Why do your knuckles pop? - Eleanor Nelsen
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37,142 Questions Answered
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Some people love the feeling of cracking their knuckles, while others cringe at the sound. But what causes that trademark pop? And is it dangerous? Eleanor Nelsen gives the facts behind joint popping.
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Meet The Creators
- Director Steve Belfer
- Animator James Jacob, Michelle Tessier
- Educator Eleanor Nelsen
- Sound Designer Cem Misirlioglu
- Narrator Addison Anderson
by TED-Ed
A popping joint is one of those polarizing noises: some people don't mind it, but others can't stand it. What do you think makes some sounds so unbearable to some listeners?
Comments are closed on this discussion.
Estella Hoffman
Lesson completed
Some people find it disgusting, while others find it satisfying
siwoo kim
Lesson in progress
I think the noise of joint poping is not very good.
And makes us crazy
Allen Tolle
Lesson completed
I would have to say that it is a social and physical reason as to why some people don't like some sounds.
For the social reason: I think that it is how some people are brought up (raised from childhood) by their parents. Some parents do not like the sounds and teach their children not to make them. The children then take on that attribute and thus also do not like hear the sound.
As for the physical reason: I think it might be because of the why some ears are physically. Every human is different is various ways all the way down to how our ears are formed. Some ears just might not like the way some sounds are and makes the brain interpret it as a negative feeling.
Harry Seah
, Singapore
Lesson completed
Can i ask why we cannot crack our joints in between the 20min
21612410 ë°°́œ¤í™˜
Lesson completed
Because they imagine it. Not only they can hear the sound from your body but they imagine that the sound comes out from their body. And the sound is hard to listen in daily life. So they can feel uncomfortable when they here it.
raahim memon
Lesson completed
I cannot pop my knuckles at will -- so I find the sound irritating. I have tried but I just may be squeamish about pulling my joints too far apart.
Matthiias Engsler
Lesson in progress
It's difficult to understand why anyone other than yourself finds anything pleasurable or offensive, but since so many people believe that joint cracking causes arthritis, the sound may invoke a response similarly to how "body horror" films such as the "Saw" series make people cringe from imagining the negative consequences affecting them personally.
Susan Ricker
Lesson in progress
It could be a Psychological response. The thought of what is happening biologically inside the body could worry people and cause a negative feeling about this and other noises.
Sara Barcellona
Lesson completed
Some people have auditory sensitivity. Others may be bothered by the sound because they believe the person popping their joints are causing damage to their body.
Mary Spata
Lesson completed
people who do not pop their knuckles do not like the sound because they think it hurts or that it will result in arthritis - it is an unnatural sound
