Is craking your knuckles bad for you?
454635
I spoke to a Dr. recently about this and he gave me am article about it............NO it is not it is an old myth, about arthritis and knuckles getting larger, the cracking sound that is heard is only gasses in the joint and by cracking them it just releases the gas...and then when the gas refills the joint it can be popped again
1147336
GOOD FOR THE BRAIN... BAD FOR THE FINGERS... \nLOLZ :) J/K .. YOU'RE OK'D.
761174
I was told by a rheumatologist that it does not cause arthritis...but I do know it does make your knuckles bigger...I have rings & can't wear anymore! Try not to!
111682
ah!  such a great question.\n\nThe threats that your mother gave you (that cracking your knuckles will cause arthritis, will cause enlarged joints, will cause numbness) are all not true.  An article by Swezey and Swezey way back in 1975 disproved the knuckle-cracking-and-arthritis threat.\n\nHowever, it is not completely safe. First, there are case reports of acute injury to the hands and of knuckle pads associated with cracking, but these are only case reports.  The better studies show a couple of things:  The amount of force needed to crack a knuckle is greater than that needed to damage articular cartilage, and knuckle cracking HAS been associated with decreased grip strength when you get older.  \n\nSo, if you get arthritis, it's not because you cracked your knuckles.  If you can't grasp things very hard, it probably is.
287533
Kinda depends, but for the most part, myth\n\nread this report\nhttp://www.panix.com/~iayork/knuckles.html
1025281
if you crack your knuckles often enough, you can end up with swollen ligaments.\n\nA study looked at 300 people who had been cracking knuckle joints for 35 years. They had slightly swollen joints (which is no big deal). But the real surprise was that their hands were weaker - their grip strength was one quarter as strong as it should been!\n\nIt does NOT cause arthritis. In fact, it's not dangerous at all, said Dr. Jonathan Kay, clinical director of the rheumatology unit at Massachusetts General Hospital.\n"The cracking sound you hear when you pull on your fingers is caused by the release of negative pressure within the joint," he said. Inside every joint in the body, a gooey substance called synovial fluid coats the surfaces of cartilage to protect them. Just as two discs coated with mineral oil stick together and can only be pulled apart with a bit of force, so it is inside the joint. When you pull, you break the vacuum seal created by the synovial fluid and the breaking of that seal causes the popping sound -- from the bursting of bubbles of gases dissolved in the fluid.\nCuriously, it takes about 20 minutes for the seal to re-establish itself. So crack your knuckles all you want. You might stretch a few ligaments, but you will not give yourself arthritis. But it'll be no fun unless you wait 20 minutes between cracks.
687590
It is a great stress reliever, i do it all the time.  Maybe too often, in that case not so healthy ( i'll prolly get carpal tunnel from doing it so much).
1183875
have u been cracking ur nuckles, or pulling it to crack it?\n\nthat can make ur nuckle(s) stronger and bigger, also if u hit things regularly, and and consistantly, u may also ahve been unintentionally been doing some hand conditioning.\n\nbut u probably only somehow did it to ur middle one, which isn't good cause in a punch, unless u can use it to aim for certain spots u actually want(which i doubt u'd beable to in a fight), u can only hit a small area with full impact. \n\nits going to be hard, but u might wanna train the other ones to catch up with ur middle, as well as ur left hand.\n\nNOTE: be aware that doing so, or hitting stuff randomly like u do can and will casue you to lose some dexterity and there is a chance of injuring ur hand. permanantly.
759700
Have you had an xray for this yet?  If not, I would definately recommend you get one.  It sounds like you have have done more than jam your finger.  There are a few different things that could be triggering your knuckle to swell months after the initial injury.  The most common would be a fracture.  There are other possibilities as well.  Does the finger continue to swell bigger or has it leveled out?  You may have a fragment floating around there irritating everything.  I would suggest you definately at least have it checked out, there is a possibility the swelling will go down, but do you really wanna risk the ring not fitting on your wedding day?  Make an appt with your family dr and KNOW what is going on.  Hope your finger feels better and Congratulations on the upcoming wedding!
966483
Yes to all of the above. Be careful not to select something too wide, or it could become painful.\n\nAlso, get a razor. Your Knuckles will start to grow hair from them.
292399
The "popping" of the knuckles results from forcing joint fluid to\nvery rapidly pass from one side of the joint to the other, where the\n"sides" are partitioned off by the main bones of the joint.  Let me\nrephrase that: a joint is an area where two or more separate and distinct\nbones meet.  The joint fluid provides a cushioning between the joints\nso that they don't grate into each other.  Cracking your knuckles forces\nthe joint fluid from one part of the joint to another, and the popping\nsound is just the result of the high pressured rushing of fluid.
834017
Don't worried about it, eventually you'll forget about it.\nIt's NOT bad cracking your knuckles, it just air between the cartilages, in fact is a good thing. It releases tension.
894838
Probably the first thing will be tooth erosion, decay or loss.  It can also cause microtears in the esophagus and distention of the esophagus....consequences you cannot see until you develop ulcers or bleed into your stomach.  Additionally, scarring on the back of the hand, sinus problems, electrolyte imbalance and emotional distress.
376899
The "popping" of the knuckles results from forcing joint fluid to very rapidly pass from one side of the joint to the other, where the "sides" are partitioned off by the main bones of the joint.  Let me rephrase that: a joint is an area where two or more separate and distinct\nbones meet.  The joint fluid provides a cushioning between the joints so that they don't grate into each other.  Cracking your knuckles forces the joint fluid from one part of the joint to another, and the popping sound is just the result of the high pressured rushing of fluid.
155744
Check with a medical professional. Arthritis causes inflammation of the joints and Rheumatoid Arthritis causes the joints to swell and becomes crippling, the hands often are disfigured.  Panic Attacks cause some to have Carpal Spasms which are very painful and cause the hands to draw up, trying to straighten the fingers can actually break the bones.  When the attack fades the use of the hands is regained.
911454
yeah dont do it.. you can get tongue cancer, throat cancer, mouth cancer, your teeth can fall out.. its not healthy or attractive
187932
Loss of oil will cause the skin to crack.  If you work with cardboard or paper a lot, they will really dry your fingers out.  Use lots of lotion or if you can get your hands on Solar Oil from a salon, it works really well.