When we feel stressed or anxious, we crave a release of tension. Many of us resort to cracking our knuckles to let go of any nervous energy and feel short-term relief. While this habit comes with a loud popping noise that sounds potentially dangerous to our bones, there is no harm in popping your fingers and enjoying the release of pressure and stiffness.  To understand this sensation, we need to take a look at the anatomy and physiology of our hand. 

Between the joints in our hand, we have synovial fluid, a viscous liquid that reduces friction between joints and provides cushion for the ends of our bones. Throughout the day, we stretch our joints and in the process, release gas which forms bubbles in our synovial fluid. For some time, it was thought that when we crack our knuckles, we pop these bubbles, which relieves pressure and creates the loud sound we are accustomed to. However, this concept is still unclear and under further research. While there is agreement that these gas bubbles are formed in the space between joints, the way the bubbles form and the source of the noise is still to be determined. The collapse of the bubble is currently the dominant explanation, but a recent study found that the bubble remains in the joint space after a sound is produced. 

Unfortunately, knuckle popping is often rumored to be linked to osteoarthritis, but this is proven to be false. The real reason for osteoarthritis lies in the synovial fluid. 

This fluid nourishes our cartilage, playing an important role in keeping this tissue healthy. When we move our joints, the fluid also moves freely, giving the surrounding cartilage oxygen and nutrients. As we age, our body starts to slow production of synovial fluid, causing a decrease in the thickness of cartilage and more friction between joints, potentially leading to osteoarthritis. 

A study done in 2011 researched the correlation between knuckle cracking and hand osteoarthritis, and concluded that having a history of popping your knuckles does not appear to be a cause of hand osteoarthritis, regardless of the duration of knuckle cracking. However, to proactively prevent early osteoarthritis, exercising regularly and staying hydrated stimulate synovial fluid production, which keeps the cartilage healthy and reduces joint pain.  

In short, cracking our knuckles is not dangerous to our body, but we still do not know what causes the loud noise. As long as this research continues to be upheld, we can keep relieving the day’s tension with this harmless habit.