Do your knees occasionally crack when you go down the stairs? Or maybe you are a habitual knuckle cracker, popping the joints in your fingers frequently. Noisy joints are usually harmless, but what causes the chorus of sounds your joints can make? And what should you do if your popping joints are accompanied by pain or swelling?
Why Joint Popping Happens
You may have noticed that joints can make a variety of noises, including popping, cracking and snapping. Also called crepitus, this can happen for different reasons:
- Gasses and bubbles: Your joints are surrounded by a liquid called synovial fluid, which acts as a lubricant. This fluid contains nitrogen, oxygen and carbon dioxide gasses. Nitrogen bubbles can form in the joint space, and stretching or bending can cause the bubbles to pop, resulting in a popping or cracking sound.
- Movement of tendons and ligaments: Joint movement causes the tendon’s position to change, putting it slightly out of place. When the tendon goes back into position, you may hear a snapping sound. Ligaments can also tighten as you move your joints, resulting in a cracking sound.
- Arthritis: Cartilage usually acts like a cushion for your joints. But when a joint’s cartilage breaks down due to arthritis, bones can grind together or bump against each other, causing cracking sounds.
Joint popping or cracking can occur in many different parts of the body, including the knees, hips, shoulders, neck and spine. Popping in your knees when going up and down stairs is quite common.
While in most cases, popping joints are not cause for concern, if the joints are painful or swollen, it could be a sign of a problem, such as arthritis or torn or frayed cartilage. Make an appointment with your healthcare provider if you have frequent joint popping accompanied by pain, swelling or other symptoms.
Is Knuckle Cracking Bad for Your Joints?
So, if joint popping isn’t usually a sign of a problem, is it bad for you if you do it intentionally? Although you may have heard that cracking the knuckles in your fingers can lead to joint problems, studies have shown that knuckle cracking doesn’t raise your risk for arthritis. In general, cracking your knuckles is not believed to be harmful, although some studies have found repeated cracking associated with soft tissue damage.
The sound that results from cracking your knuckles happens when the space between your finger joints increases, causing gas bubbles to burst. If you’ve ever wondered why you usually can’t crack the same knuckle more than once right away, the reason is simple. After you crack your knuckles, it takes time for bubbles to form again.
Even though cracking your knuckles doesn’t lead to arthritis, there may still be good reasons to avoid developing this habit (besides annoying the people around you). Some studies have shown that, over time, cracking the joints in your fingers can lead to reduced grip strength.
The bottom line: while popping joints are usually not a reason to worry, if other symptoms are present, it’s best to get checked out by your doctor.
More to Read
- Osteoarthritis Treatments: Today and Tomorrow
- Osteoarthritis: 5 Foods to Eat and 5 to Avoid to Help Control Your Symptoms
- 6 Ways Arthritis Puts Pressure on Your Health
- Anti-Inflammatory Diet Helps Prevent or Reverse Metabolic Syndrome
Medically reviewed by Natalie Chilaka, MD.
