3 like 0 dislike
in General Factchecking by Newbie (480 points)
by Newbie (260 points)
0 0
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.
by Newbie (230 points)
1 0
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.
by Novice (650 points)
0 0
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.
by Newbie (340 points)
1 0
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)
by Novice (620 points)
0 0
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!
by Newbie (330 points)
0 0
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.
by Newbie (320 points)
0 0
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.
by (100 points)
0 0
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.
by (100 points)
0 0
The article claims that people who crack their knuckles are more likely to get arthritis. It cites reputable sources, including the Family Board of Medicine and the National Library of Medicine. It outlines what cracking your knuckles is and how it works. The article addresses the lack of studies done on the subject. However, it uses the studies that have been done to show that, most likely, cracking your knuckles does not cause arthritis. The article starts with a question and successfully answers it. Overall, this is not clickbait and is true.

17 Answers

0 like 0 dislike
by Novice (940 points)
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/
False
0 like 0 dislike
by Newbie (300 points)

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.

False
0 like 0 dislike
by Newbie (340 points)
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/
False
0 like 0 dislike
by Newbie (310 points)
This topic grabs my attention because I’ve been cracking my knuckles almost every day, and knowing people with arthritis has made me wonder if this habit could lead to joint trouble down the line. So, I dug into the information on this website to find out the truth. Surprisingly, despite the old myth, there’s no solid evidence connecting knuckle cracking to arthritis. BBC, while generally a trustworthy source, doesn’t actually present a conclusive argument for this claim. In fact, after closely reading their article, it becomes clear that the science leans more toward debunking the idea than supporting it.

One of the article’s most interesting points highlights a study by Dr. Donald Unger, a Californian doctor who cracked only his left hand’s knuckles daily for over 50 years, leaving his right hand alone. Later, he found no sign of arthritis in either hand. This story is echoed by other reputable sources, like Harvard Health Publishing, which found that, although cracking knuckles doesn’t appear to cause arthritis, it could lead to a weaker grip over time.

The BBC article also notes that few studies have focused on this particular habit, but those that have suggested some knuckle-crackers might experience slight swelling and grip reduction, which inspired me to dig even further. I found a 2023 update from Northwestern Medicine, where Dr. Eric Ruderman, a rheumatologist, affirmed, “There is no connection between cracking your knuckles and arthritis — or any other long-term health problem.” This consistency across multiple sources, combined with the lack of studies confirming the claim, reinforces my confidence that knuckle cracking won’t cause arthritis, although it may have small impacts on hand strength.
False
0 like 0 dislike
by Newbie (260 points)

This claim is not true. From personal experience I have arthritis, which is an auto-immune disease and cracking my joints throughout the day helps with my mobility. Otherwise my joints stiffen up and it's hard to do daily tasks."According to Dr. Ruderman, when you crack your knuckles, the popping noises or “crepitus” are caused by bursting gas bubbles in the fluid that help lubricate your joints. The bubbles pop when you pull the bones apart, either by stretching the fingers or bending them backward. It releases some endorphins that help reduce pain, but otherwise it’s thought to be a harmless habit that doesn’t signal or cause any type of health problem."

Source: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.

0 like 0 dislike
by Novice (600 points)

No, by cracking your knuckles you will not get arthritis. There have not been a lot of studies regarding this topic, but those that have been done all point to the same conclusion: no, it does not cause arthritis.

One main study was done by Donald Unger who cracked his left hand twice a day for 60 years. At the end of those 60 years Unger said that he said this: "I'm looking at my fingers, and there is not the slightest sign of arthritis in either hand.” However, habitual knuckle cracking isn’t without consequences. In a study by Jorge Castellanos and David Axelrod published in 1990 shows that, among 300 participants (74 people who habitually crack knuckles and 226 that don’t) who are all 45 years old or older, none of them had more or less of a case to have osteoarthritis. But the study did point out that those who cracked their knuckles habitually did have more of a case to have less grip strength. This study is the  pointed to by almost everyone, including Harvard Health and it is in the BBC article attached to the original post. 

To sum things up: There is no “compared rates of hand arthritis among habitual knuckle-crackers and people who didn’t crack their knuckles”(Harvard Health).  It will have some effects on your grip strength, but that is if you crack your knuckles multiple times a day, every day for years. 

Articles: https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20120917-is-it-bad-to-crack-your-knuckles 

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

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1004074/ 

False
0 like 0 dislike
by Newbie (310 points)
The claim that by cracking your fingers you start to develop Arthritis is false. this is a very common misconception and many do choose to believe that it is true. However, plenty of studies have shown that there is no direct connection between cracking joints and arthritis.

According to the Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center, there is "no evidence of such an association." they mention that people who already have arthritis and crack their knuckles could experience " ligament injury or acute trauma to the joints," otherwise the habit does not worsen the condition

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

Community Rules


Be respectful.

There is bound to be disagreement on a site about misinformation. Assume best intentions on everyone's part.

If you are new to factchecking, take some time to learn about it. "How to Factcheck" has some resources for getting started. Even if you disagree with these materials, they'll help you understand the language of this community better.

News Detective is for uncovering misinformation and rumors. This is not a general interest question-answer site for things someone could Google.

Posting

The title is the "main claim" that you're trying to factcheck.

Example:
Factcheck This: Birds don't exist

If possible, LINK TO to the place you saw the claim.

Answering

LINK TO YOUR EVIDENCE or otherwise explain the source ("I called this person, I found it in this book, etc.")

But don't just drop a link. Give an explanation, copy and paste the relevant information, etc.

News Detective is not responsible for anything anyone posts on the platform.
...