SNAp, CRACkle, POP.
We've all experienced it -- a snap as we rotate our wrists, a crack in our knee as we go down the stairs or a pop in the neck as we turn towards one side. Our joints frequently make noise, and it's normal.
Called crepitus, snapping, cracking and popping can occur around any joint in the body for a variety of reasons.
Why crepitus happens
Noisy joints can occur for several reasons:
1. Cavitation:
Cavitation refers to a pressure gradient that can build in your joints. As a joint moves, the pressure changes and it causes a pop to occur. This is typically harmless and painless, such as when you crack your knuckles.
There is a common belief that cracking a joint will lead to arthritis, but this is not the case. Cracking a joint is not in itself harmful; however, if you feel the need to crack a joint, it may signal a problem where the joint is getting stuck in a certain position and tightening up, so you feel the need to crack to get the joint moving more fluidly.
2. Joint instability:
If there is instability or weakness around a joint, it may not be aligned properly. This can cause snapping, cracking or popping during movement as certain joint surfaces contact or tendons rub. While the sounds themselves aren't problematic, it may be beneficial to work on strengthening muscles around the joint to improve alignment and limit any unnecessary rubbing.
3. Tight muscles:
Our muscles connect to bone through tendons. When moving a joint, tendons can snap or rub across bony prominences, especially if they are tight. Muscle tension itself is not bad, it may simply be a sign you need to stretch. But if your muscles are chronically tight, repetitive and recurrent rubbing can lead to can lead to tendonitis or bursitis in certain areas.
4. Joint degeneration:
As we age, the surfaces of our joints become rougher and don't slide across each other as smoothly. Wear and tear can change how the joint and surrounding tendons and ligaments slide across each other, causing some noises during movement. This can be an early sign of osteoarthritis, but it may not warrant a trip to the doctor unless you are experiencing other new symptoms as well.
Movement and stretching encourage proper joint lubrication and limit muscle tightness, which will decrease cavitation and tendon and ligament rubbing during movement. But noisy joints can be normal and are not necessarily cause for concern unless it is accompanied by other symptoms -- let pain be your guide.
When joint noise is cause for concern
If ongoing joint noise is accompanied by:
Pain
Stiffness
Swelling
Heat
It may be a sign that there is something else going on that could warrant medical attention. Arthritis, bursitis and tendonitis are all conditions where inflammation around joints can lead to altered movement patterns and snapping, cracking and popping.
Note: If you experience a sudden pop during activity with immediate pain after OR you experience intermittent episodes of crepitus along with joint swelling and locking, it is important to see the appropriate medical provider to rule out a more serious injury, such as:
Muscle or tendon tear
Fracture
Meniscus tear
Labral tear
Experiencing concern that your joint noises may be related to an underlying problem? At FIXXED, our trained clinicians will dive in with a thorough evaluation to isolate the root cause of your symptoms. Our blend of dry needling, Graston, and cupping provides acute relief, while our performance-focused PT builds long-term resilience.
Stop letting joint pain limit your life. Book an initial evaluation today!
