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

Initially, it's important to note that this article and its claim is relying on a well-known and credible source, which allows us to view this claim through a different lense. This article claims the myth that cracking your knuckles leads to arthritis is just that; a myth. According to Eric M. Ruderman, (a rheumatologist at Northwestern Medicine), there is truly no connection between cracking knuckles and arthritis because it is just the expulsion of gas bubbles.

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While the concern that cracking your knuckles can lead to long lasting effects such as arthritis is valid, there has been no known correlation between cracking your knuckles and arthritis.

"The relation of habitual knuckle cracking to osteoarthrosis with functional impairment of the hand has long been considered an old wives' tale without experimental support. The mechanical sequelae of knuckle cracking have been shown to produce the rapid release of energy in the form of sudden vibratory energy, much like the forces responsible for the destruction of hydraulic blades and ship propellers.

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."

This quote taken from a study by the National Library of Medicine explains what the popping sound in knuckle is caused by, and how knuckle cracking does not cause arthritis, although it can increase chances in developing functional hand impairment.

"Repetitive and intentional joint cracking won't cause cartilage damage or arthritis, but it may lead to other serious issues like instability within the joint and a loss of grip strength or hand function."

This excerpt from CentraCare also explores the possibility of repeated knuckle cracking leading to lower and function.

In short, cracking your knuckles will not lead to arthritis, but can lead to a loss in hand function .

https://www.centracare.com/articles-stories/cracking-knuckles-cause-arthritis
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1004074/

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The source and short description were incredible since they clearly summarized what the claim is and the article being referenced was very trustworthy. The source was from the Arthritis Center at Johns Hopkins, which provides enough authority and background of where most of the information was from. But why did the title seem completely opposite to the claim and the backup source? Is it a way to draw attention? Besides this, the source was also in Q&A form which directly answered each question around the topic of arthritis clearly.

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Many people have the belief that cracking your knuckles can lead to things like arthritis. However, this is not true, and it is simply the popping of joint fluid. Northwestern Medicine states, "There is no connection between cracking your knuckles and 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 is a great explanation! It's short and concise, and you backed it up with a good and trustworthy source.

Answer 1

The claim of this John Hopkins article is that that cracking your fingers does not in fact lead to arthritis. They state that it may cause reduced grip strength but arthritis is not an effect of cracking knuckles. This claim is supported by a Harvard Study. Harvard Medical School states that "Cracking your knuckles may aggravate the people around you, but it probably won't raise your risk for arthritis. That's the conclusion of several studies that compared rates of hand arthritis among habitual knuckle-crackers and people who didn't crack their knuckles." The John Hopkins article is written by Dimitrios Pappas, who's a trusted Rheumatology Fellow of Johns Hopkins University. After fact checking, I would say this article is factual so therefore, while it may not be great for you, cracking your knuckles should not result in arthritis. 

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

Comments

Your fact check is thorough and backs up the source with a different study from an established institution. Additionally, I appreciate that you researched the author of the article and their credibility. Good job

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Interesting points! I agree that citing reputable sources like Johns Hopkins and Harvard Medical School boosts the credibility of this claim. However, I’m curious about the specific studies these institutions refer to. Did they look at a broad demographic, and how long did they follow participants? Sometimes smaller studies show preliminary results that don’t always hold up with larger samples or over extended periods.

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Well said! I agree that this claim gains a lot of credibility when reputable sources like Harvard Medical School and Johns Hopkins are cited. However, I'm also curious about the specifics of the research they're referencing. How long were they tracked, and were a variety of participants included? Early findings from smaller studies may not always hold up when tested over longer periods of time on larger or more diverse groups. Were other factors like age, location, or socioeconomic status taken into consideration in these studies? Did some patterns stand out, or were the results similar for each group? It's also worthwhile to inquire as to whether the techniques they employed can be repeated in order to validate the outcomes.

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This is. great fact check! researching the author and his professional background verifies the legitimacy of the claims in the article that was initially skeptical of. well done!

