Cracking knuckles is one of the most common habits, but many believe it’s not good for the joints.
TikTok is full of videos advising against cracking knuckles as content creators claim it will “ruin your hand” by causing serious damage.
Doctor debunks biggest myth about cracking knuckles
Many avoid cracking their knuckles under the assumption it causes arthritis, but that’s not true.
Dr. Karan Rajan, debunked the myth in his TikTok video while detailing the factors that cause the sound in your knuckles.
For the unversed, Dr. Karana finished his Bachelor of Medicine from Imperial College London in 2014 and is currently serving as the clinical lecturer at his alma mater and the University of Sunderland.
He has gained millions of followers across social media by leveraging his power to “teach, fascinate, and entertain others using his medical knowledge.”
Dr. Karan used his expertise to explain what happens when you crack your knuckles as it has nothing to do with the well-being of your bones or joints.
He specifically brushed off the rumors that you may develop arthritis from constant cracking of your knuckles.
The reason behind the popping sound
The sound is produced due to escaping gas when you break your knuckles. He explained that all joints in the body consist of synovial fluid, which acts as a lubricant.
The fluid further contains gases such as Oxygen, Carbon Dioxide, and Nitrogen, which are released when you stretch the tight joint capsule due to increased pressure.
The gases that escape form bubbles, which end up bursting to create the popping sound. While there is no proof that cracking your knuckles is bad for your joints, it takes about 15 minutes for gases to get absorbed back into the fluid acting as the lubricant.
So you need to wait for some time before cracking your knuckles again.
