CAN CRACKING KNUCKLES LEAD TO ARTHRITIS?

CAN CRACKING KNUCKLES LEAD TO ARTHRITIS?

What happens when you crack your knuckles? And can this cause arthritis?

*Your joints are surrounded by a fluid filled membrane (synovial membrane), which acts as a lubricant for your bones. When you crack your knuckles (or any other synovial joint), you temporarily expand the space between the bones. This creates a negative pressure, which lets gas escape from the fluid. This gas forms a bubble, which quickly collapses on itself and causes the cracking noise. It takes a bit of time for the gases to be slowly reabsorbed, which is why you cannot re-crack a joint immediately after cracking it.

*Cracking your knuckles, or any other joint in the body, does NOT lead to arthritis. Several studies have shown that osteoarthritis is no more common in people who crack their knuckles compared with people who don’t.

Chris Bryceson

B. Health Sciences (Physio), APAM

CB Physiotherapy