Researchers' Findings

A researcher tested the hand function in 200 adults, all of which were age 45 and above. Although he didn’t find a greater tendency toward arthritis in the 74 habitual knuckle crackers, these knuckle crackers were more likely to have swollen hands and reduced hand strength

According to Penn State professor of orthopedics, Sanjiv Naidu, you would have to forcefully disrupt the joint capsule of the finger to cause serious, long term damage such as arthritis.

In 1975, Dr. Robert Sweezey and Dr. Stuart Sweezey did research asking 28 nursing home residents if they used to crack their knuckles earlier in life, after taking x-rays there seemed to be no damage.