Clicks and cracks in the joints can occur for various reasons. In some cases, the sound arises from the contact of soft tissues — tendons or muscles — with bony prominences during movement. Such isolated clicks usually do not cause pain and are considered a variant of physiological norm. Most often, this is observed in large joints, such as the hip.
Cavitation: What Happens in the Fingers
For small joints, including the joints of the fingers, a different mechanism is characteristic. This refers to the process of cavitation. The joint is a sealed capsule filled with synovial fluid. When a sudden movement or stretching occurs, the volume of the joint cavity increases, the pressure inside it drops, and microscopic voids form in the fluid. Gases that were previously dissolved in the liquid are released, forming bubbles.
Scientists still debate what exactly creates the sound — the moment of bubble formation or their subsequent collapse; however, the mechanism itself is considered well-studied.
The Arthritis Myth and What Science Says
For a long time, it was believed that the habit of cracking fingers leads to the development of arthritis. This fear became widespread in everyday life, but scientific evidence for it was long lacking.
One study conducted in 1990 involving 74 people showed that individuals who regularly cracked their fingers had, on average, a stronger grip. However, specialists emphasize that such a sample size is too small for definitive conclusions.
A 60-Year Experiment
The most well-known example is the experiment by American doctor Donald Unger. For 60 years, he intentionally cracked the fingers of only his left hand twice a day — a total of no less than 36,000 times. At the end of the experiment, an X-ray did not reveal any signs of arthritis in the "loaded" hand.
Although this observation concerned only one person, it became symbolic. In 2009, Unger received the Ig Nobel Prize for it — an award for research that first seems funny but then makes you think.
Harmful, Beneficial, or Neutral
Modern medicine believes that regular finger cracking is highly unlikely to lead to serious consequences. Moreover, clicks can occur spontaneously, without conscious effort, and this is considered a normal physiological phenomenon.
At the same time, there is no evidence of the benefits of this habit. Some people report a subjective feeling of relaxation, but there is no objective medical confirmation of this effect.
When to Pay Attention
If finger cracking occurs from time to time and is not accompanied by pain, there is no cause for concern. However, if the habit becomes compulsive, is performed intentionally, and occupies a significant amount of time, specialists advise considering its causes. In such cases, the cracking may be more behavioral than physiological, and it makes sense to discuss the situation with a doctor or psychologist.
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