We affiliate cracking and snapping sounds with breaking, so it’s comprehensible {that a} noisy knee would possibly provide you with 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 various causes, starting from comparatively benign to doubtlessly regarding.
That can assist you higher perceive the symphonic vary of your knees, we spoke with just a few medical consultants to get their tackle knee popping, when to see a physician, and the way to 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 few of the most typical culprits:
1. Gasoline bubbles
“Regular popping and snapping will be from the creation of destructive strain in a joint, which causes fuel bubbles to type, leading to that typically cringeworthy noise that you simply 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. Gasoline bubbles are usually painless and never regarding.
2. Tissue motion
It’s attainable that knee cracking could possibly be attributable to friction between the varied 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 crew 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 in opposition to one another. Exterior the joint, there are tendons that may grow to be tight and infected, which may transfer and pop over different surrounding buildings.”
In lots of instances, relaxation, ice, and over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medicine may also help alleviate signs, however a physician ought to consider any vital 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 — you might expertise knee popping in addition to a sense of locking or instability, ache, swelling, and issue 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 medicine are really helpful. Bodily remedy might also 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 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 remedies together with cortisone or lubricant injections.
Therapies 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 suggest a number of of the next remedies.
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, 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, as a consequence of 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 often trigger for concern. Do test with a physician in the event 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, suggest additional testing (e.g., an MRI), and prescribe the suitable therapy.
Suggestions for Wholesome Knees
“One of the best ways to keep up 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 let you know. “Your knees really feel 4 extra kilos of joint reactive drive with every extra pound of physique weight,” Dr. Gibson says. Conserving 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 circumstances like osteoarthritis, in response to Dr. Ciotola.
“Most arthritis is genetic, however you possibly can 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 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.
“Conserving the quad muscle groups sturdy across the knee will assist sufferers tolerate the signs of arthritis significantly better,” he says. “Individuals who have very sturdy legs will tolerate a really worn-out joint significantly better than a sofa potato.”
4. Focus in your type
Whereas train may also help knee ache, be sure to progress your weight steadily and ensure your type is on level when squatting or lunging.
“Lifting heavy weights with unhealthy type 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 may also help hold your knees purposeful and feeling good.
