We affiliate cracking and snapping sounds with breaking, so it’s comprehensible {that a} noisy knee may offer you 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 quite a few causes, starting from comparatively benign to probably regarding.

That will help 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 health care provider, and the right way to maintain your knees wholesome.

What Causes Knee Popping or Snapping?

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

1. Gasoline bubbles

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

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

2. Tissue motion

It’s doable that knee cracking might be brought on by friction between the assorted 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 staff 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 towards one another. Outdoors the joint, there are tendons that may turn into tight and infected, which might transfer and pop over different surrounding constructions.”

In lots of circumstances, relaxation, ice, and over-the-counter anti-inflammatory treatment might help alleviate signs, however a health care provider ought to consider any vital 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 — often 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 problem 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 treatment are really useful. Bodily remedy may be really useful.

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 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 circumstances, the ensuing knee popping is painless and never a trigger for concern. Nonetheless, 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 continual 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 suggest 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 briefly,” says Dr. Gibson. “Biologic injections, akin 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 often trigger for concern. Do verify with a health care provider should 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.

Ideas for Wholesome Knees

“One of the best ways to take care of 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. Preserve 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. Maintaining your weight inside a wholesome vary will reduce the load in your joints and assist scale back put on and tear.

2. Go low impression

Excessive-impact actions that pound on the joints, like operating and leaping, can exacerbate knee ache and even worsen situations like osteoarthritis, in accordance with 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 maintain you match with out damaging your joints.

3. Don’t skimp on energy coaching

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

“Maintaining the quad muscle mass 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 certain that to progress your weight step by step 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 workout routines might help maintain your knees practical and feeling good.