Why cracking your knuckles can be so noisy

The sound comes from the partial collapse of bubbles in joint fluid, study suggests

cracking knuckles

TOUGH TO CRACK  The peculiar noises of cracked knuckles can be explained by bubbles in the joint fluid that collapse partway, a new study reports.

Jacob Ammentorp Lund/iStockphoto

“Pop” goes the knuckle — but why?

Scientists disagree over why cracking your knuckles makes noise.