In short
No. Studies comparing habitual knuckle crackers with non-crackers haven’t found more hand arthritis in people who crack their knuckles. The pop comes from a gas bubble forming inside the joint fluid. Cracking that comes with pain, swelling or locking is worth checking.
On this page
The short answer
Cracking your knuckles doesn’t appear to cause arthritis. It’s one of the most persistent health myths, but the research doesn’t support it.
What the studies show
- A study published in 2011 in the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine compared 215 people, about one in five of whom cracked their knuckles regularly. Rates of hand osteoarthritis were similar whether people cracked their knuckles or not, and regardless of how long or how often they did it.
- In a well-known letter published in 1998, a doctor reported cracking the knuckles of only his left hand, at least twice a day, for more than 60 years. Neither hand developed arthritis.
Sore joints slowing you down?
Talk it through with an Australian doctor online. No referral needed.
What is the cracking sound?
Your finger joints are surrounded by a capsule filled with lubricating fluid. When you pull or bend the joint, the space inside expands and pressure falls, and a gas-filled cavity forms in the fluid. A study that filmed knuckle cracking with real-time MRI, published in 2015, showed that the sound comes as this cavity forms. That’s why you usually can’t crack the same knuckle again for a while.
Is it completely harmless?
For most people, yes. A small number of older studies suggested possible links with hand swelling or reduced grip strength, but the findings were inconsistent. If it doesn’t hurt, there’s no strong reason to stop.
When joint cracking is worth checking
- Cracking that comes with pain or swelling
- A joint that locks, catches or gives way
- Cracking that started after an injury
- Joint pain and stiffness that last, which may be arthritis from another cause
See arthritis in the fingers and hands for the signs of hand arthritis.
Next step: talk to a doctor
Answer a few quick questions and you’ll get an email about your eligibility. A consultation doesn’t guarantee any particular treatment.
References
- Deweber K, Olszewski M, Ortolano R. Knuckle cracking and hand osteoarthritis. J Am Board Fam Med. 2011;24(2):169-74.
- Unger DL. Does knuckle cracking lead to arthritis of the fingers?. Arthritis Rheum. 1998;41(5):949-50.
- Kawchuk GN, Fryer J, Jaremko JL, et al. Real-time visualization of joint cavitation. PLoS One. 2015;10(4):e0119470.
- Marshall M, Watt FE, Vincent TL, et al. Hand osteoarthritis: clinical phenotypes, molecular mechanisms and disease management. Nat Rev Rheumatol. 2018;14(11):641-656.
This guide is general information, not medical advice. It doesn’t replace a consultation with a doctor who knows your history. In an emergency, call 000.