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Can 'cracking' of the joints cause permanent damage?

A question many of us have wondered, annoyed parents have told us this is true. During a weights session or while I'm doing push ups I can hear these cracks and they are rather off putting, though can the 'cracking' of knuckles, wrists, shoulders, necks and backs cause permanent damage?

3 Answers

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  • 1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    When you crack a joint you are not doing damage to your bones or joints. The sound is carbon dioxide dissolved in the synovial fluid around your joints. When you crack the area is distended, causing a change in pressure of the area where the gas is, causing the gas to move out of the fluid temporarily, therefore causing the noise.

    Unless you actually start stretching and pulling the area beyond what is normal, there will be no permanent damage.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    no,the cracking you hear

    is just bubbles in fluids bursting

    no harm

    Source(s): chiropractor does it to me all the time
  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    Yes it causes arthritis when you get older.

    True fact =)

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