Cracking Knuckles

From the Daily Ask SAM Column in the Winston-Salem Journal:

Q. Will cracking my knuckles cause arthritis later in life? - C.H.

A. "Depending on your point of view, knuckle-popping sounds disgusting or cool. There is no evidence that cracking your knuckles inflames the joints and leads to arthritis," according to www.mywebmd.com, a medical reference Web site.

"The cracking causes the bones to pull apart, forming a gas bubble and breaking the adhesive seal in the joint. Crack! About a quarter of the people in the U.S. crack their knuckles and might begin to lose their grip a little. Constant cracking can weaken the fingers."