Stretching

[beethoven2]

Does stretching/popping your fingers a lot hurt your playing, help your playing, or does nothing to affect your playing?

[fizzy]

I've gotten into the habit of popping my knuckles at the base of my fingers. I tend to do it more when I'm NOT moving my fingers very much (ie, watching tv). I haven't noticed anything bad or good from it.

For the longest time I felt guilty for popping my knuckles so much, but a doctor (who is also a pianist) said there's probably no danger in doing it.