eli5: If cracking your knuckles is cavitating nitrogen bubbles, how does it not do more damage?

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So my dad and I have disagreed on this subject for about 10 years now. I told my dad that research shows that cracking your knuckles is cavitating the nitrogen bubbles. To which he said, “No it can’t be. that would cause a lot of damage to your body.” His point is well taken because cavitation does output a lot of energy and is notorious for destroying things (e.g. boat propellers). I crack my knuckles every day, shouldn’t my bones get destroyed like boat propellers do?

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Anonymous 0 Comments

It’s not cavitation, it’s just gas coming out of solution. Cavitation is specifically the vaporization of the liquid due to a sudden decrease in pressure. The actual fluid in your joints isnt vaporizing, just the nitrogen *in* the liquid.

It’s much more like opening a can of beer. Yes gas, no cavitation.

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