We affiliate cracking and snapping sounds with breaking, so it’s comprehensible {that a} noisy knee would possibly offer you pause or make you surprise, “Why does my knee pop?”
Sadly, there’s no single definitive reply. Knee popping is quite common and happens for quite a few causes, starting from comparatively benign to probably regarding.
That can assist you higher perceive the symphonic vary of your knees, we spoke with a couple of medical specialists to get their tackle knee popping, when to see a physician, and how you 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 below are a number of the most typical culprits:
1. Fuel bubbles
“Regular popping and snapping could be from the creation of damaging strain in a joint, which causes gasoline bubbles to kind, leading to that typically cringeworthy noise that you just hear,” says Dr. Timothy Gibson, MD, orthopedic surgeon and medical director of the MemorialCare Joint Alternative Heart at Orange Coast Medical Heart in Fountain Valley, California.
“This phenomenon is most typical in your knuckles, however it might probably additionally happen within the knees,” he explains. Fuel bubbles are sometimes painless and never regarding.
2. Tissue motion
It’s doable that knee cracking may very well be attributable to friction between the assorted buildings 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 as a consequence of irregular cartilage surfaces rubbing or articulating towards one another. Outdoors the joint, there are tendons that may turn into tight and infected, which might transfer and pop over different surrounding buildings.”
In lots of instances, relaxation, ice, and over-the-counter anti-inflammatory treatment will help alleviate signs, however a physician ought to consider any important knee ache or swelling.
3. Meniscus tears
The meniscus is a bit of cartilage within the knee that gives cushioning and stability. When it’s torn — often as a consequence of aggressive twisting and rotation, deep bending, or joint degeneration — chances are you’ll expertise knee popping in addition to a sense of locking or instability, ache, swelling, and problem bending and straightening the knee.
A health care provider 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 instances, relaxation, ice, and over-the-counter treatment are advisable. Bodily remedy can also be advisable.
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 Alternative, Mercy Medical Heart 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 instances, 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 therapies together with cortisone or lubricant injections.
Remedies for Knee Popping and Snapping
“Knees that have painless popping and snapping are often 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 advocate a number of of the next therapies.
1. Bodily remedy
“Bodily remedy can typically 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 quickly,” says Dr. Gibson. “Biologic injections, comparable 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, as a consequence of a meniscus or cartilage tear, is usually 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 often trigger for concern. Do verify with a physician in case you 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, advocate additional testing (e.g., an MRI), and prescribe the suitable therapy.
Suggestions for Wholesome Knees
“One of the simplest ways to take care of wholesome knees is to keep away from injuring them within the first place,” Dr. Gibson says. Listed below are some methods to safeguard your knees:
1. Preserve a wholesome weight
That is the very first thing most physicians will inform you. “Your knees really feel 4 extra kilos of joint reactive power with every extra pound of physique weight,” Dr. Gibson says. Retaining your weight inside a wholesome vary will reduce the load in your joints and assist scale back put on and tear.
2. Go low influence
Excessive-impact actions that pound on the joints, like operating and leaping, can exacerbate knee ache and even worsen circumstances like osteoarthritis, in line with Dr. Ciotola.
“Most arthritis is genetic, however you may 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
Energy coaching gives numerous advantages, however particularly increase the muscle groups round your knee might assist mitigate joint ache related to lack of cartilage, says Dr. Ciotola.
“Retaining the quad muscle groups robust across the knee will assist sufferers tolerate the signs of arthritis a lot better,” he says. “Individuals who have very robust legs will tolerate a really worn-out joint a lot better than a sofa potato.”
4. Focus in your kind
Whereas train will help knee ache, be sure 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 establish muscle imbalances and defective motion patterns that, over time, can result in accidents. Stretches, mobility work, and strengthening workouts will help hold your knees useful and feeling good.
