You know, I’m almost embarrassed to ask the questions. "I know you’re a medical doctor and you’re busy, but does tickling children cause them to stutter." "I know you’re the pit boss, and you’re responsible for watching over this area, but is someone up there pumping oxygen into the casino?" (Check back for the results of that conversation.) I know the answers before I ask the questions, but I still have to ask; it’s part of my job.

So, here’s the most recent question…"Does popping your knuckles cause arthritis?" I have been assured by Keith Scorza, a Medical Doctor in the U.S. Army, that not only does this activity not cause arthritis, but it is not likely to cause any serious medical problem at all. (Unless you count getting smacked by your mom or your spouse because it annoys them.) Various articles and websites like this one confirm that there is no connection between knuckle-popping and arthritis.

What causes that noise anyway? Well, when you crack your knuckles, you are moving your joints either into or out of their normal position. There is actually a lubricant within your joints called synovial fluid, and the noise results from the popping of gas bubbles (carbon dioxide and nitrogen) within this fluid. It takes a little while for your bones to move back to their original position as well as for the gas to absorb back into the synovial fluid, which is why you can’t immediately pop them again.

Well, that answer sufficiently takes the fun and the intrigue out of a childish, yet fun activity. Maybe we were better off not knowing. Although, maybe I should count my blessings. Some people cannot crack their knuckles at all, because their bones are too far apart.

A word of warning…It is possible to do harm to the soft tissue of your joints if you are a habitual knuckle-cracker and if you bend and pull your bones too far on a regular basis. But on the bright side…increased mobility and relaxation are also reported after joint-popping. That’s part of the reason why people like to have their backs manipulated and popped by chiropractors.

Thank-you Dr. Scorza, but I also have to ask whether it’s true that if I swallow a piece of gum, it will reside in my stomach for seven years. Nope, that’s fiction too, what a relief.