Negative effects of cracking your knuckles?

[Whipeh]

I have the habit of cracking my knuckles, and whenever I do it infront of my mom, she jumps on me about how I’m going to get arthritis, enlarged knukles, and other nasty, rather-they-not-happen-to-me things. Is this all true? I also crack my neck, though not as frequently. Any negative effects from this?

[DarrenS]

Cecil speaks.

Will cracking your knuckles cause knobbiness and arthritis, as some claim? Not necessarily; genetics undoubtedly plays a much more important role. But some clinicians believe chronic knuckle-cracking can make things worse. And it certainly doesn’t do much for your standing in civilized society. Knock it off before it’s too late.

[DarrenS]

Cecil speaks.

Will cracking your knuckles cause knobbiness and arthritis, as some claim? Not necessarily; genetics undoubtedly plays a much more important role. But some clinicians believe chronic knuckle-cracking can make things worse. And it certainly doesn’t do much for your standing in civilized society. Knock it off before it’s too late.