Doctor explains whether cracking your knuckles really gives you arthritis

Around half of people crack their knuckles, but is it really bad for you?

As many as 54% of people crack their knuckles – often several times a day – whether out of habit, boredom, stress relief or simple satisfaction at that sharp pop . Yet despite how widespread it is, the myths just will not disappear - people are warned it will give you arthritis , make your fingers bigger, or even weaken your grip over time.

To help distinguish fact from fiction around this habit, Dr Syed Nadeem Abbas, from Dr SNA Clinic , who specialises in joint pain management with a focus on stem cell–based treatments, has weighed in on what is really happening inside your hands when you crack your knuckles – and when it might be a red flag rather than a harmless quirk.

Myth 1: Cracking your knuckles