Kimme Hyrich, rheumatologist and professor of epidemiology at the University of Manchester. She takes us through a fascinating, yet very popular habit many folks do on a daily basis—knuckle cracking. In fact, almost 54% of us pop our knuckles on a regular basis. This prevalent habit fuels popular fears that it could give you arthritis or other joint issues.
Knuckle cracking happens when a person stretches or flexes their finger joints, producing an audible crack sound. As for that loud pop, Hyrich says it’s created by the knuckle joint. This joint has a very small space occupied by a limited amount of fluid. Well, as it turns out, when a person cracks their knuckles, they’re only creating a temporary expansion of the joint space.
“People are likely worried they’re damaging the joint,” Hyrich notes, addressing the concerns that often arise regarding this habit. His caution is well placed, because we still don’t know exactly how or why knuckle cracking occurs. This puzzle only deepens the mystery around this widespread phenomenon.
Environment, as much as the will, has a large role to play in knuckle cracking proclivity. Some people are more genetically predisposed to being drawn to this type of behavior over others. Athletic injuries frequently use a link to knuckle cracking. These injuries most often include fracturing a bone around the joint or spraining ligaments.
One U.S. physician even garnered some fame for having broken the knuckles on only one hand daily for more than six decades. He wanted to show his mom that her fears about the dangers of this habit were unfounded. This short story illustrates the extent people are willing to explore in order to learn what knuckle cracking means.
Hyrich, who often gets questions from patients and the public about knuckle cracking. He comforts them by telling them that although it’s annoying, living a healthy lifestyle is an important part of life. He advises, “Maintain a healthy lifestyle, stay active, and keep to a healthy weight,” underscoring that overall health can significantly impact joint function and integrity.