Why Your Knees Pop: Causes and Remedies

We affiliate cracking and snapping sounds with breaking, so it’s comprehensible {that a} noisy knee may provide you with pause or make you surprise, “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 doubtlessly regarding.

That can assist you higher perceive the symphonic vary of your knees, we spoke with a couple of medical consultants to get their tackle knee popping, when to see a physician, 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 below are among the commonest culprits:

1. Fuel bubbles

“Regular popping and snapping might be from the creation of detrimental strain in a joint, which causes fuel bubbles to type, leading to that typically cringeworthy noise that you just 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 commonest in your knuckles, however it may possibly 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 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 group doctor for the Los Angeles Clippers.

“Knee popping can come from inside or outdoors the joint,” he explains. “Contained in the joint, the popping could also be attributable to irregular cartilage surfaces rubbing or articulating in opposition to one another. Exterior the joint, there are tendons that may develop into tight and infected, which may transfer and pop over different surrounding constructions.”

In lots of circumstances, relaxation, ice, and over-the-counter anti-inflammatory treatment may also help alleviate signs, however a physician 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 — often attributable to aggressive twisting and rotation, deep bending, or joint degeneration — chances are you’ll expertise knee popping in addition to a sense of locking or instability, ache, swelling, and issue bending and straightening the knee.

A health care provider 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 beneficial. Bodily remedy might also be beneficial.

4. Plica syndrome

Frequent 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. 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 power 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 could reply to relaxation, ice, elevation, and avoidance of the exercise inflicting the ache.”

Relying in your particular situation, your healthcare supplier could 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, reminiscent of 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 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 often trigger for concern. Do verify with a physician if you happen to 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.

Suggestions 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 below are some methods to safeguard your knees:

1. Keep a wholesome weight

That is the very first thing most physicians will inform you. “Your knees really feel 4 further kilos of joint reactive pressure 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 influence

Excessive-impact actions that pound on the joints, like working and leaping, can exacerbate knee ache and even worsen circumstances like osteoarthritis, in line 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 power coaching

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

“Maintaining the quad muscular tissues robust across the knee will assist sufferers tolerate the signs of arthritis a lot better,” he says. “Individuals who have very robust legs will tolerate a really worn-out joint a lot better than a sofa potato.”

4. Focus in your type

Whereas train may also help knee ache, be sure to progress your weight step by step and ensure your type is on level when squatting or lunging.

“Lifting heavy weights with dangerous 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 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 may also help maintain your knees useful and feeling good.