Ask the Doctor: Is it safe to crack your knuckles?

KSDK -- For some of us, it's a nervous habit, others an occasional tic.

"It's just a mental thing. There's a compulsion to do something and they tend to crack their knuckles," explained Dr. Srinivasan Raghavan, an Internal Medicine and Geriatric Specialist at St. Anthony's Medical Center.

There are side effects, but the myth about arthritis is unfounded.

"It does not cause more damage by arthritis, as is normally believed," Raghavan said. Studies show cracking your knuckles can reduce grip strength over time.

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What is it in our hands that cause the pop?

Our knuckles are covered by a joint capsule full of fluids. When we pull on our knuckles, the capsule stretches, creating a bubble that then bursts, creating the sound.

"You can't crack your knuckles again for another 15 or 20 minutes because the gas is slowly being reabsorbed," Raghavan said.

If you can't quit cracking, doctors say you should address the bigger issue.

"If it's becoming a major problem, try to find out the cause behind it. Why are they doing it? Are they very anxious, is anxiety a problem? Try to address the problem behind this," Raghavan said. "It's probably best not to do it, for the grip strength."

Knuckles do feel looser immediately after cracking, but doctors still advise against the habit.