Are popping your knuckles bad?
603400
http://www.kidzworld.com/site/p1438.htm it explains it all
26469
I used to do that when I was younger, but not anymore.  If you can stem up the willpower and not crack your knuckles for a couple of months.  It should be harder to do, and not feel confortable doing.  \n\nI've heard it causes arthritis, but I've taken the liberty to do a search.  \nHere is a small quote from the article listed at the website below: "Kids may develop a habit of cracking their knuckles because they like the sound. The "crack" comes because of a change in the synovial fluid, the lubricant that bathes the joints. When finger bones are suddenly stretched apart, the space between the joints widens, and an air bubble forms in the synovial fluid. The bubble quickly bursts and makes a sharp sound."\n\nApparently, there is no proven link between cracking knuckles and arthritis.
238553
"Cracking" your joints won't hurt you.  According to some scientist, the "cracking" is a fluid sack in your joints popping, which releases a lubricant like substance that helps your joints move more smoothly.
32404
I used to think this too, I crack my finger knuckles all the time!  Here's a little medical myth's debunked info for ya!
308016
It's arthritis. And, no popping your fingers or whatever you pop does not cause arthritis. The only thing it does is releases air that's trapped between your joints.
319307
My boyfriends mom is a physical therapist to the elderly and has told me that this is a total old wives tail.  Basically the popping just removes air from between parts of the knuckles.  She did however say it may cause your knuckles to swell over time and become enlarged as you age.  But a little popping is actually good and is an almost relieving sensation.  So pop away, just not too much!
836075
No. It's a myth.\nAll your doing is  popping the\nair pocket that is naturaly inbetween the\njoint and cartlige muscle.
707881
No that is a myth......I was told that too because I crack my knuckles still, its just a scare tactic...
454635
I spoke to a Dr. recently about this and he gave me am article about it............NO it is not it is an old myth, about arthritis and knuckles getting larger, the cracking sound that is heard is only gasses in the joint and by cracking them it just releases the gas...and then when the gas refills the joint it can be popped again
158222
It is an old wives tale that cracking your knuckles will cause arthritus, not so. What makes the cracking sound is the space inbetween the joints and when they are manipulated for the crack, they will produce the poping sound. But as for doing your back or neck, those are some pretty important things to your body and if you make a mistake and do it wrong, you could end up with damage from minor stuff to something major enough to need surgery or even cause you to end up in a wheel chair. I went to school with a girl who would crack her back and then her neck and once when she was at home and did it, soemthing did not move as it should have and she has been in a wheel chair ever since.
292399
The "popping" of the knuckles results from forcing joint fluid to\nvery rapidly pass from one side of the joint to the other, where the\n"sides" are partitioned off by the main bones of the joint.  Let me\nrephrase that: a joint is an area where two or more separate and distinct\nbones meet.  The joint fluid provides a cushioning between the joints\nso that they don't grate into each other.  Cracking your knuckles forces\nthe joint fluid from one part of the joint to another, and the popping\nsound is just the result of the high pressured rushing of fluid.
304407
hips popping is natural like knuckles.
270655
And now for a serious answer.\n\nYes, you can definitely strain your neck when you perform crunches incorrectly.  Don't place your hands behind your head and don't pull your head up.  Place your hands either on your chest or in front of your ears.  That is, you should not be using your hands at all to assist you in the crunch.\n\nThe popping is simply gas that is being released from gapping the bones in your cervical (neck) spine.  It's typically harmless but if it's often, you could be creating hypermobility within a specific segment that is continually adjusting.  Keep an eye on this and if it continues with your hands in a stationary position (not pulling your head) you should seek the advice of a Chiropractor or Physical Therapist.
589166
Ligaments snapping over prominences on the bone. Think of plucking a guitar string. Or air bubbles popping in the fluid filled sacs around joints. This is the classic knuckle cracking sound.
1180661
when you "crack your knuckles", you are actually popping blood pockets in the joints, where no bones exist.\n\nyou are most likely popping these same bubbles where blood fills the tissue.  rock on
1092244
You may not get arthritis by "cracking your knuckes", but you are slowly precipitating damage to the joints by putting unnecessary pressure and stress on them.  Which further down the line, combined with hereditary factors, etc. may make you more susceptible to other joint problems such as arthritis as the joints age.
376899
The "popping" of the knuckles results from forcing joint fluid to very rapidly pass from one side of the joint to the other, where the "sides" are partitioned off by the main bones of the joint.  Let me rephrase that: a joint is an area where two or more separate and distinct\nbones meet.  The joint fluid provides a cushioning between the joints so that they don't grate into each other.  Cracking your knuckles forces the joint fluid from one part of the joint to another, and the popping sound is just the result of the high pressured rushing of fluid.