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Old 02-08-2012, 04:59 AM
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mmglobal mmglobal is offline
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After making the post above, I read a little more. From the Scientific American website linked, there is a contradiction of my stating that cracking your knuckles is harmless. It also mentions other potential sources of cracking that may be repeatable.

Quote:
A common, related question is, Does popping a joint cause any damage? There are actually few scientific data available on this topic. One study found no correlation between knuckle cracking and osteoarthritis in the finger joints. Another study, however, showed that repetitive knuckle cracking may affect the soft tissue surrounding the joint. Also, the habit tends to cause an increase in hand swelling and a decrease in the grip strength of the hand.

Another source of popping and cracking sounds is the tendons and ligaments near the joint. Tendons must cross at least one joint in order to cause motion. But when a joint moves, the tendon's position with respect to the joint is forced to change. It is not uncommon for a tendon to shift to a slightly different position, followed by a sudden snap as the tendon returns to its original location with respect to the joint. These noises are often heard in the knee and ankle joints when standing up from a seated position or when walking up or down the stairs.
Entire article: What makes the sound when we crack our knuckles? : Scientific American

Mark
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