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Arthritis caused by knuckle cracking?

Is it true, if you crack your knuckles on a regular basis it can actually cause arthritis in later life?

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Answer #1

(this is quoted from the site below) A couple of other sites agree that it’s a cause for arthritis.

Arthritis Damage to the joint surface, the cartilage, can cause cracking joints. However, this type of joint cracking usually is found in older patients who have known arthritis. It is uncommon for a patient’s first complaint of arthritis to be joint cracking. Does the joint cracking cause arthritis? It’s unlikely that joint cracking is a significant cause of arthritis. Joint cracking is usually painless, and so long as it does not cause pain, most doctors agree that you are unlikely to be doing any harm. There are some conditions that can cause a joint cracking that need to be addressed, but these tend to cause symptoms of pain. If you have joint cracking that cause pain, you should be evaluated by your doctor. Otherwise, you are not likely to be causing any problems, including arthritis, by your joint cracking.

From Jonathan Cluett, M.D., about.com:orthopeodics

Answer #2

no, it doesn’t lead to arthritis. that’s a myth.

Answer #3

Yes it is true AND it is very painful too especially when you want to write a letter, knit, lift anything…

Answer #4

yes it sounds stupid but cracking your knuckles does lead to arthritis

Answer #5

again, arthritis is not caused by cracking your knuckles.

rolls eyes

Answer #6

I think so my right hand, my next finger to the smallest looks bent because I twist click and all sorts it’s hurted more and more over time but I’m addicted to cracking knuckles and twisting pushing and pulling all the joints to click em, break out of the habbit now if you still can lol but seriously it’s not good I can even click my neck knees elbows toes ankles wrists as well..oh and back sometimes but I have to really stretch for that

Answer #7

No it does not cause arthritis that is a myth. My girl taylor does it all the time and it drives me nuts so tell her it does lol to try to stop her but yeh I’ve read studies and it doesnt.

Answer #8

yes it does lead to terrible artheritits in fact I have cracked my ankle so much that it now has atheritis and I am only 13

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