I’ve got my fair share of unconscious habits: running my hands through my hair, tapping my feet, pursing my lips when I’m concentrating—and, of course, cracking my knuckles. That last one is perhaps ...

Many of us have noisy joints. Knees crack on the stairs, necks pop when we stretch, and knuckles seem to crack almost on ...

Whether you love it or hate it, cracking knuckles is a common habit we've likely all done at some point. It's one of life's simple pleasures for some people, who crave the satisfying "pop" and ...

I have a routine for when I get home from work: Crack each toe, then my ankles, both knees, pelvic bone (a particularly good one), twist-crack my lower back, both shoulders, my wrists, then each and ...

I’ve got my fair share of unconscious habits: running my hands through my hair, tapping my feet, pursing my lips when I’m concentrating—and, of course, cracking my knuckles. That last one is perhaps ...

Hearing “snap, crackle, pop!” with no visible sign of the Rice Krispie trio can only mean one thing: snapping joints—likely knuckle cracking, to be more specific. Whether or not the sensation happens ...

I was seven years old when I first saw someone with severe rheumatoid arthritis. I had just met one of my grandmother’s cousins, whose swollen joints and gnarled fingers fascinated and terrified me. I ...

Joint cracking and popping, known as crepitus, is usually harmless and caused by gas bubbles, tendon movement, or tight muscles. However, persistent sounds accompanied by pain, swelling, stiffness, or ...

In some households, cracking your knuckles is a declaration of war. Whether you’re in the camp that can’t stand the sound or the one that can’t see what the fuss is about, you might be surprised to ...

Staying active is one of the best things you can do for your joints, whether they crack, pop, crunch or stay silent ...

This article was medically reviewed by M. Elaine Husni, MD, MPH, of the rheumatologic and immunologic disease department at Cleveland Clinic. I’ve got my fair share of unconscious habits: running my ...

Have you heard the old wives' tale that knuckle cracking will enlarge your knuckles? What about the one that cracking your knuckles causes arthritis? There are many beliefs about this common behavior, ...