# Popping my knuckles as a painful addiction. Dispel the it's-not-bad-for-you myth. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 13, 2009, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popping-my-knuckles-as-a-painful-addiction-dispel-the-its-not-bad-for-you-myth/499683 "2009-06-13T19:25:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2009, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popping-my-knuckles-as-a-painful-addiction-dispel-the-its-not-bad-for-you-myth/499683/21 "2009-06-15T18:17:19Z")
> [@Imasquare](#): > > All knuckle crackers I have ever known were male. Do any women crack their knuckles? /raises hand Some knuckles, back, neck, right knee, and (especially!) toes. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2009, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popping-my-knuckles-as-a-painful-addiction-dispel-the-its-not-bad-for-you-myth/499683/22 "2009-06-15T21:47:23Z")
> [@Mississippienne](#): > > I don’t crack my knuckles, but I LOVE LOVE LOVE ADDICTED TO pulling on and cracking my toes. Does that do anything to the toes? Probably won’t affect my popping though, as that and footrubs are seriously close to orgasmic to me. Anatomically, the toes and fingers are very similar, so we can’t say if it does any harm. You may want to curb talking about something that would seem to be a sure way to seduce you, though. It’s your call. For all I know, you might want _everybody_ to know the best way to seduce you. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![CC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2009, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popping-my-knuckles-as-a-painful-addiction-dispel-the-its-not-bad-for-you-myth/499683/23 "2009-06-15T22:08:39Z")
I concur that cracking your knuckles or any other joints can be immensely satisfying. I, myself, have the absolute NEED to crack my sternum from time to time. It feels soooooooo good! However, I want to echo what The Master said in his tome: “…And it certainly doesn’t do much for your standing in civilized society.” Please, please, please - do not do this in public. It’s pretty much the same thing as grooming yourself - flossing, cleaning your earwax, trimming nose hairs, etc. This is mainly because to some, the sound can be terribly grating - not unlike nails on the proverbial blackboard. It’s not to be done in public. It’s one of those wonderful private pleasures, but please keep it to yourself. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Carrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@Captain\_Carrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Carrot)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2009, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popping-my-knuckles-as-a-painful-addiction-dispel-the-its-not-bad-for-you-myth/499683/24 "2009-06-16T00:19:15Z")
> [@Chief\_Pedant](#): > > Here is a pretty good rule of thumb for most medical questions: if it’s “controversial” the evidence is not strong one way or the other, and if that is the case, whatever is being questioned is probably not particularly harmful or particularly beneficial. Only if there’s a real controversy. If the controversy is fake, such as with vaccines, you can’t conclude that it’s not beneficial or harmful. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2009, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popping-my-knuckles-as-a-painful-addiction-dispel-the-its-not-bad-for-you-myth/499683/25 "2009-06-16T02:42:52Z")
Don’t think I’ve ever seen any knobby toes. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popping-my-knuckles-as-a-painful-addiction-dispel-the-its-not-bad-for-you-myth/499683.md?page=1)