![]() ![]() “I typically say, if it makes you feel better, then you can continue to crack the joint,” says Dr. Some people feel relief when their joint cracks. ![]() Fact: If a Cracking Joint Causes Pain or Swelling, Talk to Your Doctor If you seek chiropractic care, make sure you select a trained and licensed professional. “The wrong sort of movement could damage the spinal cord or nerves.”Ĭhiropractors are specialists who adjust spinal joints with their hands or instruments. “I'm always a little bit more cautious when people crack their neck or back,” says Dr. Nerves that branch off your spinal cord control everything you do and feel. The bones, called vertebrae, move over each other and provide flexibility. Your spine is an intricate column of bones that protects your spinal cord. Fact: Cracking Your Neck and Back Can Be Unsafe It may be more of a crunchy sound when you move. This noise is a little different than your average knuckle popping. This causes pain, swelling and a grinding noise that you may be able to hear. Some people develop arthritis earlier in life due to genetic factors, but it occurs to almost everyone sooner or later.Īs the cartilage wears down, the bones rub against each other. Recognize when you are about to crack your knuckles and stop yourself before you do itįact: Your Joints May Make More Noise as You AgeĪs you get older, deterioration of the cartilage between your joints due to wear and tear can lead to arthritis.Manage stress and anxiety with exercise, yoga or meditation.Keep your hands busy with stress balls or fidget toys.Consider why you crack your knuckles and what triggers it.If your knuckle cracking is a concern and you want to stop, try these strategies: Like chewing with your mouth open, it may not be socially acceptable to crack your knuckles in some situations.” “But it may bother the people around you. “Unless it’s causing pain or swelling, there’s no medical reason to stop,” says Dr. Others find that it helps relieve stress or anxiety. Up to 54% of people crack their knuckles. “I tell them that they may not like the sound, but they shouldn’t worry about negative effects, such as arthritis, down the road.” Myth: You Need to Stop Cracking Your Joints “Parents frequently tell me that their child cracks their knuckles,” he says. Soneru often hears this myth in his clinic. Studies show that people who crack their knuckles have the same rates of arthritis as people who don’t.ĭr. But there’s no scientific basis for this myth. It’s a common view that knuckle cracking leads to arthritis. “As long as they’re not causing pain, there’s no need for concern.” Myth: Cracking Your Knuckles Causes Arthritis “These are normal noises that your body makes,” says Dr. When the tendons move over these bumpy areas, they can create a snapping sound. Everyone's anatomy is a bit different, so some people may have bones that stick out a little more than others. ![]() They suggest that the noise may be due to the collapse of bubbles inside the joint that naturally accumulate.Īnother source of noise in a joint is from the tendons that connect muscles to the bones. More recent imaging studies and mathematical modeling shed light on this finding. Early observations found that a cracked joint will not crack again for about 20 minutes. Researchers have studied the mechanics of joint cracking since the mid 1900s. Air bubbles are also present in the joint. In this space you’ll find cartilage, which is a soft coating over the ends of the bones, and joint fluid that acts as a lubricant. There’s typically a space in the joint that allows the bones to glide over each other as your body moves. Fact: It’s Normal for Joints to CrackĪ joint is where two bones meet. Loyola Medicine orthopaedic surgeon, Alexander Soneru, MD, sets the record straight about the noises coming from your joints - and when you should talk to your doctor. You may wonder why your joints crack or whether you should worry. Maybe your shoulder joint snaps when you lift your arm or your knee pops when you bend down. It might be the crack of your knuckles when you press on your fingers.
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