Maybe you're the kind of person who cracks your knuckles now and then (much to the dismay of fellow coworkers, friends, and family). Your mother may have warned you at some point that, in doing so, you're damaging your joints — but how much truth is there in that "old wives' tale"?

Well, going off scientific research, none. The only negative effect of cracking our joints, it appears, is that it disgusts and upsets those around us. It seems that the sound, albeit unpleasant, has absolutely no association whatsoever with joint inflammation, with universities such as Harvard and Johns Hopkins joining the list of scientific institutions that, for years, have denied that cracking one's knuckles can cause arthritis.

Previous studies alluded to the possibility that knuckle-cracking could lead to reduced grip strength or weakened joints, but a 2017 study by the University of California found that those who did click their knuckles had the same levels of swelling, ligament weakness, and physical function as those who didn't.