Why do joints pop

Stearns says his patients ask him about them just about every day. There are a few reasons why your joints snap and crack.

This sound usually indicates that a muscle is tight, and is rubbing and causing friction around the bone, Dr. The sound also could be coming from tendons rubbing over the bone. When you crack your knuckles, the sound is coming from the compression of nitrogen bubbles that naturally occur in the spaces of the joints, Dr. The cracking is the sound of gas being released from the joint, an action called cavitation, Dr. The sound is not a cause for concern. You will probably have heard in childhood that if you crack your joints, you will give yourself arthritis.

Several studies have shown that this is not true. One researcher was so dedicated to seeing if joint popping caused arthritis that he cracked his knuckles on one hand for 60 years.

Subsequent imaging demonstrated that neither hand showed any sign of joint disease. Sometimes, there is an anatomical cause for the noise. This happens when tendons tissue structures that connect muscles to bone are moved over bony protrusions, and then quickly snap back into place. This noise is commonly heard in the knee when moving from a seated to a standing position, or when climbing the stairs as the tendons that cross the knee move over the joint.

This increasingly occurs with ageing, as our muscles lose elasticity and decrease in size and strength. At the same time, changes occur in their tendons, which makes them stiffer. These changes contribute to the noises generated as these tissues come into contact with bone. When to seek care. The bottom line. Read this next.

What Causes Your Ankle to Pop? Knee Noise: Crepitus and Popping Explained. Medically reviewed by Brenda B. Spriggs, M. Medically reviewed by Harshil Matta, DO. All About Stress Fractures of the Shin. Medically reviewed by Angela M. Medically reviewed by Kevin Martinez, M. Medically reviewed by Elaine K. In some cases, ligaments or tendons make snapping sounds as they move around the bone or over each other.

This can occur because our muscles and soft tissues are too tight, or because they become less elastic with age. Neck crepitus is usually painless and rarely represents anything serious. However, if crepitus occurs with pain or other troubling symptoms, schedule a visit with your doctor.

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