Why do people 'crack' their knuckles?

MisChief · 23 Nov 2011 at 11:51

My colleague does it all the time... and it really annoys me.
It sounds horrible and I don't think he realises that he's doing it.

Isn't it bad for your bones? :confused:

Hades · 23 Nov 2011 at 11:51

Yes, bad for your joints.

Ascendancy · 23 Nov 2011 at 11:51

Feels good brah.

Disaster · 23 Nov 2011 at 11:52

Ascendancy said:
Feels good brah.

lookitsjonno · 23 Nov 2011 at 11:52

never been able to do it thankfully.

XeNoN89 · 23 Nov 2011 at 11:53

I do it because i feel like they need to be clicked, and no it isn't bad for your joints and doesn't give you arthritis. They are common myths

Fireskull · 23 Nov 2011 at 11:55

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cracking_joints

Does not cause arthritis, or any of the other myths people think

The sound comes from popping gases.

WaynelleUK09 · 23 Nov 2011 at 11:55

i only do it when nerovous really

The IPB · 23 Nov 2011 at 11:55

I do it if I get nervous, and also because sometimes they feel like they need to be cracked.

As above all the crud about it damaging your joints is a myth.

ThomasTheTankEngine · 23 Nov 2011 at 11:56

It's not bad for your joints and it doesn't cause arthritis, but.....

According to a study of people that have been doing it for 35 years, it will completely destory your grip-strength later in life.

http://www.abc.net.au/science/k2/homework/s95607.htm

Gzero · 23 Nov 2011 at 11:56

Just flexing the ol' finger muscles and all that...

DJMK4 · 23 Nov 2011 at 11:56

There is someone that sits next to me who does this all the time, its the most vile sound ever. People who do this deserve arthritis when they are older.

tidusjar · 23 Nov 2011 at 11:56

Ascendancy said:
Feels good brah.

Maccy · 23 Nov 2011 at 11:56

It feels good brah.

milgo · 23 Nov 2011 at 11:57

Yep it's a myth. Sometimes I hang from something and pull my shoulder blades together and head back, which makes my upper vertebrae crack. It feels amazing!

Aod · 23 Nov 2011 at 11:57

I have stiff joints (actually, my GP thinks i borderline have early onset arthritis). when i don't crack them my fingers literally stiffen up and i can't type/write/manipulate things properly.

I can crack every joint in my body, as far as i can tell.

Nitefly · 23 Nov 2011 at 11:57

It's absolutely rank - repulsive.

ebilcake · 23 Nov 2011 at 11:57

I do it all the time, party because I know it annoys some people.

Supercow · 23 Nov 2011 at 11:58

Because I love it!

I can crack each finger in 3 directions and my thumbs can be continually cracked without any downtime and can keep on cracking away.

Since I've fallen with both hands flat, I've also been able to crackthe joints below my pinky fingers. My neck also cracks nice and loud, but in my neck I'm not an ambi-cracker ad can only crack to the right

Admittedly I don;t really do it at work - as I'm someone with a efw pet peeves of my own, so I'm mindful of others

XeNoN89 · 23 Nov 2011 at 11:59

Aod said:
i have stiff joints. when i don't crack them my fingers literally stiffen up and i can't type/write/manipulate things properly.

I can crack every joint in my body, as far as i can tell.

I usually crack my knuckles, fingers, elbows, knees, ankles, toes, neck, back and even my chest somehow (must be my ribs)

I don't do it all the time, only when i get the feeling it needs to be done

Once i did my chest pretty hard and it popped loud and hurt. Thought i had popped a rib out of place or something!