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

This fact-check effectively confirms that cracking your fingers does not cause arthritis, a claim supported by a credible medical source. The article also highlights potential risks like reduced grip strength and tissue irritation. While the provided source is strong and includes a detailed medical explanation, incorporating additional sources and direct quotes could further strengthen the argument. More perspectives would add depth and reinforce the credibility of the claim. Overall, this is a well-supported fact-check!

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This is something that at first glance I thought could be true. After reviewing the article, it is clear that this claim is not true. There are some downsides to cracking your knuckles, but not large enough like causing arthritis. Other sources would probably provide similar, if not the same information.

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This is a very clear and straight foward answer that includes all components of a well rounded fact check. Great work!!

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This fact check is effective in supplying an answer to whether or not the claim is true. However, the factchecker only looks into the resource mentioned within the initial claim and does not do any outresearch to support their fact-check. If they were to find another source or two to support their fact checking it would be much more effective.

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This fact-check does a great job of debunking the myth that cracking your fingers causes arthritis, backing it up with a credible medical source. It also points out other potential risks, like reduced grip strength and tissue irritation. While the source is solid and provides a thorough medical explanation, adding more references and direct quotes could make the argument even stronger. Bringing in multiple perspectives would add depth and further validate the claim. Overall, this is a well researched and well supported fact-check.

Answer 1

This claim is true, cracking your knuckles does not cause arthritus. There are many health websites that have done research on this particular topic, including Northwestern University and the National Institute of Health (NIH). The NIH states that knuckle cracking could increase hand swelling and lower grip strength if this became a habit of yours. Dr. Ruderman of Northwestern states that when you pop your knuckles it can release pain or endorphins in your fingers from popping the air bubbles in between bones, but doesn't cause any major health problems.

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

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

Answer 2

I believe what you are trying to explain is very good. Cracking your knuckles probably isn't the best thing for you and you should try and do it less. I liked how short and simple your point was and the article was good as well. I have also been cracking my knuckles throughout my whole life and never had a problem with arthritis so it makes me believe even more in your claim.

Answer 3

The statement "by cracking your fingers you start to develop arthritis," is false. There is no evidence that backs this up and this idea probably originated from the sensation that cracking your knuckles gives you. Although you may associate the feeling with something bad, it is actually just air that is trapped between your joints that is released when you crack your knuckles. It isn't harmful in any way and it is just releasing pressure built up in your joints. 

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

By cracking your fingers you start to develop Arthritis

By cracking your fingers you start to develop Arthritis

Answer 4

This claim states that cracking your knuckles does not give you arthritis. It is sourced by an article written by the John Hopkins Arthritis Center. (https://www.hopkinsarthritis.org/arthritis-news/knuckle-cracking-q-a-from/)

Upon investigation this article is a little bit dated, having been written in 2007. Despite this. the arthritis center, which was founded in 1998,  is ranked number 1 in Rheumatology, according to the US News and World Reports 2024-25 Best Hospital Lists. This means that their doctors are highly regarded experts in the field and they have cutting edge research at their disposal. The article is credited to Dimitrios Pappas a MD, MPH Rheumatologist, expertise in arthritis, and Greece Adjunct Assistant Professor of Medicine. He explains that when you stretch the capsule it lowers the pressure inside the joint, creating a vacuum which is filled with gas that has just been dissolved in synovial fluid. Thus creating a bubble which bursts. He says that there is no evidence that can prove that this causes arthritis and studies have come back the same, whether the subject cracked their knuckles or not. However, he does mention that there are other side effects, such as injury to the surrounding ligaments, and eventual reduced grip strength. 

This conclusion is reinforced by an article on Loyola Medicine’s website, (6 Facts and Myths About Cracking Your Joints | Blog | Loyola Medicine) written in 2024 by Alexander Soneru, a MD, and orthopedic hand surgeon at Loyola Medicine. He states that joint cracking has been studied since the mid 1900’s and it is normal, unless it is causing pain. Soneru confirms that arthritis caused by cracking knuckles is a myth, saying there is no scientific evidence to back it up. He warns about other side effects, and advises to talk to your doctor is pain is accruing but trees with the article from the original 2007 claim. 

Answer 5

Cracking your knuckles does in fact not cause arthritis. Upon cross examination of other sources, the original article is correct. I found an article by Harvard Health, a well-respected and truthful organization that tells us 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". This lines up with the information presented in the original answer. While knuckle cracking does not cause arthritis, it can still cause harm. The same Harvard article tells us that "Chronic knuckle-cracking may lead to reduced grip strength. And there are at least two published reports of injuries suffered while people were trying to crack their knuckles". So, it does not cause arthritis but still can cause some sort of harm. 

Does cracking knuckles cause arthritis? - Harvard Health

Answer 6

  - The original claim that knuckle cracking does not cause arthritis has been around for many years and has been proven wrong by various medical studies and institutions.

   - One of the earliest and most cited studies on this topic was conducted by Dr. Donald Unger, who cracked the knuckles of his left hand for over 50 years and compared it to his right hand. He found no difference in arthritis prevalence between the two hands. His study was published in the journal "Arthritis and Rheumatism" in 1998.

In conclusion, the claim that knuckle cracking does not cause arthritis is supported by reputable medical sources like the Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center and the Arthritis Foundation. The original idea has been around for decades, with early research by Dr. Donald Unger providing significant evidence against the myth.

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

https://www.houstonmethodist.org/blog/articles/2020/jun/does-cracking-your-knuckles-cause-arthritis/

Answer 7

It is not true that cracking your fingers leads to arthritis. Cracking your knuckles has been widely believed to be causing issues in your bones but it is proven to be a myth. According to Houston Methodist "There are no known detrimental effects to cracking your knuckles." The article is also presenting the process behind the crack noise and what actually happens if your joint when you crack your fingers. Many people use it a way of reducing stress or anxiety. Even though it cannot cause arthritis, it is not recommended to do it limitlessly. Dr. Fackler says that we should avoid cracking all of the knuckles to avoid inflammation around the nerves.

The article: https://www.houstonmethodist.org/blog/articles/2020/jun/does-cracking-your-knuckles-cause-arthritis/

Answer 8

The source you used is very reputable and credible. John Hopkins Medical Center is a top-ranked medical institution with a strong focus in research. You did a good job at bringing up the multiple points that are included in the article you referenced. I found a similar article from another top-ranking medical institution, the Harvard Medical School. They stated very similar facts such as, the sound of knuckle-cracking is from popping bubbles of synovial fluid in the joint and that it won't lead to an increased risk of arthritis but that in can cause weakened grip strength overtime. Both of these claims are discussed in the John Hopkins article meaning that since both of these credible institutions it can be concluded that knuckle-cracking doesn't cause arthritis.