Did you ever pull or stretch your fingers to make that cracking sound when you were younger, only to be shouted at to stop as you were putting yourself on a one-way path to arthritis?
It’s a persistent health myth that’s stuck around for generations, but the good news is you can carry on and continue to have the craic/crack if you please, as it won’t hurt you at all!
There is no scientific evidence to suggest that cracking joints will hamper joint development in children, or lead to arthritis if done repeatedly.
The satisfying popping sound you hear when you crack your fingers is caused by the breaking of the vacuum in the joint. This causes bubbles of nitrogen gas to form in the joint fluid, and the cracking noise is simply the result of those gas bubbles collapsing.
Various research suggests that anywhere between 25% and 54% of people do crack their knuckles, either as a nervous habit or simply because they like the sound.
So if you’re worried about someone in your household doing long-term damage to their joint, set your mind at ease – cracking their knuckles is highly unlikely to do it. However, if you just hate the noise they’re making, then the facts on the matter can remain our little secret…
