It\u2019s a normal, common occurrence, but popping with pain or swelling may be a sign of an injury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019ve all experienced it: Knees that snap when we stand up, a neck that cracks when we turn our head and ankles that pop when we rotate them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Joint cracking can be loud \u2014 like, really loud. We\u2019re talking up to 83 decibels \u2014 that\u2019s about the same volume as a running garbage disposal or a diesel truck rolling along at 40 miles per hour!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chiropractor\u00a0Andrew Bang, DC, can attest to just how loud those\u00a0joint noises\u00a0can be. \u201cWe do try to warn patients, but there are sometimes a few gasps in the office when the patient doesn\u2019t realize that it\u2019s going to be that loud,\u201d Dr. Bang says. \u201cAnd when you\u2019re the one popping, it sounds way louder than a garbage disposal, especially when it\u2019s in your neck because it\u2019s so close to your ears.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s no wonder that many people think there might be something wrong with their joints. The fact that those popping noises seem to happen more as you age can make them even more disconcerting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While creaking and snapping joints might be alarming, they usually aren\u2019t something to worry about, according to orthopaedic surgeon\u00a0Kim Stearns, MD.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a normal, common occurrence,\u201d Dr. Stearns adds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dr. Bang concurs. \u201cThe noise you\u2019re hearing is safe. It helps restore a range of motion and decrease pain.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But if the cracking\u2019s coupled with consistent\u00a0pain\u00a0or swelling, that can be a sign that something is wrong. That\u2019s the time to see a doctor, Dr. Stearns states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAs long as it\u2019s not painful, joint noise is OK,\u201d he reassures. \u201cIf there\u2019s pain, you may have an injury then that requires treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Back to video<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dr. Bang and Dr. Stearns explain that there are four reasons that your joints may make a cracking noise that aren\u2019t a sign of injury:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The most common sources of that telltale crack are synovial joints. Dr. Bang explains that in a synovial joint, the two bones are connected by a capsule or membrane. Inside that capsule is synovial fluid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat synovial fluid is like motor oil for our joints,\u201d he continues. \u201cIt provides lots of lubrication, so things are slick and move nicely.\u201d That fluid also contains oxygen, nitrogen and carbon dioxide. A popping joint stretches the capsule. \u201cIt makes that cracking sound because you\u2019re creating a negative pressure inside of that synovial joint space.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ligaments\u00a0are bands of connective tissue that connect our bones to each other. Also made of connective tissue,\u00a0tendons\u00a0facilitate the movement of our bones and help reduce the impact that movement has on our muscles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sometimes, Dr. Bang says, that snapping sound you\u2019re hearing are these ligaments and tendons rolling over each other. \u201cYou may feel that sensation in your ankle when you move it, or in your knee when you go to stand up.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It sounds like something out of a horror movie, but skin and muscle fascia separating is normal. To understand what\u2019s happening in this scenario, we need to do a quick anatomy lesson.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dr. Bang explains that we have different layers of tissue. Below our skin, we have what\u2019s called the\u00a0fascial layer. \u201cThe fascial layer is in between \u2014 and separates the skin from \u2014 muscles,\u201d he says. \u201cIt creates a lubricated protective barrier.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Take an area where you might have excess skin, like your back. Dr. Bang says, \u201cIf I were to grab that skin and lift quickly, you\u2019d actually hear a popping sound. And that sound\u2019s not your joints or ligaments. It\u2019s the skin separating from the fascia that is connected to the muscle layer. It\u2019s similar to what happens in a synovial joint: You\u2019re creating negative pressure inside of a tightly sealed area.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Many people notice that their joints seem to make more noise as they get older. There\u2019s a good reason for that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe older you get, the more noise your joints can make because some of your cartilage wears away as\u00a0part of the normal aging process,\u201d Dr. Stearns reports. \u201cThen, these surfaces get a little rougher and so you get more noise as they rub against each other.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dr. Bang agrees. \u201cAs long as it\u2019s not hurting, we usually aren\u2019t super concerned.