Cracking joints!

[Helpmechooseausername]

Is it just my imagination or do loads of people now feel the need to crack their joints in public?! Urgh. It seems to me that people have always cracked their knuckles a bit, but it seems to be ok now to crack all your knuckles really loudly, or, even worse, to crack your back by twisting round on a chair. I was recently at an awards evening and the couple in front of me cracked their backs really loudly a few times throughout the hour we were there.

I'm not a clicky person - can just about do my knuckles if I try. Don't think I've ever cracked my back. Maybe I'm jealous, but actually I think I just absolutely hate it!! Anyone else?

YANBU

But I thought this was going to be about your spliff rolling skills 😁

I'm a cracker, but not in public!! There's only one knuckle that I do on autopilot- index finger on my right hand gets so locked i only have to push it with my thumb without thinking

Also only one shoulder cracks and one (the opposite!) elbow. I love a good twisted back crack but I cannot imagine doing that in public. Weirdos. It's like farting, no one else wants to hear it no matter how satisfying you find it!

😂 as I posted it I wondered if anyone would think that!! Thanks 😂

Yes psycho!! Just like farting in public! So glad it's not just me!

I’ve been a teacher for years and in the last 3 or so, children have started cracking their backs in lessons. I didn’t even know it was a thing before that.

No, I've only noticed it in the last few years as well! It's so grim! What's going on?!

I blame social media (although I started back cracking around 15 years ago so don't count myself in this). Viral chiropodists posting (amazing) loud cracks are really popular

The thing about it is once you start, it becomes easier to do again. My first back crack was an accident - I woke up on my side and rolled over only the top half of my body, and my spine gave me the most satisfying clonk. Like an addict on crack (pardon the pun), you end up trying to recreate that first high.

On the flip side, I think once you've cracked a joint for the first time, the more you 'need' to to feel normal. Sometimes I get pain or stiffness, but more often than not I feel 'itchy' in the joint, and it needs to be cracked to release it.

The simple answer is don't start crack I guess. Just say no, kids!

My adult DD has to regularly crack many of her joints to be comfortable and not dislocated as she is very hyper mobile with scoliosis. So she just does it throughout the day. I think people can be grossed out by it but the family are all used to it now. Her joints pop in and out all the time. I feel sorry that she has to do it so regularly to just function/sit comfortably etc. she was bullied about it at school.

Oh I'm sorry to hear your DD was bullied for it - that's awful! I do understand that some people need to do it for medical reasons but it seems to be everywhere! I would never say anything, I just sit there cringing!

My back and neck crack pretty much whenever I move - I don't even try to do it!

In before the person who maintains it causes arthritis... They'll be along soon.