Posts Tagged "joints cracking"

What is that cracking sound in my joints? Is it doing me any harm?

Posted by mark in Neck Pain Essentials |

This is a question I often get in the clinic. There are any joints that can make all kinds of cracks and pops. Some people’s knees crack when they get up out of a chair, others have shoulders that snap crackle and pop and others have hips that clunk. You may have worried about what these mean and if they are doing you any harm but the good news is that the vast majority of these noises are harmless. Let’s have a look at the differences in the cracks, clunks and pops:

The most common cracking sound is from gas in the joints. Your joints have a lubricant which is called synovial fluid; it is the ‘oil’ for your joints. In this fluid there are dissolved gases and when the joint is stretched the pressure in the capsule changes and carbon dioxide is released in the form of bubbles. The ‘crack’ you hear is from these bubbles bursting. This happens when you get an adjustment or cracking your knuckles.

Another common snapping or popping sound is that of the tendons and ligaments. When you move in a certain way these can ‘snap’ over a bony prominence which causes the snapping sound. This is common to hear in the shoulder joints. As you get older you can hear these more if your muscle mass decreases.

Another sound which you may have also heard is much like a bowl of ‘rice bubbles’ crackling in a bowl of milk at breakfast time. You may have heard this in people in their knees, shoulders or even hips. This can be from cartilage damage in the joints from an overuse injury or from an old injury. It could also be from arthritis.

As a general rule though the snap cackle and pops of your joints are not problematic. If however you are also getting pain with these noises and or swelling then definitely get these looked at. Another thing about joint cracking is not to try self manipulation. I have seen many people over the years who could crack their necks but do not recommend this. If you are doing stretches and your spine or neck happens to crack then that is fine but to wrench your own neck around to get it to crack is just looking for trouble. And for goodness sake, don’t allow your friends, neighbors, cousins, mate at the pub or a completely unknown 17 year old Thai boy on the beach crack your back and neck!

When it comes to helping your joints and their health there are a few things that you ca do to help them. You may have heard of the supplements glucosamine and chondroitin sulphate. These are two substances that are in your cartilage and synovial fluid so this may help by taking these to supplement your joints. However, they can be great at helping some people and do nothing for others. This goes the same for all things. We are different and have different problem

If you are unsure about your particular ‘cracks or pops’ get them checked out if you are worried about them.