Is Popping Your Knuckes Bad For You?

As chiropractors, we are often asked if popping or “cracking” your knuckles is bad for you.  This is a common habit that many people develop either to get some short term relief from stiffness or to simply calm jittery nerves.  Joints pop or crack when they are stretched to the point where tiny gas bubbles in the fluid of the joint burst in a process called cavitation.  Cavitation is often associated with a brief pain control reflex, which is why knuckle poppers continue to pop.  As far as any negative effects such as arthritis, research hasn’t revealed any connection.  In other words, popping your knuckles won’t damage to surfaces of the joint.  However, researchers have found that continued stretching of the joint can cause the soft tissue holding elements of a joint ( such as tendons and ligaments ) to become damaged.  This can a lead to decrease in grip strength and pain.  So while popping your knuckles once in a while is unlikely to have any harmful effects, doing it often may lead to trouble.  When it comes to moving your joints then, best leave it to the professionals…call a chiropractor.