Snap Crackle Pop “Time for Tea” by Celia Klassen

Popping joints, often referred to as joint cracking or crepitus, is a common phenomenon that often draws curiosity and concern. While the sound of joints popping can be surprising, it is generally harmless and can be understood through a combination of anatomical and physiological mechanisms.
So, what is actually happening? When you bend or stretch a joint, pressure changes can cause gas bubbles to form in the joint’s synovial fluid. Then the bubbles burst, you hear a cracking sound. This is called crepitus. Joint cracking is usually harmless, especially if it’s not accompanied by pain. Scientists don’t actually know however, why the sound is so loud. Cracking joints “could get as loud as 83 decibels, which is the equivalent of a garbage disposal or a diesel truck rolling along at 40 miles per hour”. Although it seems louder when it’s inside your own body, particularly if it’s your neck, near your ears, it might not seem quite that loud to others.
The fluid that lubricates the joint is called the synovial fluid and gas bubbles can form in it just like any other fluid. The fluid contains oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide. When the joint is stretched or manipulated, the pressure in the joint capsule changes, leading to the formation of these bubbles. When the pressure is equalized, the bubbles collapse, resulting in the characteristic popping sound.
Most commonly, people “pop” their knuckles, neck or back. Knuckle cracking is often the subject of attention, especially in social situations. Many people engage in this behavior to the tune of “don’t do that, you’ll get arthritis”. The “cracking” can be out of habit or to relieve tension. There is no scientific evidence linking this practice to joint damage or arthritis.
The act of popping joints can also have a psychological component. Individuals report feeling a sense of relief or to relieve tension. The feeling could feel addictive for several reasons. The sound and sensation of cracking joints can provide immediate relief and a feeling of satisfaction, which encourages the behavior. It may also trigger the release of endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers, leading to a pleasurable feeling.
Others find that popping their joints helps reduce tension or stress, making it a repetitive behavior when they feel anxious or tense. If done frequently, it can become a habitual response to certain situations or feelings, which then reinforces the behavior over time.
I have my own personal opinion on why it’s addictive. I think if you do it enough, you get used to the feeling of gas-bubble-free joints, and then when you get a bubble it feels foreign and the more you’re bubble-free, the more you notice when the bubble comes. Once you become more sensitive to the feeling and it begins to feel painful when you don’t pop it.
Knowledge about the body’s functions and responses can empower individuals to differentiate between normal love practices and those needing a closer look. Healthy habits related to joint care, including proper exercise, nutrition and hydration contributes to overall joint health.