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cracking your knuckles is an example of the most common cause of joint popping: Gas escaping from a synovial joint. When you crack your knuckles, the sound is coming from the compression of nitrogen, oxygen and carbon dioxide bubbles that naturally occur in the spaces of the joints, Dr. Stearns says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The cracking is the sound of gas being released from the joint, an action called cavitation, Dr. Stearns further explains. The sound isn\u2019t a cause for concern.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And despite what your mom said, you\u2019re not<\/em> going to make your knuckles too big or develop arthritis by cracking them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe belief that cracking your joints is bad for them is wrong,\u201d Dr. Stearns reiterates. \u201cMy mother used to tell me\u00a0don\u2019t crack your knuckles. But sorry, mom: There\u2019s no science to say it\u2019s bad for your joints.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dr. Bang concurs, but he also offers a caveat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIf you constantly<\/em> crack a joint, you\u2019ll still function fine. But feeling like you need to<\/em> crack a joint that often may signal a problem.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dr. Bang elaborates: \u201cWe feel the need to crack because the pressure builds up in the joint over time. The joint is getting stuck in one position, tightening up, so you feel like you need to crack it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you can avoid putting pressure on the joint, you won\u2019t feel like you need to crack it as often, Dr. Bang says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Cracking feels good because it increases the joint\u2019s range of motion. But if cracking your joints becomes a habit, you risk getting too much of a good thing. If your ligaments and tendons get too loose, they won\u2019t do as good a job protecting you from injury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You\u2019re never going to stop your joints from creaking entirely because it\u2019s both a function of our anatomy and an expected part of joint aging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But there are some things you can do to keep things moving smoothly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dr. Bang explains that the popping joint isn\u2019t actually what gives you pain relief: It\u2019s the quick stretching of the muscles and soft tissue fibers that surround the joints\u00a0during a chiropractic adjustment. So, it\u2019s not surprising that\u00a0exercise is one of the most important things you can do\u00a0to keep your joints healthy and happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe say \u2019motion is lotion\u2019 \u2014 the more you move, the more your body lubricates itself,\u201d Dr. Stearns shares. \u201cWhen you\u2019ve been sitting or lying around, fluid in the joints doesn\u2019t move. The more active you are, the more your joints lubricate themselves.\u201d The sounds will come and go, depending on\u00a0how you position your body when you sit\u00a0and sleep and how you use your body when you move.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That\u2019s why, in addition to staying active and stretching, you also need to\u00a0evaluate your surroundings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIf we can identify\u00a0what it is that we\u2019re doing\u00a0that puts pressure on the joint and we stop that behavior, we might not feel the need to crack our neck or our finger or whatever anymore,\u201d Dr. Bang says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You may need to\u00a0adjust your computer monitor\u00a0or hold your phone differently, or work on your posture. According to Dr. Bang,\u00a0little alterations can make a big difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are several different reasons why you might hear a pop, click or crack coming from one of your joints, none of which are cause for concern. There are only two scenarios where a popping joint requires a trip to a healthcare provider:<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you don\u2019t fall into either of those categories, then your body\u2019s soundtrack shouldn\u2019t be a source of concern. Just remember to stay active and practice good posture \u2014 that\u2019s the best way to keep your musical joints in tune.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" It\u2019s a normal, common occurrence, but popping with pain or swelling may be a sign of an injury. We\u2019ve all experienced it: Knees that snap when we stand up, a neck that cracks when we turn our head and ankles that pop when we rotate them. Joint cracking can be loud \u2014 like, really loud. We\u2019re…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2008,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_bst_post_transparent":"","_bst_post_title":"","_bst_post_layout":"","_bst_post_sidebar_id":"","_bst_post_content_style":"","_bst_post_vertical_padding":"","_bst_post_feature":"","_bst_post_feature_position":"","_bst_post_header":false,"_bst_post_footer":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[84],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2007","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\tDoes cracking your joints cause arthritis?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How to stop joints from cracking<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Snap! Crackle! Pop!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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