Skip to main content

Will cracking your knuckles leads to osteoarthritis? – Ask Our Medical Stem Cells Clinic in Ireland

 Are you the knuckle cracker? Did anyone warn you by saying that this habit will lead to osteoarthritis? Don’t worry! There’s no evidence to back up that saying.  

Cracking your knuckles is not the cause of osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis occurs when the cartilage, which coats the ends of the joints, breaks down. As the cartilage continues to tear over time, the bones rub each other, which hinders your movement and causes pain. Remember that the causes of osteoarthritis include wear-and-tear, repeated hand movements, past trauma and a genetic predisposition if any. 


How does the popping sound arise during knuckle cracking?

Your finger joints consist of synovial fluid that helps in moving around the joints smoothly. This fluid has gas bubbles. Whenever you crack your knuckles, you extend the space between the joints. Hence, the bubbles will burst, followed by creating a popping sound. Since it takes time for the bubbles to accumulate again, you can’t crack the same knuckle again in a row.


Can knuckle cracking leads to osteoarthritis?

No. There is ample scientific evidence to back up why not. A 1998 research article published in the journal Arthritis and Rheumatology [1] revealed that there is no connection between knuckle cracking and osteoarthritis condition. Another research article published in the year 2011 [2] revealed the incidence of osteoarthritis among the people who cracked their knuckles and those who didn’t.


Will knuckle cracking leads to any other issues?

A 1990 research study published in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases [3] revealed that a habitual knuckle cracker might experience a reduction in hand grip and hand swelling over time. But no evidence to date cracking the knuckles causes osteoarthritis. However, if you feel pain while cracking your knuckles, there might be some other problem with the joint structure, including cartilage or ligaments. 

Don’t let these symptoms put you down! Medical Stem Cells Clinic in Ireland and the UK recommends regenerative therapy as the best alternative to treat joint problems.


Regenerative cell therapy for joint problems

Medical Stem Cells Clinic in Ireland and UK provide regenerative therapies including Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) and cell therapy, to treat the underlying causes. These non-surgical therapies not only help with pain but also repair the injured tissues and regenerate their functions naturally. This minimally invasive therapy can slow down the effect of ageing on cartilages, regenerate tissues, tendons and help with joints problems. As the cells are extracted from your own body, there is no risk of transmissible infection or allergy. This therapy is safe same-day treatment. Hence, regenerative therapy is the best alternative to surgery to treat joint problems.

For more information about the regenerative cell treatment, please feel free to refer to the website http://www.medicastemcells.com. We use platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy, prolotherapy, mesenchymal cell therapy combined with physical therapy to tackle the cause of joint problems. Contact Medica Stem Cells Clinic in Ireland by calling 01 298 8000.

So, you need not stop this habit out of osteoarthritic fear. Even if you have any other joint problems, regenerative therapy is there to heal you naturally. You can crack your knuckles as much as you want!


References

  1. Unger DL. Does knuckle cracking lead to arthritis of the fingers?. Arthritis Rheum. 1998;41(5):949-950. doi:10.1002/1529-0131(199805)41:5<949::AID-ART36>3.0.CO;2-3

  2. Deweber K, Olszewski M, Ortolano R. Knuckle cracking and hand osteoarthritis. J Am Board Fam Med. 2011;24(2):169-174. doi:10.3122/jabfm.2011.02.100156

  3. Castellanos J, Axelrod D. Effect of habitual knuckle cracking on hand function. Ann Rheum Dis. 1990;49(5):308-309. doi:10.1136/ard.49.5.308
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Start running again with Regenerative Treatment for Runner’s knee

  The Knee joint is one of the most important and strongest joints of the locomotor system of the human body. The pressure experienced by the knee joint is approximately three times the body’s weight when walking and about five times the body’s weight when running. In short, a person who weighs 80 kg puts about 400kg of pressure on the knee when landing each running stride. The immense pressure experienced by the knee, especially in runners, makes the knee more prone to injury. Iliotibial or IT band syndrome, also called runner’s knee, is a common knee injury, especially in runners. It is the second most common knee injury in runners after the jumper’s knee.  What is Iliotibial or IT band syndrome or runner’s knee? The Iliotibial band, or IT band, is longitudinal fibrous support of the Fascia Lata. It is originating from the upper outer part of the hip and runs along the outside and lastly attaches to the top of the shinbone (tibia). When the knee bends, the IT band ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Heal Jumper’s Knee Naturally with Medica Stem Cell Therapy

  Are you a runner or a competitive jumper? Do you overuse your knee repetitively? Check whether you have a Jumper’s knee condition? Jumper’s knee can be referred to as Patellar tendonitis. Your physician may recommend surgery, especially if the non-surgical methods don’t provide any significant relief. This condition requires treatment, but that need not be surgical. Medica Stem Cells Clinic in the UK recommends Medica Stem Cells therapy and PRP therapy as the best alternative to treat Jumper’s knee. Before knowing the importance of Medica stem cell therapy , let us learn what patellar tendonitis is. What is Jumper’s knee/patellar tendonitis? Patellar tendonitis occurs when there is an injury to the tendon that connects the kneecap to the shinbone. It arises due to the stressed patellar tendon. The repeated stress of the tendon causes micro-tears that become inflamed over time. The risk factors may include: Partaking in sports or other physical activities that involve running or ...
Post a Comment
Read more

How to Treat Ankle Arthritis with Regenerative Cell Treatment?

    Don’t let this constant severe ankle pain due to arthritis hinder you from doing your routine activities? If your physician says medication and surgery are the only treatment options for ankle arthritis, hold on! Medica Stem Cells therapy in the UK may help in healing the ankle arthritis naturally by itself. Let us first understand the causes and symptoms of the ankle arthritis and see how regenerative cell treatment can be the right surgical alternat ive. What is ankle arthritis? Ankle arthritis occurs at the joint that connects the tibia (shin bone of the leg), and the talus (above the heel bone) called the tibiotalar joint. Ankle arthritis pain emerges at this point in your ankle. It greatly affects your quality of life by hindering your mobility.    Ankle osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease where the articular cartilage helps in providing a cushion between the bones of the talocrural joint, starts to degenerate gradually. It will decrease...
Post a Comment
Read more