Why do bones and joints keep clicking?

You might have heard your knees make a ‘click’ sound when you stood up too quickly. Or maybe you’ve experienced your neck ‘popping’ when turning your head.

 

Bone and joints clicking is a common experience and in this blog, we’ll be discussing why exactly that happens.

What causes bones and joints to click?

Joint clicking tends to get more frequent as you age, which can be scary. However, bone and joints clicking in and of itself is not indicative of a health issue. Now that we’ve cleared that up, let’s look at what actually causes the clicking of bone and joints:

Gas releasing from the synovial joints-

Synovial fluid is a thick liquid that lubricates the joints and tendons. And it is the main culprit when it comes to clicking of bone and joints. It contains, among other things, carbon dioxide, oxygen and nitrogen.

 

And the pressure inside our joints changes when we stretch them beyond the normal range of motion. This creates a vacuum and forms bubbles from the gases dissolving in the fluid. As the pressure changes again, the bubbles pop, releasing the gases and producing the sound of click and crack that we are talking about today.

Ligaments and tendons moving-

Ligaments and tendons moving over each other is another reason why bone and joints keep clicking. Tendons are fibers that connect muscles and bones whereas ligaments are the tissues that connect different bones together.

 

And when they roll over each other, you hear a clicking sound. This is most common with knees and ankles. So, now you know the reason behind your knee popping or clicking when you stand!

 

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Crepitus:

Joint crepitus is defined as a popping, clicking or crackling sound that accompanies movement of a joint. This occurs as a result of friction between bone and cartilage or the fractured parts of a bone. As our cartilages become thinner with age, the popping sound increases in frequency too.

 

However, it is not proof of a problem as much as a symptom. If your clicking bone and joints are accompanied by pain and tenderness however, it is time to see a doctor.

 

These are the different conditions usually associated with these symptoms:

Osteoarthritis: 

As we’ve mentioned before, crepitus is caused by the friction between bone and cartilages. This can lead to a frayed cartilage which can be indicative of osteoarthritis.

Tendonitis: 

Tendonitis is defined as the inflammation of a tendon. Caused by the overuse of tendons and strain from sudden movements, tendonitis is characterized by the cracking or clicking of joints when you move as well as pain in those particular areas.

 

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Does cracking your knuckles cause arthritis?

As we’re talking about bone and joints clicking, we would be remiss if we didn’t mention knuckle cracking. While the habit is regarded as generally annoying, it is also accompanied by an urban myth: One that claims that cracking your knuckles causes arthritis.

 

Although this could be an effective way to stop children from cracking their knuckles, it is not exactly true. According to a paper published in 1975, cracking your knuckles doesn’t lead to arthritis.

 

This doesn’t mean you should start cracking your knuckles to your heart’s content though, as it can reduce your grip strength!

 

This remains consistent with the pattern that cracking or clicking of joints is not a health issue on its own, it is only a cause of concern when accompanied by pain and swelling.

 

If you are experiencing pain and tenderness, you should get a doctor’s opinion as soon as possible.

 

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