# Strange wrist crack

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-wrist-crack/265613>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 23, 2004, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-wrist-crack/265613 "2004-09-23T02:55:46Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![bummerboy2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@bummerboy2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bummerboy2)\
**Post date:** [September 23, 2004, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-wrist-crack/265613/1 "2004-09-23T02:55:46Z")

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I have a habit of cracking my wrist. But it isn’t a normal “crack” like you can do with knuckles, and the little bubbles in them. I can crack my wrist over and over and over again, one right after the other, and it doesn’t cause pain. I outstretch my hand and wrist back , and move in forward in a diagnal direction.  
I don’t know if it is bad for me or not. I think it might be this, but I’m not sure.

> [@](#):
>
> When a joint moves, the tendon’s position changes and moves slightly out of place. You may hear a snapping sound as the tendon returns to its original position. In addition, your ligaments may tighten as you move your joints. This commonly occurs in your knee or ankle, and can make a cracking sound.

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**Author:** ![bummerboy2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@bummerboy2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bummerboy2)\
**Post date:** [September 23, 2004, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-wrist-crack/265613/2 "2004-09-23T02:57:19Z")

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I can do it with my knee too, as it says in the quote. But what about my wrist?

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**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\
**Post date:** [September 23, 2004, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-wrist-crack/265613/3 "2004-09-23T03:07:34Z")

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I catch myself doing this too. I always figured it was the moveable tendons in my hand “flicking” off the stationary bones in my wrist.