Do you have a habit of cracking your knuckles?

[Eureka 1,119]

Okai Hi

 

So I know many people have a habit of cracking their knuckles and I was wondering how many people do.

 

I don't crack my knuckles very much but I do occasionally. I'm not one of those people who crack them constantly. I don't have have 367463746 different ways to do it. I just make my hand into a fist and push my fingers down. But when people make loud obnoxious noises when they do it, it freaks me out .

 

What about you?

Edited August 1, 2013 by Eureka
Grammar Nazi'ing it up in the title (changing "you're" to "your")

[Chigens and Kay 3,833]

I kind of crack them constantly out of habit. People in Skype calls with me can attest to that.

 

I like the sound and the feeling and there is really nothing wrong with it.

[Nerdy Luigi 2,065]

I crack many parts of my body almost constantly. It's just a habit I have of doing, and I don't like having this habit myself, because it gets distracting and annoying at times.

Edited July 21, 2013 by Gamer P0N3

[Wonderbolt_Spitfire 235]

I will crack just about anything. Normally my neck and knuckles are the ones I crack the most, but I will also crack my back and toes every so often. It tends to relax me and gives me something to do because I tend to get restless if I'm not doing anything for a long time.

[Scootalove 10,689]

I usually crack my knuckles but I don't think there is anything wrong with cracking them constantly. It is mainly a funny habit.

[Shiki 5,857]

Yes.

 

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/post

 

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I crack everything that I can, really. Back, fingers, toes, ankle, knees, neck, wrist, elbows... Can't think of much more. I can crack my fingers in about 5 different ways, and I make sure to try each and every single way when I do crack my fingers, because sometimes I can crack a single finger up to 4 times.

 

I mainly only do this when I'm playing games that make my fingers move rather quickly. Sometimes it feels kinda like they lock up, so I crack them. It doesn't actually do anything, but it makes my brain think it does, so I get some satisfaction out of it.

[Lateon 589]

I crack my knuckles constantly as well. Neck is included, as well as my wrists. Though, my right middle finger is starting to get annoying to crack if I botch it. Apparently it serves to ward off arthritis by getting rid of the CO2 in between your joints (that's the popping sound you hear), and the cost of somewhat atrophied muscle mass. However, the latter can only occur if you crack your knuckles constantly for a period of 25 years or more.

 

/science

[MichaelxXxTrixie 433]

I can't stop doing it, I've always done it ever sense I can remember. I know it sounds a bit strange but I get a weird satisfaction out of cracking my knuckles. Haha

[AstroNova 133]

I will crack anything. I don't know. I crack them occasionally but not too often. I just pop them if they're stiff or if I'm just bored. I like to pop my lower back by sitting up-right and then leaning out wards. It pops just about every vertebrae in my back.

[RosemaryPetal 112]

Honestly, I can't crack anything. I'm not double-jointed, but I just can't. Doctor can't explain why.

 

Anyways, I think it is gross that people do that and I hate the noise. It's gut-wrenching to me.

[Fhaolan 4,486]

I have to do it to my right hand on occasion, as one joint actually locks shut occasionally. It's apparently some form of arthritis that is causing my tendons to move incorrectly, likely due to having my hands put back together many years ago when a steel beam fell on them and severed all the tendons.

[James 302]

I was actually just doing it when I saw this thread. I do it with my neck too, I love doing it. Usually my neck and fingers feel really stiff if I don't do it for a while too.

[~Squishy Skies~ 756]

OH MAI GOSH, YAS.

 

...Ahem.

 

Yes. I tend to crack my knuckles every time I'm ever capable of cracking my knuckles. It's been a habit of mine since I was a wee filly, and it has not shown any signs of retirement. I also crack my neck too. It feels SOOO~ good   I just hope I don't accidentally kill myself one day...

[SCS 7,537]

I crack my fingers a lot, probably every day. I've also gotten into the habit of cracking my toes, more specifically my right big toe.

 

Does anyone know if this behavior is actually harmful to your body at all?

[James 302]

 I just hope I don't accidentally kill myself one day...

 

Haha, sometimes I try a little too hard to do the neck sometimes, so I actually worry that I might end up breaking something, which I'm sure isn't possible.

 

 

Does anyone know if this behavior is actually harmful to your body at all?

 

I don't think it is, I think I once heard a doctor on some radio show say that it's completely harmless.

[Moonlight 7,289]

Yep, I do quite a lot. I also like to crack my neck, thumb (double jointed), and jaw quite a lot. It's a bit of a personal habit for me. Also, thumb cracking seems to creep some people out. 

[Lateon 589]

 

 

Does anyone know if this behavior is actually harmful to your body at all?

 

See my above post. "Cracking" your joints is merely letting the gases trapped between your bones escape, which is what the popping sound is. It actually helps in preventing the development of arthritis, but can lead to slightly atrophied muscle mass in your hands if you do it non-stop for a ridiculous amount of time - 25 years or so. I don't know about the neck, back, wrists, elbows, or feet, though.

 

So basically, the only detriment cracking your joints has is grossing out those who don't like hearing the popping sound. Carry on, brothers and sisters! 

[. eris . 1,661]

Homygosh, I pop my knuckles all the time. And as a result, my knuckles are now stupidly large and I can never wear rings. I'll have to tattoo my wedding band on. X_X

[verycreativeusername 1,800]

I stopped some months ago with the knuckles, but I do still have a habit of cracking my neck, back, wrist, and occasionally toes and ankles. And as well by reading this topic, is giving me an urge to crack everything.

[Lunas Husband 2,777]

Yeah I did it a lot when I was a kid, because all he adult were doing it.. and I wanted to be like them so much.. now I'm older and ahh I don't do it that much.

[websterhamster 203]

I crack my knuckles sometimes before I speak or perform in front of an audience, especially just before I play the piano. Helps me get my fingers limber.

[LittleRawr 679]

I crack my knuckles mostly, although I can crack my shoulders, neck, back, toes and knees.

 

It's a bad habit to crack my neck, but I just can't help it...

[FoxyCryptid 4,330]

Kinda, but more often than not I tend to grab each finger(especially my thumbs) and pull on them one by one to pop them, I'll sometimes crack them lightly first to loosen them first though. I also have a habit of cracking my wrists and ankles.

 

I think I already have some arthritis in my hands, but I have such a high pain tolerance to that sort of thing it doesn't bother me.   

Edited October 29, 2013 by Shoboni

[Aniki 386]

Only when attempting to be dramatic. It's pretty much a rule before venturing on any endeavor that is going to take at least a dollop of effort that you make a show of cracking your knuckles. Even if you aren't going to be using your hands to accomplish this feat at all...

[websterhamster 203]

I think I already have some arthritis in my hands, but I have such a high pain tolerance to that sort of thing it doesn't bother me.   

 

I'm pretty sure cracking/popping your knuckles doesn't lead to arthritis. Check out this page: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Does_cracking_your_knuckles_lead_to_arthritis

 

Apparently it can make your hands weaker, though.