Cracking of joints/knuckles

[Jono]

Since I was a young teenager I can remember having the habit of cracking most of my back, neck, knuckles, wrists etc, mainly as it feels as though it relieves tension and relaxes them.

Over time I've read numerous inconclusive articles about the negative consequences of cracking/popping. I don't seem to be experiencing any negative effects but I do agree with others that it does sound unhealthy.

I'd be interested to hear if anyone on this forum has any experience and/or suffered any damage!

 

[Trajan]

I have heard but cannot recall the source that it is just fine. That This notion that cracking something will harm you is an old wives tale. However I will try and find where I read that before telling you that it is the case.

 

[JonnyRadar]

Fwiw, I see a chiropractor in the area and he said that cracking/popping is not bad IF you're not applying excessive force to the joint, like wrenching your neck. If you move your neck or let your head fall to the side and it cracks, it's a natural release of built up gas (CO2 I believe) in the joints. Cracking by force can be appropriate at times if you're locked up but definitely not on a regular basis.

 

[Gaby]

If I recall correctly Catie Shanahan was reporting this habit as she was growing up in her book Deep Nutrition. She then emphasizes the importance of having bone broths rich in collagenous tissues to strengthen and rejuvenate your joints.

 

[Nancy2feathers]

In the past I felt a need to pop or crack certain joints quite often. When popped there was a feeling of relief. Since I`v been on the KD I haven`t felt the need as often. I can honestly say the KD diet including daily bone broth has rejuvenated my joints.I don`t have that arthritic feeling throughout my body like I used to. I feel like I gave up so much but got even more in return...my health! :D

 

[monotonic]

I crack my knuckles often and they are the same they always were. I used to crack my neck quite forcefully but I stopped. In the case of my neck it appeared to be progressively getting worse, and after stopping my neck generally feels less strained. Now my neck does not crack so easily.

I had a complimentary adjustment by a chiropractor once. When his work caused pops and snaps he said that this stimulated the nerves and released tension. This follows my experience in general, as long as you are not straining it at the same time. Sometimes popping a joint is actually dislocating it and setting up further tension. I'm sure we all the have experience of putting our back or neck out this way.

I found that turning my head all the way left and right and applying "stretching" pressure often resulted in pops, and would calm me and give me a more restful sleep. The same is true for twisting all the way around so my back stretches a bit. At the same time doing this too regularly or as a nervous habit will result in straining the muscles and structures that keep the joints in proper alignment, and so they may go out of alignment more often and be sore. I am only speaking from experience.

My mother uses muscle relaxants to help when her neck or back goes out. So clearly tension and stress can play a factor here. Cracking a joint while those muscles are in tension (which is usually true if it is a nervous habit) may stimulate the nerves to partly release the stress but will also strain the muscle creating a worse condition than before.

So based on my experience, cracking joints is okay as long as it's not straining, and it's not a nervous habit.

 

[amd57432]

I have cracked my knuckles since jr high. I now crack my wrists as well. I do have problems with CT and arthritis but I believe both of those problems are heredity due to my mother and grandfather have/had similar problems with their hands and wrists and did not crack their knuckles.

My son cracks his knuckles and has since early childhood. He does not, as yet, have any arthritis problems.

 

[adam7117]

Yep, same here - I have been self-adjusting for something like a decade now, if not longer. A friend used to visit a chiropractor and showed me how his neck and back were being manipulated. I found that I can do the same by applying gentle pressure at specific points along the spine, as well as using gentle turns of the neck and back. Exercise balls are helpful, too.

It feels great and there is definitely something going on shortly after an adjustment. Feels like pressure is being lifted and the nervous system gets a little "boost". One thing I did notice though is that rainy weather is not good for cracking of the joints - it doesn't seem to work so well.

And good point about the bone broth, Psyche.