Does Cracking Your Knuckles Cause Arthritis?

This episode takes on the widespread belief that cracking your knuckles leads to arthritis, a warning repeated for generations. The truth, supported by decades of scientific research, is that knuckle cracking does NOT cause arthritis.

The popping sound people find alarming comes from cavitation — gas bubbles forming and collapsing inside the synovial fluid of the joint. It has nothing to do with bones grinding or cartilage being damaged.

One of the most famous investigations came from Dr. Donald Unger, who cracked the knuckles of his left hand daily for over 50 years while leaving his right hand untouched. After half a century, he found no difference between the two hands — no arthritis, no damage, no reduced function. More advanced studies using X-rays and long-term data have confirmed the same result.

The myth survived because the sound is unsettling, and people instinctively assume something harmful must be happening. While excessive or forceful cracking can cause temporary swelling or mild irritation, it does not damage joints or increase arthritis risk.

Ultimately, we were fooled not by evidence, but by a noise that seemed dangerous. The truth is simple: cracking your knuckles may annoy people around you, but it won’t cause arthritis.