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Great job on your fact-checking! You've made a strong case by citing reputable sources and providing a well-rounded explanation of the issue. While you mentioned that cracking knuckles "may cause reduced grip strength," it could be helpful to provide a bit more detail on why or how this happens. For instance, some research suggests that cracking knuckles may lead to ligament stretching or temporary discomfort, which could explain the reduced strength, but it’s unlikely to lead to long term damage.

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Overall you did a great job! Your source is credible and you explained what it was saying clearly and throughly. The only thing I would have went deeper into is the claim that cracking your knuckles can have a negative effect on your grip strength. You did a great job and helped clear up the claim.

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This is a great fact check. The original claim was that cracking your fingers leads to arthritis, but you could cite sources from John Hopkins and Harvard Medical School that debunked this theory.

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This is a great and quite thorough fact check! You chose a very credible source and I appreciate that you clearly explained the professional background. I would recommend potentially digging deeper into other possible side affects!

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You did a good job of connecting the sources to prove the claim to be inaccurate. The evidence you used was relevant and came from reliable sources. The research on the author showed greater credibility to the sources. Overall, this was a great fact-check.

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This is a great fact check that thoroughly explains how the original claim made was inaccurate information. Utilizing a source such as one from Harvard Health adds to the credibility of your fact check, and shows how your information was found from a professional background. I also thought when you provided background on the author to be very helpful because it establishes credibility and accuracy. One thing I think would make this fact check stronger is going more in depth about the specific studies Harvard Medicine and John Hopkins conducted. You broadly mention them, but also do not provide much context about the studies for those reading this. Overall, I think this fact check was off to a great start and I can tell you are very informative on the subject after researching.

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This is an excellent fact-check! you referenced multiple sources, which is very important, and you clearly developed all your ideas. Along with pointing out that this habit can bug the people around you, I would have loved it if you talked more about the risks, like a decrease in grip strength, or injury.

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The fact check does a great job of summarizing the main claim that cracking knuckles does not cause arthritis. This is a good fact check because it uses specific information from the Harvard Medical School article to support that cracking your knuckles doesn't cause arthritis. This response was well-written and easy to understand.

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This is a great fact-check! The use of multiple reliable resources from Harvard Medical School and a John Hopkins Rheumatology Fellow, as well as other reliable resources cited in the article. It shares a clear message that should be easy for others to understand: how cracking your knuckles to get arthritis is a false claim and more of a subtle lie for people who don't like it are able to get individuals to stop doing it around them, this being expressed in multiple studies.

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I agree with your hypothesis that this is a viable study. Johns Hopkins and Harvard Medical School are both extremely reputable sources. I was pleased to learn that cracking knuckles does lead to arthritis because I do that myself.

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I like the fact that you were able to kept it to the point and provide a good source on information.  By using the information from Harvard, it doubled down on your answer making it more reliable.

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This fact check is great, the sources used are very credible and I am glad that you brought another one in from Harvard. I also like how you looked into the background of the person who wrote the John Hopkins article, and determined whether they were considered a reliable author or not, since it's a good thing to check even if it's from a credible website or institution.

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This was a good fact check and your sources were great and it led me directly to my answer as well. There were sources that talked about how it could lead to arthritis but you found a good source that is able to make people influenced.

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This is a great factcheck. I like how you used reliable sources, and even gave us information about the author of the article and how he is expert enough to give a solid explanation. I also like how you specifically took a quote from the article to address this claim. Overall this is a good factcheck and accurately debunks this claim.

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This fact check is concise and effective. Backed by the Harvard Health Publishing within the Harvard Medical School, your fact-check effectively confronts the claim being made by the Johns Hopkins article. It's also important that you go into a background and credibility check of the article's author, which further supports your claim.

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like how you supported your fact check with another source to prove that it cant cause arthiritis but also like how you said it can cause reduced grip strength, stating that its not bad too but there is still some side affect from doing so.

