<s>[INST] Can cracking knuckles cause arthritis? [/INST] If you're suffering from osteoarthritis in your hands, it certainly has nothing to do with this nervous tic. One study at the former Mount Carmel Mercy Hospital in Detroit compared people who had been chronic knuckle crackers for decades with others who always left their hands alone—and found no difference in the incidence of osteoarthritis between the two groups. But there are reasons to stop this annoying habit: The same study found that knuckle crackers are likelier to have weaker grip strength and greater hand swelling, both of which can limit dexterity. Turn your nervous energy into a less harmful habit that occupies your hands, such as doodling. Most important, get to the bottom of what's causing your nervousness in the first place—you may crack your knuckles more often at work than at home, for example—and address those sources directly. Source: Prevention. Link: https://www.prevention.com/health/a20469909/answers-to-your-arthritis-questions/. Field: Rheumatology. Disease: Arthritis </s>