Does cracking knuckles cause arthritis? AIIMS neurologist reveals

According to neurologist Priyanka Sherawat from All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), the sound you hear when people crack their knuckles isn’t caused by bones rubbing or ligaments tearing, but by gas bubbles rapidly forming and collapsing in the synovial fluid within the joint when pressure suddenly drops. The commonly held belief that knuckle-cracking leads to Arthritis is a myth — studies show no increased incidence of arthritis among habitual knuckle-crackers. While excessive, forceful or painful cracking might cause temporary swelling or reduced grip strength, it is not linked to chronic joint conditions; the real risk factors for arthritis remain age, genetics, wear-and-tear, auto-immune triggers and obesity.
*This news was published by Times of India on October 21, 2025.*

 

 

 

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