Origin
An age-old urban legend that claims cracking one’s knuckles will lead to arthritis may be old in every middle school child’s repertoire, but a look at the scientific literature finds that there is little evidence to suggest any level of truth to this myth.
Knuckle or metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint-cracking is a manipulation of the joint, either made through movement or by applying force. As a result, the characteristic “crack, pop, clunk, clink, crepitus, or snap” sound may issue from the knuckles.
For decades, medical experts weren’t exactly sure what caused the telltale popping sound, and it is largely unclear whether there is any therapeutic benefit to cracking the knuckles, or if popping joints may be detrimental. Generally speaking, however, there is little evidence to suggest that cracking the knuckles leads to arthritis. But to understand why it is not widely believed that cracking the knuckles will result in arthritis, we must first understand what create