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I like this response you gave and how you use a reliable article that shows the readers that crackling knuckles does not cause arthritis. I like how you show other implications cracking your knuckles may have but shoot down the direct correlation of the link to arthritis.

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This was a very clear answer which provided me with evidence from a reliable source to back up your response. Good job!

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This is well written fact check. You further evaluated the person's evidence, and found more in your research. You gave a great explanation that Harvard Medical School states that you can crack your knuckles and not get arthritis. You also found another reliable source from John Hopkins. You also give quotes from your evidence, which helps backup your fact check.

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I enjoyed this fact checked. It accurately restated the claim and added more evidence to back it up. I liked how they added a quote from their own evidence to further emphasize the claim and how they used a reliable source. The extra research unto who wrote the article also made this fact check much stronger since it helps a reader feel confident in the evidence and claim presented. Overall I think this was a very well done fact check.

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This is such a great fact check because while you show that the original claim is false, you provide evidence as to why knuckle cracking is still not necessarily good for you.  You also used highly respected sources like Harvard and John Hopkins which many people recognize and trust to get better information then the sources.

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I really enjoyed how you explained your reasoning and gave supporting evidence from articles and studies. I also like the bit of nuance you added by saying that although cracking your knuckles won't directly lead to arthritis it still isn't very good for you.

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Great fact check! I also did some research and found out from North Western Medicine that the sound from popping your knuckles is from bursting gas bubbles. This fluid helps lubricate the joints. However, "there is no connection between cracking your knuckles and arthritis" says Eric M. Ruderman, MD. The sources you gave also come to the same conclusion and I think you connected it very well to your fact check.

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Your fact-check is well-researched and effectively debunks the myth that knuckle cracking leads to arthritis. However, it's worth noting that while knuckle cracking doesn't cause arthritis, some studies have found associations with other issues. For instance, habitual knuckle crackers may experience hand swelling and reduced grip strength. Additionally, there have been reports linking knuckle cracking to injuries of the ligaments surrounding the joint or dislocation of tendons.

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

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Great work! You provided clear evidence on why cracking your fingers does not lead to arthritis. I liked that you brought in a Harvard study and linked the source to make it more credible by not just using the same John Hopkins article.

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This is a great fact check. The evidence that was used was a good article and clearly supported what they were trying to say. I think it was also very helpful that they expanded on who wrote the website. It helped me feel confident in the evidence that was being presented.

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Thank you for your response. It shows that you took the time to dive deep into the claim and find study that supports the claim that arthritis isn't caused by cracking knuckles. Your decision to research found by a doctor proves it is a strong source.

Answer 2

The claim that cracking your fingers leads to arthritis is a common myth. A notable study published in the "Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine" examined the effects of knuckle cracking over a long period and found no correlation between the habit and the development of arthritis. The lead researcher, Dr. Donald Unger, famously cracked the knuckles of one hand for over 60 years while avoiding it in the other, ultimately concluding that it did not result in arthritis. However, habitual cracking can potentially lead to other issues, such as soft tissue swelling or decreased grip strength over time. So, while it may be annoying to some, cracking your knuckles does not appear to cause arthritis. It is generally harmless, but moderation is key!

https://somersethillschiropractic.com/blog/myth-buster-cracking-joints-and-arthritis/

Comments

the point about "soft tissue swelling or decreased grip strength" is interesting, but a bit underdeveloped. Are there any specific studies backing this up or is it more of a theoretical risk? Adding more detail here could make your factcheck stronger.

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This is a good answer as you provide a reputable article and have evidence for your answer to the claim. Multiple other studies also say that cracking your fingers won't cause arthritis it is just the fluid between your joints. I think your answer is clear and concise.

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This was such a good way of swaying someone where you mentioned that the doctor was cracking his knuckles for over 60 years and did not end up with arthritis.

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This is a great fact check and I love the source that was provided. This is such an interesting study how the researcher only cracked one hand for 60 years straight. This evidence has been different from the rest and proves clearly that this claim is true and doesn't give you arthritis.

