Cracking your fingers?

[Erasmus]

Okay, so I crack my fingers all the time, literally. What I'm asking is does this habit do anything harmful to your joints? My mother says it does, and tells me to stop all the time, but my dad says it's fine, and doesn't really care whether I do it or not. He does it to himself sometimes, actually...

So, is it bad?

[kidkizzet]

No. It doesn't cause arthritis or anything, I know because my rheumatologist told me.

[Cognizant]

No, you are fine.

[Vegito]

Well, there are many theories. Generally, it really won't harm you, but it is never the best idea to bend a joint in a way it doesn't naturally go. A current theory is that it makes the joints larger, which could be harmful, I don't believe that it truly hurts you, although I try follow the motto, better be safe than sorry.

[Josiah7]

No, however id recommend slowing down/giving up. I rarely crack mine, but some studies I have read so suggest that it can lead to abnormal growth in the joint if done often. So who knows, some say yes, some say no.

[Giles]

There seems to be a lot of theories about this. I've heard that there's some sort of fluid and gas in the joints, and the cracking sound is made when the gas/fluid moves from one trapped section to the other. Now I don't know whether this is true or not, but I've been cracking all my fingers and toes (most of my other joints too) for years and I've had no trouble - not the be all and end all but a good case.

[WickedWeekend]

Not proven, but since she finds it annoying, my mom says it causes arthritis. Highly plausible, since the posters above me says it enlargens the joints.

I love popping my fingers, but if I ever feel pain, I stop. Also, when I use my hands for something, like twirling a staff, one of the joints severely aches. However that happens rarely.

Ask your doctor, they know best! Hope you solve your problem.