Why Do Our Joints Crack?
- 12 years ago
Why Do Our Joints Crack? - as part of the news and politics series by GeoBeats.
Ever wonder why joints in your body sometimes make cracking or popping sounds?
Fluid in our joints acts as lubrication to make movement easier. This fluid has gases in it, which form into bubbles that are released when you stretch the joint, and the pop of these gaseous bubbles is the sound you hear when you crack your knuckles or back. You can’t crack the same joint right away because the lubricating fluid must reabsorb the gases to be able to crack again. You have to wait about half an hour for the gas to be reabsorbed by the fluid.
Another cause of our noisy joints is our tendons, which connect muscles to bone. They stretch and snap into different positions as we move, which creates an unmistakable sound that can be made repeatedly without hesitation.
So is cracking your knuckles harmful? Studies have shown that there is an immediate benefit in joint flexibility after cracking your joints. But studies have also shown that while joint cracking does not lead to arthritis, it can over time create pain in your joints and even a weaker grip.
Ever wonder why joints in your body sometimes make cracking or popping sounds?
Fluid in our joints acts as lubrication to make movement easier. This fluid has gases in it, which form into bubbles that are released when you stretch the joint, and the pop of these gaseous bubbles is the sound you hear when you crack your knuckles or back. You can’t crack the same joint right away because the lubricating fluid must reabsorb the gases to be able to crack again. You have to wait about half an hour for the gas to be reabsorbed by the fluid.
Another cause of our noisy joints is our tendons, which connect muscles to bone. They stretch and snap into different positions as we move, which creates an unmistakable sound that can be made repeatedly without hesitation.
So is cracking your knuckles harmful? Studies have shown that there is an immediate benefit in joint flexibility after cracking your joints. But studies have also shown that while joint cracking does not lead to arthritis, it can over time create pain in your joints and even a weaker grip.