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You gave an excellent breakdown of the myth that knuckle cracking causes arthritis! It was really  interesting and shocking to see that Dr. Donald Unger tested this theory on his own hands for over 60 years?! As someone who cracks their fingers, it's good to know it doesn't cause arthreitis but to still be aware of the other potentially harmful side affects of cracking fingers

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I liked the information you provided to back up the claim that cracking knuckles does not cause arthritis. Although Dr. Unger tested the myth of this claim over the span of 60 years, I wonder if throughout that time the myth was disproven and therefore ending the purpose of his study. The dedication is impressive, however, I am interested to see the research to prove that reduced grip strength is caused by repeatedly cracking knuckles.

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This is a phenomenal fact check you sharded with us. I'd like to add that when you said cracking your fingers does not in fact lead to arthritis and the article states that it may cause reduced grip strength, but arthritis is not an effect of cracking knuckles, I found an article that states inflammation to that joint is also a risk

Answer 3

Exactly as you said in your post it is a myth that by cracking your knuckles gives you arthritis. In the John Hopkins article, it goes over the facts that there is no true evidence that suggests a correlation between the two. Also, the Harvard Health article I found goes over the same topic and that knuckle cracking may be a habit to let go of. This is because it is found that people tend to have worsened grip strength and there have been some other related injuries due to knuckle cracking.

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

Comments

Well-corroborated fact check! I also appreciate your notion of other potential risks associated with knuckle cracking, as that nuance is important to the issue at hand.

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I think you did a good job fact checking. You added good evidence on why the claim is true. Claim without evidence is worthless.

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This is a great response and a well-thought-out fact-check. I am intrigued by the other article relating to the topic and how people's grip strength has worsened over time. I am also wondering how someone could injure themselves by cracking their knuckles!

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This was a great effort at fact-checking, and you provided a strong resource to support your answer.

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This is a very well done fact-check! I enjoy how you explained the effects that cracking your knuckles may cause and why it is a bad habit, but does not necessarily lead to arthritis. I also believe you chose a very credible article to help further support the initial claim.

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This fact-check was very thorough. Much of the articles I found about knuckle cracking in correlation to arthritis stated similar information about repeated cracking can cause reduced grip strength. Harvard is a good source to go to when fact-checking because they are known to be a reliable source. It is good that you addressed the original claim's article to verify their information.

Answer 4

While commonly believed to be true, cracking your knuckles does not cause arthritis, as stated in the claim above. Harvard says several studies show no correlation between the rat e of arthritis and whether or not you crack your knuckles. The sound that is produced comes from the release of air from the bubbles in the synovial fluid. While reduced grip strength is a common side effect, cracking your knuckles will not cause arthritis.

Harvard

Comments

You seem to know what you are talking about but throwing in Harvard with no direct quote or information doesn't make this very reliable. Your information otherwise is good!

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This fact check does include a reputable name but no link or citation of a specific study which makes the point unreliable and the lack of statistics or even a quote adds to it lacking credibility. I would recommend going deeper on every point you made,  adding more scientific facts or quotes to back up your claims!

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Nice fact check! To make it even better, you could reference numerous sources. Although Harvard Health is very notable, it is always good to mention a couple of sources instead of one to ensure your ideas have a strong basis and public support!

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Your fact check seems a bit off, I believe you are headed the right direction but you seem to not link sources and talk about Harvard with no references. I know that from one read it seems like a simple claim to agree with but try finding outside resources and linking your findings. Maybe a new point of view or findings on this topic!

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Great job using real evidence like what cracking knuckles actually means pertaining to the body. However, you said "Harvard says" but you do not specify who from Harvard or where you got this information from Harvard, so I would state that.

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This fact check definitely needs some physical evidence or quotations that are from the source. Otherwise this fact check is lacking in support of your claim. You are definitely in the right path, just need more sources and evidence!

Answer 5

Cracking your fingers will not give one arthritis, when once cracks a finger the sound is cause by gas bubbles in the joint collapsing with each other. Dr Donald Unger participated in an experiment of kracking his knuckles on one hand for 60 years and left the other fingers alone and there was still no difference.

