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 article provided in the initial response to this claim is excellent. Joint popping in general (not just in the knuckles) introduces more gas into the joint, which takes a while to be dissolved in the fluid of the joint (synovial fluid). According to the University of Texas at Austin, joint popping is generally considered safe, though there are no real benefits, aside from momentarily improved mobility. https://uthealthaustin.org/blog/is-cracking-your-joints-really-bad-for-you

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You have provided a thorough and accurate fact-check on the assertion that arthritis is caused by knuckle cracking. I like how you explained that the popping sound is caused by gas bubbles forming and bursting in the joint fluid and that there is no evidence linking this practice to an increased risk of arthritis.

Additional credible sources that back your results might be used to bolster your case even further. For example, cracking your knuckles does not cause arthritis, but if you do it too often, it may produce transient swelling or a decrease in grip strength, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Likewise, the Mayo Clinic affirms that frequent knuckle cracking may irritate surrounding tissues but does not damage joints or induce arthritis.

Your fact-check is comprehensive overall and well backed up by reliable sources. Incorporating these more sources can offer a more thorough comprehension of the consequences of knuckle cracking.


Congratulations on your fact-check!

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The belief that cracking your knuckles leads to arthritis is a pretty common myth. According to the Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center, there is no evidence that knuckle cracking causes arthritis or other joint damage. Similarly, the Department of Orthopedics at UAMS Health states that while knuckle cracking may cause temporary joint soreness, it does not and will not lead to arthritis. Therefore, cracking your knuckles does not cause arthritis.

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The belief that cracking your knuckles leads to arthritis is a pretty common myth. According to the Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center, there is no evidence that knuckle cracking causes arthritis or other joint damage. Similarly, the Department of Orthopedics at UAMS Health states that while knuckle cracking may cause temporary joint soreness, it does not and will not lead to arthritis. Therefore, cracking your knuckles does not cause arthritis.

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

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

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After reading this fact and learning about it in the link included, I learned that arthritis doesn't come from cracking your knuckles. But it can cause injury. I saw that your headline was a false headline but your evidence to go with it was all true.

Answer 1

This claim is false. According to the Johns Hopkins article while you may "have reduced grip strength compared with people not cracking their knuckles" it does not give you arthritis. Another source to back it up is Eric M. Ruderman, MD, a rheumatologist at Northwestern Medicine saying, “The truth is there is no connection between cracking your knuckles and arthritis — or any other long-term health problem”. Furthermore it can lead to more fragile joints however it doesn't result in arthritis. Meaning while it's not great to crack your fingers there is not correlation to arthritis. 

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

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

Answer 2

The claim appears to be false. The article cited in the claim is from John Hopkins Arthritis Center, who claim that there is no proof that links arthritis to knuckle cracking. The article also suggests a genetic predisposition for those who develop arthritis, while acknowledging that wear and tear is also a factor in causing arthritis. This source seems reliable, as it is published by an accredited university, nevertheless it is necessary to double check. 

The NIHL, a U.S. government website, states that knuckle cracking causing arthritis is an “old wives' tale without experimental support”. They evaluated a sample of 300 people of varying age and sex for knuckle cracking and arthritis, finding no correlation between the two. The University of Arkansas for Medical sciences also states there is no evidence to support this claim, stating only that knuckle cracking may cause joint soreness temporarily. Tufts medicine claimed the same, citing genetics as the main cause. There appears an abundant selection of medically credible sources disproving this claim, so no, cracking your knuckles does not cause arthritis. 

Sources:

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

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

https://www.tuftsmedicine.org/about-us/news/medical-myths-cracking-your-knuckles-causes-arthritis

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

Answer 3

No, cracking your knuckles does not give you arthritis. The popping sound also called "crepitus" is actually popping gas bubbles, said here can-you-get-arthritis-from-cracking-your-knuckles. There is no facts between arthritis and cracking your knuckles at all, that is simply made up. I agree with what is said here that someone saying that cracking your knuckles causes arthritis is probably trying to find a reason to get you to stop. 

Answer 4

According to northwestern medicine there is no connection between cracking your knuckles and arthritis. The noise that comes from cracking your knuckles or “crepitus” is caused by popping gas bubbles in the fluid that lubricates our joints. The action of popping your knuckles releases endorphins that help reduce pain.

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.

Answer 5

This claim is false. According to Northwestern's medicine page, arthritis has no link to arthritis. In the article it states, " The popping noises or “crepitus” are caused by bursting gas bubbles in the fluid that help lubricate your joints. "  Therefore, the popping noise is just gas bubbles, and overtime there is no risk of getting arthritis. Other websites say the same thing. Specifically the Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center. They state the same thing that there are no side effects to cracking knuckles and no link to arthritis. I chose these two articles they are both from reliable universities. And as someone who cracks there knuckles this is definitely nice to hear because it feels good and is something I tend to do everyday. 

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

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.

Answer 6

Throughout my life I have always heard people saying this myth, and I always remembered researching it and never really being able to find a legitimate answer. Although this claim sounds like it could be true, it is false. With researching this claim Arthritis is not caused by just cracking your finger nails. 

When researching this claim, one of the first reliable sources, Mayo Clinic, showed that it was incorrect. In the article, surgeon Dr. Sanj Kakar explained that half of the population cracks their fingers some frequently, others rarely. He describes the sound as a result of tribonucleation, where air bubbles form and pop in the synovial fluid of finger joints. Research indicates that repeated knuckle cracking may cause thickened cartilage, it also can have an effect on grip strength, or function. According to Dr. Kakar, “If they find it's annoying, then stop. But, otherwise, if it’s causing no pain to them, really, I don’t think they’re doing any harm. I occasionally do it myself, and I’m a hand surgeon.”(Mayo Clinic).  Similarly, Harvard Health supports the claim that there is no correlation between knuckle cracking and arthritis, stating that there is no actual harm to the joints when cracking fingers.. They explain that “...the bubbles pop when you pull the bones apart, either by stretching the fingers or bending them backward, creating negative pressure.”(Harvard Health).  Lastly, another article by the Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center also reinforces that habitual knuckle cracking does not increase the likelihood of developing arthritis. They also talk about how there is not really a relation between knuckle cracking and arthritis but in a study they found, “...after many years of cracking habitual knuckle crackers may have reduced grip strength compared with people not cracking their knuckles.” (John Hopkins Arthritis Center). 

To bring this claim to conclusion, I have found three reliable sources that show that this claim is not accurate. Although this is a common myth that many people believe, it is easy to say with this research that there is no real correlation between cracking in the fingers and arthritis. All of the articles came to the result that cracking fingers can cause joint pain and finger mobility weakness. 

Sources-

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

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

https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-clinic-minute-a-hand-surgeons-advice-about-knuckle-cracking/