Should i click my fingers

Will cracking knuckles for a long period of time increase the size of the actual joint? An older figure shared with me that since she had cracked the knuckles on her hands for her whole life, her hands had very large joints. I am 74 years young and I have cracked my knuckles since I first discovered they would crack…. I have more of a concern of me cracking up mentally!!!! Thanks for visiting. Don't miss your FREE gift. Sign up to get tips for living a healthy lifestyle, with ways to fight inflammation and improve cognitive health , plus the latest advances in preventative medicine, diet and exercise , pain relief, blood pressure and cholesterol management, and more.

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Harvard Health Blog Knuckle cracking: Annoying and harmful, or just annoying? Follow me on Twitter RobShmerling Knuckle cracking is a common behavior enjoyed by many.

This causes gas bubbles in the joint fluid to collapse or burst. Cracking the knuckles is probably harmless. Although there have been occasional reports of dislocations or tendon injuries from overly vigorous knuckle cracking, such problems seem very much to be the exception and not the rule. How do we know that knuckle cracking is harmless? What about other sounds coming from the joints? Osteoarthritis, also known as "wear-and-tear arthritis," is characterized by the loss of joint cartilage and changes in the underlying bone.

The movement of an affected finger joint can cause a grating, clicking, or popping sound called crepitus. Dealing with joint pain can cause major disruptions to your day. Sign up and learn how to better take care of your body. Click below and just hit send!

Knuckle cracking and hand osteoarthritis. J Am Board Fam Med. Adams JE, Habbu R. Tendinopathies of the hand and wrist. Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Trigger finger: an overview of the treatment options. NYU Langone Health. Arthritis Foundation. Osteoarthritis of the hands. Hand osteoarthritis: an epidemiological perspective. Semin Arthritis Rheum. Cleveland Clinic.

Trigger finger. Updated April 30, Updated March Sen R, Hurley J A. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Updated February 27, Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for VerywellHealth. At any time, you can update your settings through the "EU Privacy" link at the bottom of any page. These choices will be signaled globally to our partners and will not affect browsing data. We and our partners process data to: Actively scan device characteristics for identification.

I Accept Show Purposes. When to See a Healthcare Provider If the joint looks swollen, inflamed, or discolored If you cannot fully extend your finger If there is numbness at the fingertip If there is tenderness along the palm side of the finger, especially in the fold of the joint If there is morning stiffness lasting around 30 minutes If the finger joint looks enlarged or deformed If there is a dull, burning sensation in your fingers If there is tenderness in the joint If there is a loss of flexibility or a grating sensation.

The 8 Best Finger Braces of Frequently Asked Questions What causes fingers to crack, pop, or snap? Who is at risk of trigger finger? What are symptoms of trigger finger? How is trigger finger treated? Can arthritis cause finger popping? Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign Up. What are your concerns? That said, there is some disagreement on this topic, and more research needs to be done to evaluate the long-term effects of cracking.

But at this point, the one outcome everyone can agree on is that cracking your knuckles will definitely annoy the people around you. However, there are things you can do to lessen the urge. Every hour or two, try holding your hands in a prayer position in front of your face, and then gently pull your hands down toward your belly button until your elbows spread apart and you feel the stretch.

Or simply clench your hands into a light fist; then spread them wide apart, and repeat. So feel free to take your knuckle cracks with your dessert. Interested in more fascinating medical knowledge?

Check out this story on why coffee makes you tired, according to science. This post was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated. What is knuckle cracking, actually?