I've heard that cracking your knuckles and joints can lead to arthritis, is this true? Cause it's got me worried. I have a serious habit of cracking and clicking my knuckles, toes, and wrists, but I pride myself on being an active sportsman and would be devastated to suffer arthritis early in life. Does anyone have any information on this? or true stories of anyone that this has happened to?
This is not true. If you want to protect yourself from arthritis, eat a healthy diet and get regular exercise.
Thanx you guys, I appreciate your feedback, this has been worrying me for quite a while now. But why do so many people say that cracking or clicking your knuckles and joints causes arthritis? Have any of you heard anyone say that? It seems that nearly everyone I know has said that to me.
It's something of an old wives tale, similar to that of masturbation causing blindness. Arthritis can be prevented through proper nutrition and moderate exercise, so even in old age you are not doomed to have arthritis.
Thanx Fifty9. Do you know if I'm causing any other harm by cracking or clicking my knuckles or joints?
Unless you are physically applying a lot of pain while cracking your knuckles, then you should be fine. Causing harm by "clicking" other joints depends on your definition of harm and which joints we are talking about.
I have a genetic joint disorder, and managed to find someone else in the world with the same problem. Arthritis is a natural "side-effect" of this disorder, and I have been dealing with the problems of osteo-arthritis since I was 12. All that clicking, popping & cracking joints is, is a bubble in your joint-fluid popping. Some people's joints pop involuntarily; my own knees will snap whenever I climb stairs, and often when I'm just sitting still. While it is not linked with arthritis in any way, purposefully cracking joints has been associated with soft-tissue damage, and decreased strength in those joints. I can't tell you personally if my own joint-popping has had any damaging effects because there are other factors at play. But I do know that my joint & bone doctor hates it... and seems to think that there's good enough cause to suggest everyone NOT do it. love, mom
