Question

By cracking your fingers you start to develop Arthritis

Comments

It seems like the article linked claims that there is no scientific claim that cracking your knuckles will lead to a higher chance of developing arthritis or osteoarthritis.

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This topic interests me because I crack my knuckles on a daily basis, and I have always wondered if this will cause my hands damage in the future. It seems like you got this information from a reputable source, BBC News, and that they stated many claims that were sourced very well. It is clear that they did thorough research on this topic and made sure their sources were correct. I am curious as to what the definitive conclusion of this article was though. It seems like there were some studies mentioned that showed affects of osteoarthritis from knuckle cracking, but there were also sources mentioned that the two have no correlation with each other. My suggestion would be to use another source that could defend one answer or the other with a more clear consensus on if cracking knuckles does cause osteoarthritis in the future.

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This claim is not true. After browsing a few different websites, I have found that there is no actual scientific evidence to prove that cracking your knuckles causes arthritis. Reliable sources such as Harvard Health, John Hopkins Arthritis Center, and even Northwestern Medicine have confirmed this.

According to Harvard Health, this claim is just a myth. Studies have been conducted comparing hand rates of arthritis in those who cracked there knuckles have found that there is no correlation.

Though it should be noted that if one already has arthritis, cracking knuckles may worsen their symptoms. UAMS Health has confirmed that it is not the only reason for arthritis symptoms.

https://uamshealth.com/medical-myths/will-cracking-your-knuckles-cause-arthritis/

https://www.health.harvard.edu/pain/does-knuckle-cracking-cause-arthritis

https://www.nm.org/healthbeat/healthy-tips/can-you-get-arthritis-from-cracking-your-knuckles#:~:text=%E2%80%9CThe%20truth%20is%20there%20is,cracking%20your%20knuckles%20and%20arthritis.

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This claim seems to be untrue. Northwestern Medicine's website says that "the popping noises when you crack your knuckles is caused by bursting gas bubbles in the fluid that helps lubricate your joints." The popping, is the bubbles when you pull or bend your fingers.(https://www.nm.org/healthbeat/healthy-tips/can-you-get-arthritis-from-cracking-yourknuckles#:~:text=%E2%80%9CThe%20truth%20is%20there%20is,cracking%20your%20knuckles%20and%20arthritis.) Also Harvard supports the claim that it doesn't cause arthritis as the bubbles bursting in the fluid helps lubricate the joints which doesn't cause long term damage.(https://www.health.harvard.edu/pain/does-knuckle-cracking-cause-arthritis)

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You did a great job explaining that cracking your knuckles doesn't cause arthritis, using reliable sources like Harvard Health and Johns Hopkins to back up your points. While it’s true that there’s no evidence linking knuckle cracking to arthritis, it’s good to mention that it might cause other issues, such as joint swelling or reduced grip strength over time, according to UAMS Health. Adding an example like Dr. Donald Unger’s self-study, where he cracked one hand’s knuckles for years without any signs of arthritis, could make your argument even stronger. Overall, your response is solid, and including these details would improve it further!

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Great job fact checking this! It's interesting how both Northwestern Medicine and Harvard emphasize that the sound from cracking knuckles is from gas bubbles, not joint damage, which debunks the arthritis myth. It’s reassuring to know that, according to these reliable sources, there’s no link between knuckle cracking and arthritis.

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This is a great breakdown of the myth versus the facts. It’s really helpful that you highlighted sources like Harvard Health, Johns Hopkins, and Northwestern Medicine, because these organizations provide trustworthy, research-based information. The clarification about cracking knuckles possibly worsening symptoms for those with existing arthritis is also very informative. Your summary really clears up a common misconception.

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In regards to the claim that cracking your knuckles will develop arthritis, the article does a good job providing evidence against this statement. Within the piece, the author includes a variety of sources that all suggest evidence that attribute to falsifying the initial claim. Although the author doesn't specify where the sources were gathered from, I was able to look each of them up and found multiple sites where this information was presented. Since the details of the information remained similar across the different sites, it is safe to say that it is reliable data from reliable sources. Additionally, BBC, where the article is posted, is known to be a trusted new broadcasting page. Overall, these factors can lead to the accountability of the article and justify the claim that cracking your knuckles will not cause arthritis problems in the future.

Answer 1

According to multiple sources, including the one provided by the BBC that was linked originally, it is untrue that arthritis can be caused by cracking your fingers. Many studies have been done on this concept and it has been noted that cracking knuckles has some effect on finger and ligament injury as can be found in the article linked from Hopkins Arthritis. However, across the medical world, specifically those focused on the development of arthritis, all seem to agree that cracking one's knuckles has no concrete relation directly to arthritis.

https://www.nm.org/healthbeat/healthy-tips/can-you-get-arthritis-from-cracking-your-knuckles

https://www.hopkinsarthritis.org/arthritis-news/knuckle-cracking-q-a-from/

Answer 2

I looked up the information on northwestern medicine and reviewed the studies https://www.nm.org/healthbeat/healthy-tips/can-you-get-arthritis-from-cracking-your-knuckles. There is no connection between cracking your knuckles or any other long term health problem. The sound of popping is called “crepitus” and is caused by gas bubbles in the fluid that help lubricate your joints. The claim is false. Cracking your knuckles does not cause arthritis.

Answer 3

Cracking your knuckles does not give you arthritis. The popping sound is connected to the formation and bursting of gas bubbles in your joint fluid. No studies have demonstrated an increased risk of arthritis, but frequent knuckle cracking may slightly reduce grip strength or irritate surrounding tissues​

https://www.hopkinsarthritis.org/arthritis-news/knuckle-cracking-q-a-from/