We affiliate cracking and snapping sounds with breaking, so it’s comprehensible {that a} noisy knee may provide you with pause or make you marvel, “Why does my knee pop?”

Sadly, there’s no single definitive reply. Knee popping is quite common and happens for plenty of causes, starting from comparatively benign to probably regarding.

That can assist you higher perceive the symphonic vary of your knees, we spoke with just a few medical specialists to get their tackle knee popping, when to see a physician, and how one can hold your knees wholesome.

What Causes Knee Popping or Snapping?

The sensations and sounds of knee popping, clicking, or snapping have numerous causes. Listed here are a number of the most typical culprits:

1. Gasoline bubbles

“Regular popping and snapping may be from the creation of adverse stress in a joint, which causes fuel bubbles to kind, leading to that generally cringeworthy noise that you simply hear,” says Dr. Timothy Gibson, MD, orthopedic surgeon and medical director of the MemorialCare Joint Substitute Middle at Orange Coast Medical Middle in Fountain Valley, California.

“This phenomenon is most typical in your knuckles, however it may possibly additionally happen within the knees,” he explains. Gasoline bubbles are sometimes painless and never regarding.

2. Tissue motion

It’s attainable that knee cracking could possibly be brought on by friction between the varied constructions of your knee, says Dr. Steve Yoon, MD, director of The Regenerative Sports activities and Joint Clinic at Cedars-Sinai Kerlan-Jobe Institute in Los Angeles, California, and head group doctor for the Los Angeles Clippers.

“Knee popping can come from inside or exterior the joint,” he explains. “Contained in the joint, the popping could also be attributable to irregular cartilage surfaces rubbing or articulating in opposition to one another. Exterior the joint, there are tendons that may turn into tight and infected, which may transfer and pop over different surrounding constructions.”

In lots of circumstances, relaxation, ice, and over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medicine might help alleviate signs, however a physician ought to consider any important knee ache or swelling.

3. Meniscus tears

The meniscus is a chunk of cartilage within the knee that gives cushioning and stability. When it’s torn — normally attributable to aggressive twisting and rotation, deep bending, or joint degeneration — you might expertise knee popping in addition to a sense of locking or instability, ache, swelling, and issue bending and straightening the knee.

A physician ought to consider a meniscus tear. “Meniscus or cartilage tears are sometimes handled with arthroscopic or microsurgery to take away a broken or torn piece of tissue,” Dr. Gibson says.

In some circumstances, relaxation, ice, and over-the-counter medicine are really helpful. Bodily remedy may be really helpful.

4. Plica syndrome

Widespread amongst runners and athletes, plica syndrome can result in knee clicking and popping, says Dr. Joseph J. Ciotola, MD, an orthopedic surgeon at Orthopedics and Joint Substitute, Mercy Medical Middle in Baltimore. “A plica is an infolding of the liner of the knee, and it will get caught between the kneecap and the femur bone,” he says.

In some circumstances, the ensuing knee popping is painless and never a trigger for concern. Nevertheless, if the knee turns into infected, arthroscopic surgical procedure could also be required to trim or take away the tissue.

5. Arthritis

Dr. Ciotola says that knee crepitus, which is a crunching or crackling (just like the sound of crumpling a plastic bag), could also be an early signal of osteoarthritis, a situation that causes cartilage deterioration.

Osteoarthritis is a persistent however manageable situation, with remedies together with cortisone or lubricant injections.

Therapies for Knee Popping and Snapping

“Knees that have painless popping and snapping are normally regular and don’t want any therapy,” says Dr. Gibson. “Painful knee popping might reply to relaxation, ice, elevation, and avoidance of the exercise inflicting the ache.”

Relying in your particular situation, your healthcare supplier might suggest a number of of the next remedies.

1. Bodily remedy

“Bodily remedy can generally assist by strengthening the muscle surrounding the painful, noisy knee,” Dr. Gibson says.

2. Injections

Steroid or a gelatinous hyaluronic acid injection “can lubricate the joint and assist briefly,” says Dr. Gibson. “Biologic injections, equivalent to stem cells, are being utilized by some, however are nonetheless investigational and are very costly.”

3. Surgical procedure

“Mechanical locking and catching of a knee, attributable to a meniscus or cartilage tear, is commonly handled with arthroscopic or microsurgery to take away a broken or torn piece of tissue,” Dr. Gibson says.

When Ought to I Fear About Noisy Joints?

Knee popping by itself isn’t normally trigger for concern. Do verify with a physician if you happen to expertise ongoing:

• Discomfort or ache that doesn’t go away or worsens over time
• Swelling
• Mechanical locking of the knee

A medical skilled can conduct a bodily examination, suggest additional testing (e.g., an MRI), and prescribe the suitable therapy.

Suggestions for Wholesome Knees

“The easiest way to keep up wholesome knees is to keep away from injuring them within the first place,” Dr. Gibson says. Listed here are some methods to safeguard your knees:

1. Keep a wholesome weight

That is the very first thing most physicians will let you know. “Your knees really feel 4 further kilos of joint reactive drive with every further pound of physique weight,” Dr. Gibson says. Retaining your weight inside a wholesome vary will reduce the load in your joints and assist cut back put on and tear.

2. Go low impression

Excessive-impact actions that pound on the joints, like working and leaping, can exacerbate knee ache and even worsen situations like osteoarthritis, in keeping with Dr. Ciotola.

“Most arthritis is genetic, however you’ll be able to speed up it by beating on the joints,” he says. Low-impact train, like indoor biking or swimming, can hold you match with out damaging your joints.

3. Don’t skimp on power coaching

Power coaching presents numerous advantages, however particularly build up the muscle tissue round your knee might assist mitigate joint ache related to lack of cartilage, says Dr. Ciotola.

“Retaining the quad muscle tissue sturdy across the knee will assist sufferers tolerate the signs of arthritis a lot better,” he says. “Individuals who have very sturdy legs will tolerate a really worn-out joint a lot better than a sofa potato.”

4. Focus in your kind

Whereas train might help knee ache, be sure that to progress your weight progressively and ensure your kind is on level when squatting or lunging.

“Lifting heavy weights with dangerous kind might be the worst factor you are able to do [for your knees],” says Ciotola. “That’s only a set-up to tear down the cartilage.”

5. Get evaluated by a bodily therapist

Bodily remedy isn’t only a type of therapy. A bodily therapist can determine muscle imbalances and defective motion patterns that, over time, can result in accidents. Stretches, mobility work, and strengthening workout routines might help hold your knees practical and feeling good.