By cracking your fingers you start to develop Arthritis

Question

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​

Comments

The claim that this article states "Cracking your fingers does not give you arthritis" is a factual claim that is supported by the source that's provided. The article also states the possible risks of cracking your fingers, reduced grip strength and irritated tissue.

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This article's statement that "Cracking your fingers does not give you arthritis" is factual and backed up by the cited source. The article also discusses the potential dangers of infected tissue, limited grip strength, and finger cracking.

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Although you did a great job pointing out the validity of this source, I think your fact-check could be improved by bringing in other sources to provide more perspectives. More evidence is always good! Other than that good job!

Answer 1

While cracking knuckles may be considered a bad habit, it will not lead to arthritis. This article by Northwest Medicine claims the popping sound is from a bursting gas bubbles in the fluid between finger joints. The idea that it leads to arthritis is a myth that has been passed around for awhile as a way to get people to break their habit of knuckle cracking.

Answer 2

This claim is true and rooted in a reputable source. John Hopkins is a reputable research institute that information can be trusted from. Additionally, in the Harvard article attached below, they merely say that it can lead to reduced grip strength, but no proof leads to arthritis from cracking knuckles. The cracking of knuckles doesn't particularly create a strain on your fingers that would lead to arthritis, rather it creates a negative space that produces the pop sound when the fingers are bent. This is very reassuring as an avid knuckle cracker myself.

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

Comments

Since I am also a knuckle-cracker, it is comforting for you and other frequent knuckle-crackers to know that this behavior is generally safe from a health perspective. I like how you gave this honest viewpoint!

Answer 3

Your claim is true, knuckle cracking doesn't lead to arthritis. From other sources that I've found to the one that you've used, everything seems to be coming to the same conclusion, that it doesn't cause arthritis but, it does have other affects on your fingers such as reduced grip strength and possible inflammation.

Answer 4

It's often thought that cracking your fingers causes arthritis, but a significant study that looked at the long-term effects of knuckle cracking and was published in the "Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine" showed no link between the practice and the start of arthritis. In order to prove that arthritis was not caused by it, the principal investigator, Dr. Donald Unger, famously cracked the knuckles of one hand for more than 60 years while avoiding it in the other. But over time, repetitive cracking may result in further problems like soft tissue inflammation or reduced grip. Therefore, cracking your knuckles does not seem to cause arthritis, even though it may irritate some people. In general, it is not harmful. Harvard's conclusions are supported by several studies that compare the rate of hand arthritis in people who frequently crack their knuckles and those who don't. After confirming the information, it is fair to conclude that, even if it may not be the best, cracking your knuckles is unlikely to cause arthritis.

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

Answer 5

This claim is false. According to a Harvard Health Publishing article, the habit of popping your knuckles has no science in causing arthritis. The pop sound is by bursting the bubbles in the synovial fluid. The article states that even though it does not lead to arthritis the habit shouldn't be encouraged. It can lead to reduced grip strength and injuries in your fingers.

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

Answer 6

The belief that cracking your knuckles causes arthritis is false, because according to Harvard Health and a study published in the Western Journal of Medicine, there’s no scientific evidence linking knuckle cracking to arthritis. The sound you hear when cracking your knuckles is caused by bubbles bursting in the synovial fluid, which is a natural lubricant in your joints and this process doesn’t damage the bones or cartilage, meaning it’s not likely to contribute to arthritis. However, long-term knuckle cracking might lead to some minor issues over time. The Western Journal of Medicine study noted that excessive knuckle cracking could result in reduced grip strength or mild swelling in the hands but these effects are relatively uncommon and not as severe as arthritis. The belief that it causes arthritis is more of a myth than fact, as confirmed by reputable sources so, there’s no real need to worry about indulging in the habit.

Answer 7

The claim that “By cracking your fingers you start to develop arthritis” is false. According to an article by Houston Healthcare, “People who crack their knuckles have the same rates of arthritis as those who don't.” However, while knuckle cracking does not cause arthritis, it may have other associated risks. For example, an article by Harvard Health Publishing stated that chronic knuckle cracking may lead to reduced grip strength, finger dislocation, or ligament injuries over time. Overall, cracking your knuckles won't lead to arthritis, but moderation is essential to prevent other risks from occurring. 
https://www.health.harvard.edu/pain/does-knuckle-cracking-cause-arthritis 
https://www.hcahoustonhealthcare.com/healthy-living/blog/does-cracking-knuckles-cause-arthritis

Answer 8

When trying to verify that cracking your knuckles gives you arthritis, I struggled to find a source that could verify this information as fact. Other sources, such as Northwestern Medicine and Harvard University, verified that this claim was simply a myth. That is not to say that cracking your knuckles is entirely good for you. An article from Harvard University said that cracking your knuckles can't be directly responsible for arthritis, however, it said that "Chronic knuckle-cracking may lead to reduced grip strength" among other things. The Johns Hopkins article linked in the original claim seems to be saying the same thing, therefore I would say this post is true.  

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. 

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

Answer 9

The statement By Cracking your fingers you start to develop Arthritis is false. 

According to Can You Get Arthritis From Cracking Your Knuckles? “The truth is there is no connection between cracking your knuckles and arthritis — or any other long-term health problem, says Eric M. Ruderman, MD, a rheumatologist at Northwestern Medicine.”

 “There is no connection between cracking your knuckles and arthritis.”

 

Answer 10

The claim that cracking your knuckles does not give you arthritis is accurate in my research as well. I sought various sources and found a Harvard study and a National Library of Medicine article that both say similar things; the satisfying yet "cringey" popping sound is a harmless process and is caused by the formation and bursting of gas bubbles in the synovial fluid of our joints. This aligns with the Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center as they also have found no evidence through studies that show a direct link between knuckle cracking and an increased risk of arthritis. There are of course smaller downsides to doing it consistently and excessively, as irritation may occur within the finger tissue that can lead to side effects such as reduced grip strength.

"There was no increased preponderance of arthritis of the hand in either group; however, habitual knuckle crackers were more likely to have hand swelling and lower grip strength. Habitual knuckle cracking was associated with manual labour, biting of the nails, smoking, and drinking alcohol. It is concluded that habitual knuckle cracking results in functional hand impairment." (J Castellanos, D Axelrod, 1990)

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

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