How does your fingers pop

But when a joint moves, the tendon's position with respect to the joint is forced to change. It is not uncommon for a tendon to shift to a slightly different position, followed by a sudden snap as the tendon returns to its original location with respect to the joint. These noises are often heard in the knee and ankle joints when standing up from a seated position or when walking up or down the stairs.

Sign up for our email newsletter. Already a subscriber? Sign in. Thanks for reading Scientific American. Create your free account or Sign in to continue. See Subscription Options. Go Paperless with Digital. Raymond Brodeur in the Ergonomics Research Laboratory at Michigan State University responds: To understand what happens when you "crack" your knuckles, or any other joint, first you need a little background about the nature of the joints of the body.

Get smart. Sign Up. Support science journalism. Knowledge awaits. See Subscription Options Already a subscriber? How to get your child to put away toys. Is a common pain reliever safe during pregnancy? Pain Does cracking knuckles cause arthritis? July 6, Print This Page Click to Print. Free Healthbeat Signup Get the latest in health news delivered to your inbox! Sign Up. Close Thanks for visiting. The Best Diets for Cognitive Fitness , is yours absolutely FREE when you sign up to receive Health Alerts from Harvard Medical School Sign up to get tips for living a healthy lifestyle, with ways to fight inflammation and improve cognitive health , plus the latest advances in preventative medicine, diet and exercise , pain relief, blood pressure and cholesterol management, and more.

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Read: Dr. Does repeated knuckle cracking then lead to arthritis like the superstition says? Klapper, knuckle cracking itself does no harm to your fingers, neck, ankles, or other joints that pop and crack throughout the day—whether from normal day-to-day motions or compulsive habits like pressing our knuckles or twisting your neck until you hear that familiar crack. However, if you experience discomfort while cracking, then there could be a pre-existing condition that is aggravated by twisting and pressing the joint.

Skip to content. But the satisfaction is mostly in your head. Were your parents right about arthritis? It does not lead to arthritis,' says Dr. Click To Tweet.