Cracking or popping your knuckles is something people often do to relieve tension in that area.
So why do we feel the need to crack our knuckles?
When we crack a finger joint, the joint surfaces move apart. The capsule surrounding the joint stretches and widens, reducing the pressure inside. When this happens, gases in the joint fluid form bubbles, and these bubbles burst with the sound we call "cracking". The same sound cannot be made again straight away, because it takes 25–30 minutes for the gases to dissolve in the fluid again.
Is cracking harmful?
The main dilemma is that people feel relief after cracking their joints, yet when it becomes a habit the joint ligaments can be damaged. When the joint is manipulated, receptors that sense joint movement are stimulated and the surrounding muscles relax – this is why people feel relief.
Today many scientists advise against habitual, constant knuckle cracking, because the ligaments around the joint are stretched quickly and repeatedly, which causes damage. The resulting soft tissue injury leads to reduced grip strength.
In short, although knuckle cracking done for relief is not harmful in itself, it is recommended not to let it become a habit.
The information on this page is for general information only and does not replace an examination and diagnosis.