Comments

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/crack-research/

Answer 6

According to an article by Dimitrios Pappas, a Rheumatology Fellow at Johns Hopkins University, cracking your knuckles does not actually cause arthritis. While there is some evidence it may slightly reduce grip strength, arthritis isn’t linked to this habit. This claim is supported by research from Harvard Medical School, which states, "Cracking your knuckles may aggravate the people around you, but it probably won't raise your risk for arthritis." Harvard’s findings are based on multiple studies comparing hand arthritis rates between frequent knuckle-crackers and those who don’t crack their knuckles. After verifying the facts, it’s safe to say that while cracking your knuckles might not be ideal, it’s unlikely to lead to arthritis

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

Comments

I think this is a very sufficient fact check. I like how you wrote a lot of this information in your own words, while also including a quote. The structure of your prose is solid and easy to understand, and the source you used was reliable, I believe this information to be true.

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I am convinced by your fact check. I like that you added evidence of other things that cracking your knuckles cause as someone may get that confused with it causing arthritis. Supporting Harvard's findings by adding that there were studies is a strong addition to your fact check as well. This is convincing!

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This is a great fact-check! I like the way that you made sure to explain who the writer of the linked article was as it shows how he is a reliable source and is giving factual information. I also like your use of quotations that help further support the claim.

Answer 7

By Cracking your knuckles you start to develop Arthritis that statement is not True. However the content  in the article is True. When I went to the John Hopkins source it says that There is no evidence of such an association. In limited studies performed there was no change in occurrence of arthritis between “habitual knuckle crackers” and “non crackers.” My source is John  Hopkins Arthritis Center. John Hopkins is a reputable Medical organization.    https://www.hopkinsarthritis.org/arthritis-news/knuckle-cracking-q-a-from/

Answer 8

Cracking finger joints will not cause a person to develop arthritis. Arthritis is a disease in which the immune system attacks the joints, as stated by the University of Arkansas. When a person stretches their fingers, they can pop bubbles in the synovial fluid which creates the distinctive “pop” sound, as explained in the article from Harvard Health. This action might aggravate existing Arthritis but has no connection in causing it. There could be other negative side effects such as weakened grip strength, or simply public disturbance which might be why the rumor was originally started. 

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

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

Comments

Nicely put, I like that you cited your source and explained your answer. Good job! I feel educated, thank you.

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While there is no concrete proof that it causes arthritis, it is also true that the myth most likely developed as a result of popular irritation with the sound and worries about joint health. Your comment makes a lot of sense!

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You did a great job utilizing many different sources to prove the claim to be inaccurate. The sources you used as evidence were credible and relevant to the topic of how cracking your fingers does not lead to an individual developing arthritis.

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like how you mentioned that arthoiritis is a disease that a person develops by their immune system attacks the joints. also like how you added another source to support this fact.

Answer 9

The claim of this John Hopkins article is that cracking your fingers does not lead to arthritis. The article state that it may cause reduced grip strength but arthritis is not an effect of cracking knuckles. This claim is supported by the Harvard Study below. Harvard Medical School states that "it probably won't raise your risk of arthritis." After fact-checking, I would say this article is factual so therefore cracking your knuckles should not result in arthritis. 

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

Answer 10

There is no scientific evidence that supports the claim that cracking your knuckles will help you develop arthritis. First, according to Harvard Medical School, when you crack your knuckles, the popping noise is cause by "bubble bursting in the synovial fluid". This does not cause arthritis, however the article does say that cracking your knuckles frequently can lead to reduced grip strength. There have also been cases that link knuckle cracking to injuries of the ligaments that surround your joints. This claim is false as there is no link between knuckle cracking and arthritis. 

Articles used:

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

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

Comments

I think you did a really good job at fact-checking this claim! You used .edu and .org websites which are typically more credible and used articles from reputable and known institutions. Both in which supported the claim that cracking your knuckles actually do not lead you to developing arthritis.