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From: sadoyama@PAVEPAWS.BERKELEY.EDU (Eric Sadoyama)
Newsgroups: net.bio,net.sci
Subject: Knuckle-cracking : how does it work?
Message-ID: <8605122124.AA05252@pavepaws>
Date: Mon, 12-May-86 17:24:04 EDT
Article-I.D.: pavepaws.8605122124.AA05252
Posted: Mon May 12 17:24:04 1986
Date-Received: Wed, 14-May-86 12:37:41 EDT
Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU
Reply-To: pavepaws!sadoyama (Eric Sadoyama)
Organization: University of California, Berkeley
Lines: 12
Keywords: Why is the noise so loud? And why does it feel so good?
Xref: watmath net.bio:472 net.sci:837

This has been bugging me for months.

I often `crack' my joints -- not just knuckles, but toes, elbows, knees,
and especially my neck and spinal vertebrae. The resulting noise is 
startling. I do it because it relieves tension in my joints (or at least
it feels that way).

What makes the noise? And why would this relieve tension? Also, is this
(as my mother repeatedly told me) bad for the joints and will it cause
any problems?

Please MAIL responses to me and I will summarize for the net. Thanks.