Tips to stop cracking my knuckles

I need to stop cracking my knuckles, I am only 15 and my hands are starting to hurt from it. Any tips or tricks, I'd really appreciate it. Thanks much!

From this site:
http://www.hindu.com/yw/2004/09/18/stories/2004091800450400.htm

The energy generated at the joint that you crack is about seven per cent of what is needed to damage it, but imagine the effect if joints are cracked repeatedly for years. Orthopaedicians say that bits of cartilage are torn away each time the joints are cracked. This leads to tendon swelling and joint pain similar to arthritis. Many complain that they lose the grip strength of their hands whose fingers they have been cracking habitually for years. They also complain that their finger joints ache. Many enthusiasts prefer to hide this fact but not for long.

Some knuckle-cracking enthusiasts claim that their joints pain when they do not crack them — a response similar to a withdrawal symptom.

Why risk joint aches later in life? If your joints crack when you move or bend, you need not worry. But if you plan to relish the sound and the fury of popping joints, think twice before you turn it into a habit. It may cause you grief in future.

I have no idea how to stop. I only crack my knuckles when they are sore. Cracking them makes the aching go away. Maybe you should talk to your dr or something? sorry i couldnt help too much! Angie

i have that same problem.. and econsults advice sucks because shes should have told you this way before.. lol

I don't know if it will work for you, but I used to do the same thing, and I stopped by clenching my fist instead. It was a mind over matter thing for me, whenever you go to do it, clench your fist for a second and move on to whatever you were doing. I don't know if it'll help you though, good luck!

Wow clenching your fists works for me, It kinda relaxes them... :D

i broke my finger by cracking them if i were u i would stop asap

oh my god!! you broke your finger?

I've been cracking my fingers since I was 4 because I saw my dad doing it. It's become an ocd, and I can't stop. I've tried to but if I don't I feel like something's wrong. How can I stop!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

help please give us some tips

help us please we need 2 stop???

I've Only Been Cracking My Knucklesz For A Few Months But I Do It Quite a lot Thru Out The Day..I Crack My Fingersz And My Thumb..I Also Do The Bottom Part Of My Finger...I Have No Idea Why I Started To Do It..I Just Did..How Can I Stop With Out Making Myself Look Stupid ? Btw Im 14 ..

my fingers are locking and straightening and im only 13... Its horrible... try getting a bracelet with a locket on it so if you get the urge to pop your nuckles just snap the locket... Im going to go buy a locket today... I hope that helped! (-_-)

I have a really bad habbit of cracking my knuckles too. The only way I have thought of stopping it, is when you feel a really really bad urge to crack them. . . try really hard to resist it. This way you will enventually stop this really annoying habbit. The only way to ever to stop a habbit is to say I will not let you win! Hope this helps

-I have been popping my knuckles ever since I was smaller. My hands began to grow and now I am 16 and I have boy hands because I have been popping my knuckles. Eventhough I know that they can continue to grow, I still refuse to stop. I continue to do it and I have noticed that I pop my knuckles a lot when I am bored and I am not doing anything. So today I have decided to come on the internet and reserch on how can I stop. I really want to stop this habbit because it will not go away.!

hey I am a hard core knuckle popper...I do it in my sleep I'm told...my knuckles are kinda big and swollen over years of popping...even my rings wont slip thro' anymore...think illl really use some will power and break that awful habit...like someone mentioned hold a pencil or make tight fists.Wish me luck...

I have been cracking my knuckles for some time now. I am no longer able to wear rings because my fingers are too fat and swollen for the rings to pass. it makes me sad to think about but I just cant seem to stop! whenever I think about cracking my knuckles I suddenly have an urge to do it. I am really trying to resist, make fists and hopefully end my bad habit.