The Science Behind Cracking Your Knuckles: Why It Feels So Satisfying

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Cracking your knuckles can evoke a range of reactions, from annoying discomfort to pure satisfaction.

Despite the stereotype that it’s a bad habit that’s “bad for your joints,” understanding the mechanisms behind this behavior can help you understand why joint cracking can make you feel better.

▼Why does joint cracking satisfy people’s needs so much?▼

The “knocking” sound you make when you break your fingers isn’t actually made by the bones hitting each other. The joint capsule (the sac surrounding the joint) contains synovial fluid (synovial fluid), composed mainly of carbon dioxide and nitrogen. When a joint is stretched to the limit of its range of motion, the space containing synovial fluid between the joints increases, pressure decreases, and gas dissolved in the synovial fluid suddenly escapes in the form of bubbles. It has been scientifically proven that the bubbles thus created burst immediately and produce a sound of up to 83 dB (decibels).

▼Why does the simple appearance and disappearance of air bubbles give people satisfaction?▼

Roger Melikian, a California-based spinal neurologist and orthopedic specialist, explains that bending the finger joints can actually provide a sense of physical release and a temporary increase in joint mobility.

“It feels really good,” he said. “A common theory is that sudden movements stimulate the nerve endings (ends of nerve fibers) around the joint, which can reduce pain and release endorphins, but this has not yet been proven.” You said it in a recent interview with the scientific magazine National Geographic.

However, this pleasure involves not only physiological but also psychological aspects. The act of bending a joint to produce a sound sometimes becomes a habit that strengthens over time and, in some cases, causes a placebo effect. Some people say that just hearing the sound of their joints creaking gives them pleasure.

▼Is bending your joints bad for your body?▼

Photo = Getty Images Korea.

The most common myth is that “if you frequently break your finger joints, you are at high risk of developing arthritis.” However, according to studies conducted since 1998, Melikian pointed out that there was no significant correlation between broken finger joints and the presence of deforming arthritis of the fingers. She added: “According to some studies, if you habitually crack your finger joints, there is a risk that your hands will swell more often and your grip strength will decrease.”

However, the inference of reduced grip strength is not conclusive. A study published in 2017 in the academic journal “Hand Surgery & Rehabilitation” compared 35 people with the habit of cracking their finger joints (more than 5 times a day) with 35 people without the habit, although the people had cartilage joint of the fingers thicker in the control group, this did not negatively affect their grip strength.

However, this does not mean that all joint flexions occur without problems. Large joints such as the neck and spine should be handled with care. These areas are complex and, if managed incorrectly, are prone to injury and side effects such as headaches, numbness in the limbs and dizziness. In more severe cases, cervical manipulation may be associated with arterial dissection or rupture of the internal arterial wall, leading to a stroke.

You should also avoid twisting your finger joints. The fingers are designed to bend. Twisting movements are abnormal. If you twist too hard and sprain yourself, you can put strain on ligaments, damage joints and cause inflammation.

Most studies show that knuckle cracking has no long-term negative effects. However, public concerns that it can lead to arthritis are firmly established.

When asked if he broke his finger joints (to relieve stress, etc.), Mr. Melikian, a spinal neurologist and orthopedic surgeon, said no. This is because hands are very important to surgeons.

Park Hae-sik, Donga.com reporter pistols@donga.com

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