RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Knuckle Cracking and Hand Osteoarthritis JF The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine JO J Am Board Fam Med FD American Board of Family Medicine SP 169 OP 174 DO 10.3122/jabfm.2011.02.100156 VO 24 IS 2 A1 deWeber, Kevin A1 Olszewski, Mariusz A1 Ortolano, Rebecca YR 2011 UL http://www.jabfm.org/content/24/2/169.abstract AB Background: Previous studies have not shown a correlation between knuckle cracking (KC) and hand osteoarthritis (OA). However, one study showed an inverse correlation between KC and metacarpophalangeal joint OA. Methods: We conducted a retrospective case-control study among persons aged 50 to 89 years who received a radiograph of the right hand during the last 5 years. Patients had radiographically proven hand OA, and controls did not. Participants indicated frequency, duration, and details of their KC behavior and known risk factors for hand OA. Results: The prevalence of KC among 215 respondents (135 patients, 80 controls) was 20%. When examined in aggregate, the prevalence of OA in any joint was similar among those who crack knuckles (18.1%) and those who do not (21.5%; P = .548). When examined by joint type, KC was not a risk for OA in that joint. Total past duration (in years) and volume (daily frequency × years) of KC of each joint type also was not significantly correlated with OA at the respective joint. Conclusions: A history of habitual KC—including the total duration and total cumulative exposure—does not seem to be a risk factor for hand OA.