The belief that cracking knuckles leads to arthritis is a common myth that has been debunked by scientific studies. The sounds that accompany knuckle cracking don’t result from bones rubbing against each other, as is commonly believed, but are due to gas bubbles bursting in the synovial fluid that lubricates joints. This has no proven connection to the onset of arthritis.
In terms of evidence, a noteworthy scientific study was conducted by Dr. Donald Unger. For more than 60 years, Dr. Unger cracked the knuckles on his left hand at least twice daily, while not cracking the knuckles of his right hand. In his study published in the journal “Arthritis & Rheumatism,” he found no evidence of arthritis in either hand (Unger, D. L. (1998). Does knuckle cracking lead to arthritis of the fingers?. Arthritis & Rheumatism: Official Journal of the American College of Rheumatology, 41(5), 949-950). While his study only had a sample size of one (himself), it still provided some initial evidence against the myth.
In a larger study published in the “Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine” in 2011, researchers examined the hand radiographs of 215 people, 135 of whom regularly cracked their knuckles and 80 of whom did not. The study concluded that there was no increased prevalence of osteoarthritis in the habitual knuckle-crackers (Deweber, K., Olszewski, M., & Ortolano, R. (2011). Knuckle cracking and hand osteoarthritis. The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine, 24(2), 169-174).
The origin of this myth is not clearly documented, but it likely comes from misunderstandings about the nature of the noises made during knuckle cracking and a general human tendency to associate repetitive habits or behaviors with health consequences. It’s important to note that while knuckle cracking doesn’t cause arthritis, some studies have shown an association with hand swelling and reduced grip strength (Deweber, K., Olszewski, M., & Ortolano, R. (2011)). However, further studies are needed to corroborate these findings.
In summary, while there may be other reasons to avoid the habit, scientific evidence doesn’t support the belief that knuckle cracking causes arthritis. As always, individuals should consult with healthcare professionals for advice related to their specific circumstances.
