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Transcript

Does cracking your knuckles cause arthritis?

By Camila Toscano

Block F

Origins of Myth

Sources

  • When a knuckle is "cracked", the audible sound that is produced resembles a sharp pop. By theory, cracking the knuckles repeatedly will wear down the protective layer on the joint and cause damage. A medical article (see reference) made a comparison to mechanical wear and tear made by ship propellers.

  • The connection to arthritis was made when arthritis patients are said to crack their knuckles because the cartilage of the knuckle is damaged.

  • in 1990, a report in the British medical journal written by David Castellanos and David Axelrod showed the deterioration of hand function connected to knuckle cracking.

Castellanos, J., and D. Axelrod. "Abstract." National Center for Biotechnology Information. U.S. National Library of Medicine, 09 Oct. 0005. Web. 04 Nov. 2014.

Fung, Brian. "Cracking Your Knuckles Can Give You Arthritis: Science or Myth?" The Atlantic. Atlantic Media Company, 30 May 2012. Web. 18 Dec. 2014.

Nordquivst, Christian. "Does Cracking Knuckles or Joints Cause Arthritis?" Medical News Today. MediLexicon International, Web. 18 Dec. 2014.

Macon, Brindles Lee. "Arthritis." Healthline. Healthline Network Inc., 20 Aug. 2012. Web. 17 Dec. 2014.

"Health Myths Center | Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center." Health Myths Center | Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. EBSCO Publishing, 2008. Web. 18 Dec. 2014.

The belief that knuckle cracking causes arthritis is an example of how people make conclusions without actual data to back it up and it then getting passed around as fact.

The study done by Jorge Castellanos and David Axelrod was conducted on a group of 300 adults aged 45 and older, the range too small to give a concrete conclusion.

The cracking noise is caused by the synovial fluid, a liquid that lubricates the joint. A bubble can form in this liquid and when it is manipulated (by cracking motion), it makes a popping noise. There is no tearing or cracking of any joint in your hand.

Most studies done to test arthritis and knuckle cracking are inconclusive, seeing that external factors can cause arthritis and knuckle cracking is unable to be recognized as the sole cause. These external factors are either forgotten or included which still does not prove knuckle cracking causes arthritis directly.

Obesity can lead to arthritis. You run a higher risk of osteoarthritis if it has been in your family and there are recently genetic markers that increase your chance of rheumatoid arthritis.

Image Sources:

This myth still circulates because it can be seen as partially true.

Knuckle cracking on its own is not a direct cause of arthritis, but if excessive it can lead to soreness and some swelling.

So far no study has definitively shown that knuckle cracking correlates with arthritis later in life.

However, knuckle crackers are prone to hand swelling and reduced hand function and grip strength. By definition, this is not arthritis, therefore the myth is false.

Yet the possibility exists of later problems with hand functions, showing that knuckle cracking lead to discomfort in your hands.

In conclusion, knuckle cracking does not cause arthritis, but knuckle crackers are advised to be cautious and to take into consideration your family history of arthritis and other external factors before blaming knuckle cracking.

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