Stress Relieving Squish

Like many, I am guilty of cracking my fingers. Everyday, the behaviour is intermittent; under pressure it becomes frequent, habitual, and a source of stress relief. Although the prevailing clinical evidence does not support the common belief that knuckle-cracking causes arthritis, it is still a habit that I desperately want to break.

Technology has allowed us to observe the mystery behind the audible “pop” that so often escapes our fingers, backs, and necks. Real-time Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) shows that the sound is caused by air bubbles in the synovial fluid – the lubricating fluid that fills the space between your bones – popping. This observation of the collapse of gas bubbles in the synovial joint further supports that the sound is not a signal of cartilage or mechanical destruction. However, forceful manipulations that elicit pain and/or swelling should be avoided 100%.

Nonetheless, the loud cracks, looks of surprise from people, and problematic reliance on the habit as a stress relief is enough for me to want to break the habit, and here’s how I’m doing it.

My approach is to replace the action of squeezing and pulling at my joints with another satisfying and physically engaging action. That substitution has been a very satisfying squeeze of my stress ball, the Schylling NeeDoh Gumdrop. Whenever the urge to crack my fingers appears – particularly during times of work-related anxiety and stress – I reach for the palm sized, malleable toy and its “super solid squish”. One long squeeze takes away the immediate urge; and more than 10-seconds of squeezing starts to feel like a hand massage.

I find the Gumdrop's balance of firmness and malleability far more effective than a typical foam stress ball, and if you would love to experience the total relief it offers, you can find it here on Amazon and other online retailers.