Can you arthritis from cracking your knuckles

One research study of people reported that people who cracked their knuckles were more likely to have manual labor jobs and smoke. Manual labor can be a risk factor for osteoarthritis. If you have a manual labor job, finding ways to reduce daily stress on your joints may be more important than quitting knuckle cracking to lower your risk of arthritis. See Osteoarthritis Causes.

Likewise, quitting smoking or other nicotine use can reduce your risk of serious medical problems, including lung cancer, heart disease, stroke, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease COPD. Recognizing Osteoarthritis in the Hand. Treatments for Osteoarthritis in Hands. Osteoarthritis Symptoms and Signs. Hand Rheumatoid Arthritis Signs and Symptoms.

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Q: Does cracking your knuckles lead to arthritis? Related Articles. If traction is applied to the joint, it feels as if it loosens up and is more mobile.

There are several types of arthritis, but knuckle-cracking is most commonly associated with osteoarthritis. In simple terms, "Osteoarthritis is a disease where the articular cartilage, located at the end of the bone on each joint, starts to break down and flake off," causing pain, stiffness and swelling over time, Dr. Fackler explains.

However, if you have an injury when you're young or tear a ligament or meniscus, that puts you at higher risk for arthritis when you get older. Fackler advises avoiding popping the neck, as it can cause inflammation around the nerves and lead to more serious injuries long-term.

There is no evidence that cracking knuckles causes any damage such as arthritis in the joints. However, a couple of reports in the medical literature are available associating knuckle cracking with injury of the ligaments surrounding the joint or dislocation of the tendons attachments of muscles to bones which improved with conservative treatment. A study found that after many years of cracking habitual knuckle crackers may have reduced grip strength compared with people not cracking their knuckles.

Answer: No. The causes for either are not well known and research focuses on elucidating the mechanisms leading to these diseases.