Why do some of my joints and bones make weird, cracking sounds?
Our body is often home to spooky noises, such as popping, cracking or creaking sounds. Have you ever wondered what they mean? Let’s bust a few myths and find out the facts, so you can understand any eerie sounds that your body makes.
Myth or Fact?
The popping or cracking sound is the joint going ‘back into place’.
Myth
This is not likely as our body is a very stable structure – the popping or cracking sounds are most likely the escape of gas being forced out of the joint capsule. Some people feel a release of pressure accompanies the sound, again this is likely linked to the release of gas.
Science
The popping or cracking sound you hear is generally an escape of gases. Synovial fluid lubricates a joint, and that synovial fluid contains a mixture of oxygen, carbon dioxide and nitrogen. Scientists believe when you crack or pop a joint, these gases are forced out of the joint capsule quickly, forming bubbles that then pop or crack. You may notice that you can’t pop or crack a joint soon afterwards, that’s because the joint capsule needs to fill back up with gas first.
Myth or Fact?
If you keep cracking your knuckles you’ll develop arthritis.
Myth
The movement of joints, tendons and ligaments can cause a snapping or cracking sound. When a joint moves, the position of some of the soft tissues will change, and a tendon, for example, may move and snap over a bony prominence (e.g. your ankle bone). As the joint moves again, the tendon can move back into position. Sometimes our ligaments tighten as we move our joints, ready to offer stability to the joint and you may hear a cracking sound.
Myth or Fact?
Because my knees crunch when I bend them, I’m going to get OA when I’m older.
Myth
There's no science to back this up. Crepitus is the scientific name for the crunching, scraping or rough sounding noises coming from our joints as we move. You are most likely to hear this when you bend your knees. When the smooth cartilaginous bone starts to become rough due to age related wear and tear it can rub against the other joint surface, causing the crunching type sounds. Osteoarthritis develops in our joints for many reasons, and crunching sounds are not a clear indication of who will and won’t develop OA.
Are any of these sounds harmful? Generally speaking there are few sounds to worry about and it is not likely to indicate your body is being harmed when you move. However, if you are feeling pain when your joints pop or crack, or your joint locks, then you should seek advice from a health care professional, such as a physio.
If any of your joints are red, hot or swollen, that is also a time to seek advice so you can understand the best form of management.
If you'd like to make an appointment to see one of our physiotherapists, you can call the clinic on 01932 645320 or book online via this link www.physicalhealth.uk/book-online.
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