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Popping Joints
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You Asked: Are Popping and Cracking Joints Harmful?
Hi FitSugar,
I got a yoga DVD recently and I like it a lot, but every time I do some of the workouts, my joints tend to crack and pop a lot! It doesn't hurt, it actually feels kind of good the same way cracking your knuckles feels, but I'm worried I might be hurting myself without even knowing it. I'm fairly flexible with a dance and martial arts background, but yoga is stretching me in new and interesting ways.
Does Cracking Your Knuckles Cause Arthritis?
In order to answer this question, we first need to talk about arthritis. It's the name for a group of conditions where there is damage caused to the joints. Here are some examples:
- Rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis are autoimmune diseases in which the body is attacking itself.
- Septic arthritis is caused by joint infection.
- Gouty arthritis is caused when uric acid crystals get deposited in the joints, which causes inflammation.
- The most common form of arthritis, osteoarthritis (also known as degenerative joint disease), occurs after an injury or infection in the joint, or simply as a result of aging.
Other Search Results
The Skinny on: Cracking Your Knuckles
When someone tells you that cracking your knuckles will lead to arthritis, they're wrong.
What exactly makes that "popping" sound? When you crack your knuckles, or back, or whatever, you are pushing the joint into or out of its normal position.
Foot pain
In This Report- Highlights
- Introduction
- Causes
- Risk Factors
- Treatment: Corns and Callus...
- Treatment: Bunions
- Treatment: Hammertoes
- Treatment: Ingrown Toenails...
- Treatment: Forefoot Pain...
- Treatment: Heel Pain
- Treatment: Flat Feet
- Treatment: Abnormally High ...
- Treatment: Tarsal Tunnel Sy...
- Treatment: Foot Injury
- Prevention
- Shoes
- Insoles and Orthotics
- Resources
- References
- Orthonyxia, a surgical technique that implants a small metal brace into the top of the nail, was as effective as traditional surgical techniques for preventing ingrown toenail from recurring, according to one study.
- A nonsurgical method for treating ingrown toenail with chemicals uses either sodium hydroxide or phenol, but one study shows that sodium hydroxide procedures have a better outcome and faster recovery than phenol procedures.
- Ultrasound-guided injection of alcohol might provide relief from Morton's neuroma, according to one study. Symptoms improved in 94% of patients who had the treatment, a success rate comparable to that of surgery.
- NSAIDs reduce pain and disability in people with plantar fasciitis when used with other techniques, such as night splints and stretching.
- Studies show that extracorporeal shockwave therapy provides a very small reduction in heel pain without side effects. It may be a good option for patients who haven't responded well to conservative treatment.
- An estimated 120,000 job-related foot injuries occur every year, about a third of them involving the toes.
Back pain and sciatica
In This Report- Highlights
- Introduction
- Causes
- Risk Factors
- Diagnosis
- Medications
- Complementary and Alternati...
- Exercise and Physical Thera...
- Surgery
- Other Treatments
- Specific Treatment for Acut...
- Specific Treatment for Chro...
- Prognosis
- Complications
- Prevention
- Resources
- References
Meniscus tears
Overview- Definition
- Alternative Names
- Considerations
- Causes
- Symptoms
- First Aid
- Do Not
- Call immediately for emergency medical assistance if
- Prevention
Sprains
Overview- Definition
- Alternative Names
- Causes
- Symptoms
- First Aid
- Call immediately for emergency medical assistance if
- Prevention
- References
Ankle pain
Overview- Definition
- Alternative Names
- Considerations
- Common Causes
- Home Care
- Call your health care provider if
- What to expect at your health care provider's office
- Prevention
- References
You Asked: Does Cracking Your Knuckles Cause Joint Damage?
Dear Fit,
I have to admit that I love cracking my knuckles, but my gramma always says that I'm ruining my joints and I'll get arthritis when I'm older. Is she right?
—Cracky Kathy
This is a great question and you are not alone in the love of cracking your knuckles.
Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
Overview- Definition
- Causes, incidence, and risk factors
- Symptoms
- Signs and tests
- Treatment
- Expectations (prognosis)
- Complications
- Calling your health care provider
- Prevention
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