# CRACKING KNUCKLES **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [August 24, 2001, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cracking-knuckles/77851 "2001-08-24T04:10:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MCMXL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@MCMXL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MCMXL)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2001, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cracking-knuckles/77851/1 "2001-08-24T04:10:56Z")
I read the information given by this site on cracking knuckles. I learned alot, but why do we crack our knuckles in the first place? I might learn about myself if I understood why I started doing it at teenage level. thank you. I will check the posts. ---
**Author:** ![kniz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@kniz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kniz)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2001, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cracking-knuckles/77851/2 "2001-08-24T05:12:19Z")
What site? ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2001, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cracking-knuckles/77851/3 "2001-08-24T05:39:58Z")
I think MCMXL means SD Arcchive. Cecil answered a question on this topic [http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2\_305b.html](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_305b.html) I do it because it’s fun. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Dave\_Stewart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@Dave\_Stewart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dave_Stewart)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2001, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cracking-knuckles/77851/4 "2001-08-24T06:01:53Z")
Slightly off-topic, I used to crack my back by stretching when it ached. This alarmed me, but an occupational therapist friend of mine told me it was a good thing that I could crack it - I was actually cracking it back “in”. Anyway, I started going to the gym much more regulalry, and built up my back muscles so that it no longer aches nor cracks. Revulsion to cracking knuckles is a cultural thing - I have noticed in both Japan and Hong Kong that cracking knuckles is quite an acceptable way to pass the time. A Japanese friend told me it sounds like a branch snapping, which was sort of a foresty, pleasant sound. To me, it sounds like cracking bones, and is unpleasant. ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2001, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cracking-knuckles/77851/5 "2001-08-24T06:50:38Z")
Welcome to the SDMB, **MCMXL**. Since this appears to be in relation to the Classic Column linked to above, I’ll move it to the appropriate forum. Please remember to provide a link to the column you are discussing. bibliophage moderator, GQ ---
**Author:** ![MCMXL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@MCMXL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MCMXL)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2001, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cracking-knuckles/77851/6 "2001-08-24T13:33:14Z")
THANKS EVERYONE. I DO FEEL EMBARRESSED EACH TIME MY KNUCKLES OR KNEES POP ACCIDENTLY. I HAVE ARTHRITIS AND MY FINGERS ACHE SO MUCH SOMETIMES THAT POPPING THEM ACTUALLY HELPS, BUT I WONDER IF I AM ACTUALLY HURTING THEM WORSE. OH WELL, LIVE AND LEARN (IF I LIVE THAT LONG) :\>)) MCMXL ---
**Author:** ![AwSnappity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a3d4f5/32.png) [@AwSnappity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AwSnappity)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2001, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cracking-knuckles/77851/7 "2001-09-02T04:39:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by MCMXL \* > **I HAVE ARTHRITIS AND MY FINGERS ACHE SO MUCH SOMETIMES THAT POPPING THEM ACTUALLY HELPS, BUT I WONDER IF I AM ACTUALLY HURTING THEM WORSE.** During a field trip to a hospital for an anatomy class, I learned that there was a study done (don’t remember by who, sorry) that proved that cracking one’s knuckles one to two times a day is useful in preventing arthritis. Cracking them more than a few times a day makes it worse, I believe. Also, _do not_ purposely crack your head. There have been many instances where the artery that goes to the brain has been severed, resulting in death. ---
**Author:** ![Chas.E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e99b99/32.png) [@Chas.E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chas.E)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2001, 10:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cracking-knuckles/77851/8 "2001-09-02T10:28:51Z")
Cracking your knuckles also helps you properly operate your Shift Key. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Carpenter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cc9497/32.png) [@Mr\_Carpenter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Carpenter)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2001, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cracking-knuckles/77851/9 "2001-09-06T16:42:41Z")
I heard that cracking your knuckles will make them bigger. They used to tell this to young ladies to make them stop cracking them. Another saying is that cracking them will give you arthritis.