We affiliate cracking and snapping sounds with breaking, so it’s comprehensible {that a} noisy knee would possibly 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 various causes, starting from comparatively benign to doubtlessly regarding.

That can assist you higher perceive the symphonic vary of your knees, we spoke with a number of medical specialists to get their tackle knee popping, when to see a health care provider, and the right way to preserve 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 commonest culprits:

1. Fuel bubbles

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

“This phenomenon is commonest in your knuckles, however it will probably additionally happen within the knees,” he explains. Fuel bubbles are usually painless and never regarding.

2. Tissue motion

It’s potential 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 workforce 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 because of irregular cartilage surfaces rubbing or articulating in opposition to one another. Outdoors 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 circumstances, relaxation, ice, and over-the-counter anti-inflammatory treatment will help alleviate signs, however a health care provider 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 — normally because 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 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 additionally 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 Alternative, 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 therapies together with cortisone or lubricant injections.

Remedies for Knee Popping and Snapping

“Knees that have painless popping and snapping are normally regular and don’t want any remedy,” 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 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 quickly,” says Dr. Gibson. “Biologic injections, corresponding 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, because 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 normally trigger for concern. Do verify with a health care provider for those who 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 remedy.

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 further kilos of joint reactive pressure with every further pound of physique weight,” Dr. Gibson says. Holding 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 working and leaping, can exacerbate knee ache and even worsen circumstances like osteoarthritis, in keeping 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 preserve you match with out damaging your joints.

3. Don’t skimp on energy coaching

Power coaching affords numerous advantages, however particularly increase the muscular tissues round your knee might assist mitigate joint ache related to lack of cartilage, says Dr. Ciotola.

“Holding the quad muscular tissues 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 type

Whereas train will help knee ache, be sure that 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 remedy. 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 will help preserve your knees practical and feeling good.