From the Guidelines
It is generally recommended to avoid cracking your knuckles, as it may lead to potential harm.
Reasons to Avoid Knuckle Cracking
- Cracking your knuckles, also known as knuckle cracking or knuckle popping, can cause joint instability and inflammation, and potentially lead to arthritis or other joint problems over time.
- Additionally, frequent knuckle cracking may weaken the ligaments surrounding the joint, making it more prone to injury.
Managing Joint Health
If you experience persistent joint pain or discomfort, it is advised to consult a healthcare professional for proper evaluation and treatment, which may include:
- Over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, or in some cases, prescription medications like corticosteroids. To manage joint health, it is recommended to:
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Engage in regular exercise
- Avoid repetitive strain on joints, as supported by studies such as 1.
Note that the provided evidence does not directly address the question of knuckle cracking, but general principles of joint health and management can be applied.
From the Research
Habitual Knuckle Cracking Harm
- Habitual knuckle cracking has been associated with functional hand impairment, including hand swelling and lower grip strength 2.
- Acute injuries can result from the forceful manipulation needed to achieve the audible pop of cracking knuckles 3.
- There is no increased preponderance of arthritis of the hand in habitual knuckle crackers compared to non-knuckle crackers 2, 4.
- Habitual knuckle cracking is associated with manual labor, biting of the nails, smoking, and drinking alcohol 2.
- Immediately after a documented crack, there are greater ranges of motion with active flexion, passive flexion, passive extension, and passive total ROM 5.
- The characteristic sonographic finding observed during cracking events is an echogenic focus that appears de novo dynamically in the joint during distraction 5.
- There is no evidence of immediate adverse physical examination findings after knuckle cracking 5.
- Fewer studies report associations between knuckle cracking and other conditions, mainly through descriptive, small, or cross-sectional studies 6.