Can someone explain to me what exactly happens when you pop or "crack" your knuckles?

gmackematix

When the bones and ligaments are fully extended the gas dissolved in the sinovial fluid in the joints dissociates from the liquid to form a bubble. The noise is caused when the bones and ligaments fall back into place and burst the bubbles. Until more gas has dissolved they cannot be "popped" again. http://www.guardian.co.uk/notesandqueries/query/0,,-25153,00.html Feb 12 07, 9:00 PM

lizzieisgreat

you "pop" the "pillows" of air and fluid under the joint, thats why sometimes it hurts a bit after. if you do it too often it is a possibility that it will give you arteritis but if you do it only sometimes its actually good for you. Feb 12 07, 9:49 PM

zbeckabee

"Joints are the meeting points of two separate bones, held together and in place by connective tissues and ligaments. All of the joints in our bodies are surrounded by synovial fluid, a thick, clear liquid. When you stretch or bend your finger to pop the knuckle, you are causing the bones of the joint to pull apart. As they do, the connective tissue capsule that surrounds the joint is stretched. By stretching this capsule, you increase its volume. And as we know from chemistry class, with an increase in volume comes a decrease in pressure. So as the pressure of the synovial fluid drops, gases dissolved in the fluid become less soluble, forming bubbles through a process called cavitation. When the joint is stretched far enough, the pressure in the capsule drops so low that these bubbles burst, producing the pop that we associate with knuckle cracking." http://health.howstuffworks.com/question437.htm Feb 12 07, 11:22 PM

kisstherainbow

You can't get arthritis from cracking your knuckles. The worst that could happen is that your grip will be weakened. Feb 13 07, 10:35 AM