
10/17/2025
💀 Scary Myth: “Cracking your knuckles causes arthritis.”
✨ Truth: The “pop” you hear is just gas bubbles forming and collapsing in your joint fluid — not your bones grinding or wearing out!
🧠 Research shows no link between knuckle cracking and arthritis:
• A 2011 study found that habitual knuckle crackers had no higher rates of arthritis than non-crackers.¹
• A 2016 study using ultrasound found that regular crackers actually had thicker cartilage — not thinner — and similar grip strength to non-crackers.²
• In 2018, researchers confirmed that the cracking sound comes from cavitation (gas bubble formation), not joint damage.³
👊 So go ahead — crack away, guilt-free!
If you’re experiencing other “pops,” clicks, or joint pain that worry you, our physical therapists can assess what’s normal and what needs attention.
➡️ DM us or tap the link in our bio to schedule an evaluation today.
References:
1. DeWeber K, Olszewski M, Ortolano R. Knuckle cracking and hand osteoarthritis. J Am Board Fam Med. 2011;24(2):169-174. doi:10.3122/jabfm.2011.02.100156
2. Gürsoy R, et al. Effects of habitual knuckle cracking on metacarpal cartilage thickness and grip strength. Clin Anat. 2016;29(8):1022-1028. doi:10.1002/ca.22831
3. Chandran Suja V, Barakat AI. A mathematical model for the sounds produced by knuckle cracking. Sci Rep. 2018;8:4600. doi:10.1038/s41598-018-22664-4