There will always be two types of people in this world; one-the knuckle crackers, two- the ones telling the knuckle crackers to stop doing it.
If you belong to the first type, you might have heard the same advice that every knuckle cracker has heard at least once in their lifetime: STOP DOING IT OR IT WILL ENLARGE YOUR JOINTS, WHY ARE YOU DOING IT? DO YOU WANT SWOLLEN FINGERS?
or in case of girls: HOW WILL YOU EVEN FIT YOUR ENGAGEMENT RING WITH THOSE SWOLLEN KNUCKLES?
So now we know why most of the knuckle crackers are male because the females probably froze to death at that last warning and avoid popping their fingers at all costs after that.
Today that science has proven this old wives’ tale wrong; it’s time that you tell your grandmother, your colleague, and that one friend who always heckles you to cut you some slack and to let you enjoy this mystically relaxing habit.
Why is knuckle cracking so insanely satisfying?
Upon being asked the reason of cracking knuckles, some people will tell you that it is a stress-reliever for them; some will tell you they do it unconsciously while working; while others are just fond of the popping sound!
If you see someone fidgeting his leg, biting his nails or tapping his fingers, you assume that the person is nervous about something. Popping knuckles is also included in this list of nervous habits. Nervous-knuckle-crackers seek relieve from tension as it keeps their hands occupied and diverts their mind from the actual dilemma.
A proportion of knuckle crackers believe that this activity relieves their taut muscles and makes more room in the joint (which is actually not true). Knuckle cracking is just the sound of a gas bubble forming or collapsing between the bones of flexed joints. However, stretching might help with the taut muscles. But always consult a physical therapist before stretching on your own or you may worsen the situation.
The mystery behind this oddly satisfying habit has been revealed by the researchers from the University of California. They not only provided evidences for the gas-bubble theory of knuckle cracking but also discovered another phenomenon that occurs just after you crack your knuckle. By using ultrasound imaging they discovered that a flash of bright light appears just 10 milliseconds after cracking a joint. Researchers observed that this light resembles fireworks exploding in the flexed joints.
The not-so rocket science behind knuckle cracking:
Scientists have been arguing over two theories on knuckle cracking for years.
Theory 1: When we crack our knuckles, it’s not the bones cracking or the tendons snapping, it’s just those harmless nitrogen bubbles popping inside the synovial fluid. Synovial fluid is actually a lubricating type substance present in the synovial cavity of our joints. Over time, the extended joint forms gas bubbles in it and when we bend the joint, these bubbles crack or collapse causing an audible sound. The only drawback of cracking your knuckles is that you have to wait for another 20 minutes to do it. It takes 20 minutes for the bubbles to form again, which is why we are not able to do it again right away, not fair right?
Theory 2: During a research, MRI provided the evidence that the popping sound is due to cavity formation rather than bubble popping. When a joint is extended, the pressure inside it falls and gases leaves the synovial fluid thus a cavity forms inside it that produces a popping sound.
These theories also explain why some people are unable to crack their knuckles. They have a little more space in their joints than an average person; this expanded space doesn’t allow much of a pressure drop so no bubbles or cavity forms within it.
If you are not one of those non-knuckle crackers, thank God.
However none of the above theories could explain how a microscopic cavity or a teeny tiny gas bubble can be so loud.
Is arthritis the ultimate fate of knuckle crackers?
NO. You are not going to have arthritis just by cracking your knuckles; you have to work a little harder than that to get it. Knuckle cracking is completely harmless until unless bending or stretching your fingers feels a little painful to you. That’s the alarming sign, that’s where you should go and see a doctor.
“The chief morbid consequence of knuckle cracking would appear to be its annoying effect on the observer.”
-Robert and Stuart Swezey, 1975. The Western Journal of Medicine
But in some cases, knuckle cracking can aggravate a pre-existing condition so never ignore a little swelling or an unusual pain that you feel right after popping a knuckle.
What do chiropractors and physiotherapists say about it?
Photo by Yulissa Tagle on Unsplash
This formation and collapsing of gas bubbles is called cavitation. Physical therapists and chiropractors have declared this process of cavitation completely harmless but they do advise to avoid repeated attempts in a short space of time as it can eventually alter the joint capsule. This effortless habit could train the brain to always feel the ‘need’ to crack the knuckles over and over again, which could become annoying to the person himself.
The second type of people:
If you are from the Team B who finds the cracking sound annoying and who always interrupt the knuckle crackers then this portion of blog post is especially for you.
Do you feel an urge to stop the one who is leisurely popping and cracking his knuckles?
Do the clicking and cracking sound drives you into fits of fury?
Do you just want to reach out and punch the person doing it?
If Yes, then you are possibly suffering from Condylacousticophobia. It is actually the fear of the sound of people cracking their bones (knuckles, neck, etc.)
So now you have a genuine excuse to stop the knuckle crackers around you.
How to avoid it? IF you want to avoid it:
Knuckle crackling isn’t bad or harmful but it can still be annoying to the people around you or they may find it disturbing while they are trying to work. Breaking this habit is difficult but not impossible, you can kick it by engaging your hands in some other activity whenever you are nervous or you feel the need to knuckle-crack.
That’s pretty much it.
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