Joints pop because gas bubbles shift in joint fluid or tendons snap over bone. It is usually harmless unless it hurts.
Why
- Gas bubbles in joint fluid bursting.
- Tendons or ligaments snapping over bone.
- Rough cartilage.
Is it harmful
Painless popping is generally harmless.
Concerning
Popping with pain, swelling or locking can mean injury or arthritis.
Frequency
Common in people with hypermobile joints.
What helps
Strengthen the muscles around joints.
See a doctor
If pain develops.
Types of joint sounds
Joint popping (crepitus) results from gas bubbles in the synovial fluid, tendons sliding over bone and rough cartilage. It’s very common and often painless. A study of 3,000 people in Arthritis Research and Therapy found that crepitus was reported by about 38 percent of adults in some surveys.
- Hypermobility, such as in Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, can cause frequent popping and subluxations.
- Weak supporting muscles can let joints shift.
- Osteoarthritis may cause grinding with stiffness.
Is it harmful
Painless popping has not been shown to cause arthritis. Pain, swelling, locking or catching suggests injury or disease. Strength training for muscles around the joints, regular movement and a healthy weight help. See a doctor for popping after injury, with pain or swelling, or with unexplained fatigue and rashes. Physical therapy evaluates movement patterns and suggests exercises.
Types of joint sounds
Popping or cracking (crepitus) can be gas bubbles in joint fluid, tendons gliding over bone, or rough cartilage. Painless popping is common and usually benign. Hypermobility can increase noises.
Is it harmful
Studies have not linked painless popping to arthritis. See a doctor if pops come with pain, swelling, locking or instability. Strengthening muscles around the joints supports them.
What produces joint noise
Cavitation: pressure drops produce gas bubbles in synovial fluid. Snapping tendons occur at the hip, knee and shoulder. Hypermobility spectrum disorders, which affect 2 to 5 percent of people, increase noise. In knees, crepitus appears with patellofemoral pain. A 2017 study of adults found crepitus in 38 percent of those without knee pain.
Management
Strength training of surrounding muscles stabilizes joints. Maintain a healthy weight, since each pound of body weight is about four pounds of knee load. Seek care if joint noise is accompanied by swelling, warmth, locking or pain, since these can indicate osteoarthritis, inflammatory arthritis or meniscus injury. Rheumatologists test for markers like rheumatoid factor if inflammation is suspected.
Based on data from the Arthritis Foundation and the American College of Rheumatology
