RRC Archives

answers? not really. but what we do have is a bunch of anecdotes and opinions.

the jury is out on that one.

This was handled in another thread, but ...

The "jury is out" on whether it causes arthritis, but studies have shown that popping knuckles decreases grip strength. In the other thread, I believed I linked an article.

Meadows wrote:In the other thread, I believed I linked an article.

You did, and regardless of whether it's true, thank you (again) for inspiring 6 months (and still counting) of liberation from a habit I'd had since elementary school.

relatedly, we keep bumping our heads doing cartwheels in bed. will this effect our dreams?

Way to go, Yasi! It is in fact a hard habit to kick. I had to take up gum chewing/popping to satisfy my urges.

I'm old and the knuckle that I use to crack all the time hurts me constantly.

I work for an Orthopaedic Surgeon and according to him cracking knuckles does not lead to arthritis. However, like discussed above, it can lead to a slight decrease in hand strength. BUT.
There are two separate ways to use the muscles and tendons in one's hands/arms. The same tendons and muscles are used to have the ability to squeeze (which most people associate with strength of the hand) and have the ability to resist the contraction to be released (as in the hand opening up). Popping knuckles affect the ability to squeeze, NOT the ability to resist release of contraction, which in what is primarily used in climbing.
In layman's terms, while climbing, one fights the urge for the hand to open up. Popping knuckles has no affect on this.

So I'm told from a very reliable source (aka the Orthopaedic).

thank god. guilt free knuckle cracking days are here again!