IF cracking your knuckles truly did cause arthritis, this could potentially be a problem. However, there is no research showing that any damage occurs when you crack your knuckles. In fact, joints need movement in order to function properly. It is usually a lack of movement and resulting consequential degeneration that cause problems such as arthritis.

By the way, chiropractors do not actually “crack” or “pop”, and most certainly do not “break”, anything. The noise made by the chiropractic adjustment to your spine and extremities is simply a result of the release of pressure that has built up by the impurities and toxins in the joint due to non-movement. It is much akin to the “pop” you get when you open a soda can or a champagne bottle — simply a release of pressure from gases escaping quickly. The bottle or can is not harmed or damaged and neither are your spinal joints or extremities. If fact, those who have proper diet, exercise and nutrition commonly make little to no noise when they receive an adjustment.

A mother who grew tired of her children cracking their knuckles probably started the myth about arthritis resulting from cracking your knuckles; so, to get them to stop, she told them that if they kept doing it, they would get big knuckles and arthritis. The children stopped cracking their knuckles, therefore this success story was passed on to others until the rumour became a modern-day societal concern.

You do want to be very careful when cracking your knuckles, though, because if you forcefully twist the ligaments and small muscles and tendons, you can cause tissue damage. Therefore, it is always safest not to crack your knuckles; or, to use only distraction (a straight pull down on the digits in proper alignment). And I never advise anyone to attempt to self-adjust their own back or neck, because this can cause great harm when performed incorrectly.

For those who feel you have mastered self-manipulation, you are misguided. It takes skill to properly release a stuck motion segment (hypomobile). What happens is that people mistakenly believe that any sounds, pops or cracks equate to a successful adjustment. This is false. The hypermobile motion segments, due to the hypomobility, are already moving too much, and this is what gets a small release when someone moves the neck or back a certain way. This causes the body to release small amounts of endorphins (natural painkillers) and the person gets relief for a few minutes and then the process must be continually repeated. When you visit the chiropractor and he skilfully restores the motion to the segments that are not moving, these hypermobile self-adjusting tendencies will eventually cease.

Misalignment in the spine results in certain vertebrae lacking movement or “getting stuck”. Proper joint mobility is critical for a healthy spine. Chiropractic adjustments restore proper motion and allow the nervous system to flow as it was intended to. These adjustments cannot be self-administered and can be damaging if not performed by a trained, experienced and skilled chiropractor.

Don’t forget to “Ask Your Chiropractor” every week where your questions may be published and answered in subsequent articles. Address questions to: Dr Chris Davis, the Spinal Mechanic at movethebone@gmail.com; or, Dr Michael Harvey, director, at dr.michael_harvey@yahoo.com. Visit their website at www.drharveychiropractic.com