Toughen up

[Gnisy]

Does cracking your knuckles really make it harder for you to slide rings on your fingers? Or is it just misinformed imagination?

[Chessman]

I'm not an expert, but its possible that cracking your knuckles continuously, might help bring on arthritis, and the swelling that goes with it, therebye making it harder to slide rings on fingers.

[shaneystar]

There is no evidence that cracking one's knuckles can cause arthritis directly. However, repeated injury of a joint or repeatedly causing it to swell can injure the cartilage and potentially lead to degenerative joint disease.
Studies of people with osteoarthritis in their knuckles show they are no more likely to have cracked their knuckles earlier in life than people who did not develop the condition. However, the bad news is that there is some evidence that people who habitually crack their knuckles have decreased hand function, such as reduced ability to grip tightly.
I have swollen joints in my fingers from osteoarthritis..so..I cannot get any rings over my knuckles and have had to have my wedding ring cut off and I have never cracked my knuckles!!

[honkytonkman]

As far as I know, the cracking sound is made by air-pockets in the joints.

[eice164k]

i am interested in the comment about cutting off a wedding ring - I have a bedridden aunt who needs to have her wedding ring cut off - any ideas how we go about organising this as the home will not take the responsibility.