"Stop Cracking Your Knuckles" in Palm Harbor FL
Are you wondering if you should stop cracking your knuckles in Palm Harbor FL? Our team at Ignite Chiropractic & Wellness can help you today!
Should you stop cracking your knuckles?
When I was growing up there was a little convenience store at the corner of the street I was living on. To this day, I can still remember the owner because of his odd, big hands, with huge bulging knuckles. When I asked my dad why his hands were like that, he told me it was because he cracked his knuckles a lot and that I shouldn't be popping my knuckles because my hands will become like his. I must admit, I stopped cracking my knuckles for many years after that. I'm sure I'm not the only one that's been told this by their parents. Even now when I go to a school on career day, the number one question I get is, "Is cracking my knuckles bad?" It's funny that even after all these years this myth still exists.
Synovial fluid surrounds the joints, which decreases friction between the bones during movements.
What Are Those Popping Sounds During A Chiropractic Adjustment in Palm Harbor FL?
This is a great time to bring up chiropractic adjustments in Palm Harbor FL. For those of you that are fearful of adjustments and think that popping sound is your bones, it is not. As I explained above, that noise is gas bubbles within your joints. And for those of you that love that cracking noise when you get adjusted (I do too) and think the more pops you hear then the more effective the adjustment is, you are false too. The popping is just a common side effect that happens when adjusted due to the joint being stretched. The adjustment is equally powerful and effective regardless of the number of pops. That's why there are chiropractic techniques that use instruments and tables with drops during which you will never hear any pops but still get all the benefits of an adjustment. The truth is, there is no scientific link between knuckle cracking and arthritis or any other medical condition. As I was looking up different studies about this topic there was only one that implied knuckle cracking may lead to some hand weakness later in life, while another study found an increased range of motion in the groups that did pop their knuckles. However, most of the research has not found any side effects or direct link to arthritis from long term knuckle popping. So, what's making that popping noise? (another question I get asked often). All joints are surrounded by fluid called synovial fluid, which decreases friction between the bones during movements. This fluid contains oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide gases. So, when you crack a joint you stretch the joint capsule, which rapidly releases these gases which form bubbles causing that popping noise. A fun fact is that you have to wait 20 to 30 minutes to crack the same joint again, because the gases have to re-dissolve into the joint fluid.
The bottom line: knuckle popping does not cause big arthritic hands. Sorry parents. However, if you have any pain when cracking your knuckles or other joints then it is best to inform your doctor, as there may be an underlying issue.
Call Ignite Chiropractic & Wellness in Palm Harbor FL today to schedule an appointment.
