jobu

is cracking your knuckles bad for you? i have had some people tell me that it will lead to arthritis when i get older.

philosopherking

It's a myth, cracking your knuckles has no ill effects. Read this for more info: http://www.boston.com/news/globe/hea...y_bad_for_you/

saltfish

I have personally noticed that people who crack their knuckles habitiually have developed larger knuckles over time..

-SF

krwlz

Which makes sense, since your putting a bit of stress on em. ANd the good ole body tends to build up things which expirience long term stress.

agball

I crack my neck at least 2 times a day, what ill effects will this have? I have been doing it for about 15 years and my neck has not gotten any larger!!

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balderdash111

I've been cracking the knuckles in my fingers for years, and I think the only thing that has happened is the tendons are a bit funny

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ngdawg

so now your tendons crack jokes????

balderdash111

yes, but not very good ones. Only a bit funny, I'm afraid

jobu

thanks for all the information. i have been craking my knuckles for years and i was a little worried that is was going to have some real stiff joints when i got older. also, i have never noticed my knuckles getting bigger but i sure feels good when i do crack them.

cait987

There is no evidence that there is any negative benefit from cracking your knuckles, but heres the question. If there were, could you stop?

I heard it gave you arthritis and I still couldnt last more then 6 hours without cracking them because ide always think about not cracking them and ide then need to crack them more lol.

Latch

Excellent question. There's no way I could stop, and I've tried.. really really tried. I notice that even thinking of cracking my knuckles gives me the urge to try and crack them.. even if I had just cracked them.

This damn thread made me crack my knuckles hehe.

VF19

Ive been cracking for years and Ive only noticed that my knuckles are huge and my fingers are long and skinny (related? perhaps, perhaps not)

it hurts like hell the first time you do it but it gets better.

cowudders14

Glad to hear all this - I'm another that cracks their knuckles all the time!!
I don't think I could stop either, although it does hurt a little from time to time If I crack them too often.
It pisses off a few others too..

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gophtc

its better not to crack, especially your back

jobu

why is that? it seems everything i have read above says the opposite and wouldn't that put a lot of chiropractors out of business?

also, i crack my knuckles so much that it has become a habbit for me and would take some serious effort for me to stop.

Untitled

I'm probably going to get a lot of flack for this but...

chiropractic is still under a lot of question. Though I know a lot of people who swear by it, the truth is, the "problems" they claim to fix have yet to be scientifically and anatomically validated.

On a personal note, I can't stand the sound of someone cracking their knuckles; it gives me shivers....

Radio Monk33

DAMN YOU CRACKERS.

Guh, my gf does it all the time. Which drives me up the wall...unfortunately, she has also found out that it isnt bad for you, which was my sole argument...

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Radi8tor

I crack my knucles regularly, many times a day, for about 15 years or so...I dont notice them growing large, nor have i noticed arthritis setting in(altho it is a bit early for that) I also crack my neck, back, and the knuclkes in my toes...and NO, i dont think i could stop if it was proven to be harmful...and YES, I love the chiropractor, and swear by the chiropractor, Untitled, you can live in pain or pop pills till the scientific proof is available...

Date the Banana

Hmmm....I've been doing other...uh, habitual actions, for quite some time and I don't think I've noticed any increase in size or swelling... maybe I just need more work at it.
Well, off to the bathroom!

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Untitled

Like I said, I know lots of people who swear by it. I'm not knocking it, or saying you shouldn't go, I'm just saying that nothing's been proven yet. I have no need for a chiropractor, otherwise I'd take your advice

MSD

I crack my knuckles. Sometimes I get sore when I'm wringing my hands nervously. No lasting problems, though.

Rangsk

I read somewhere (I'd link the article if I still had it) that cracking your knuckles will probably lessen finger strength.

I used to crack my nuckles, neck and back a lot a few years ago... I did it for years. However, once I started getting more exercise, I no longer needed to crack my neck or back, and I think taking up guitar made my knuckles crack-free. Just something to think about.

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cowudders14

Hmm - sounds interesting. I may have to dust off that guitar again. I had a few lessons a few years back but I never was very good and my interest waned...

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