freed, and the stretching and elongating actually makes your hands feel better after releasing the pressure that can build up in your joints.
Arthritis?
The myth that cracking your knuckles will lead to arthritis has been disproved by researchers who conducted studies on exactly what happens when joints are cracked. The results are clear: There are no indications that popping joints will lead to arthritis or any other ailment. According to Dr. Kevin deWeber, the knuckle-cracking arthritis scare is “mostly an urban myth … perpetuated by mothers who are sick of hearing their kids crack their knuckles.” Case closed.
Releasing Pressure
Releasing the pressure in your joints and stretching your hands could combat hand cramps and carpal tunnel, as cracking the joints allows gas and fluids to break free from your joints. This gives your hands a larger range of motion by elongating the fingers. Researchers have only scratched the surface on the possible benefits of knuckle cracking, but many believe it’s not bad for you and may actually be good for you. Sorry, Grandma.
The Sound
The problem that most people have with knuckle crackers is the popping sound that the joints make when releasing gas and other fluids. Some people imagine bones crunching and ligaments popping when they hear that sound. To some, the sound is sickening. To knuckle crackers, it’s not a big deal.
Scolding
Some parents and grandparents have labeled knuckle cracking as a bad habit and try vehemently to break their children of the inclination. Whether they use arthritis scare tactics,or simply telling children to stop or face punishment, these enforcers are quite possibly stopping their children from doing what they are supposed to do. Popping your joints gives you better range of motion and less pressure in your joints, which may lead to better hand health. It’s time to address this myth and call the haters out. Spread the word.
Pop It Like It’s Hot!
Now that you know the truth about cracking your knuckles, feel free to pop it like it’s hot and crack your heart out. Those who hate the sound of knuckle joints popping beware. Now that the science is out to back it up, you’re just going to have to ignore it or join in on the fun.
Knuckle crackers of the world, rejoice. You are definitely not hurting yourself, and many doctors believe you might just be helping yourself. Popping your joints and stretching out your ligaments and bones is like yoga for your hands. No more fear or shame for knuckle crackers. Pop it like it’s hot!
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Sources: [CNN, Harvard, Good Housekeeping, Little Things, NPR, WebMD]
