Whether you’re a habitual knuckle-cracker or your joints pop on their own accord, it’s important to know what’s causing your joints to make noise and when to be alarmed. “It’s normal for joints to make cracking and popping sounds from time to time,” says Michael Kralovec, MD, orthopedic surgeon and clinical director of the Franciscan Health Center for Joint Surgery in Munster. “It’s nothing to be concerned about if it’s not painful.” However, if your noisy joints cause a burst of pain each time they crack or pop, it’s time to talk with a doctor. Dull aching after joint pops can also mean that something is wrong. What Causes Painful Noisy Joints? Knuckles, ankles, knees, hips and shoulder joints can occasionally be noisy. It can happen while waking up, working out, stretching, or as you stand. Natural-occurring nitrogen gas bubbles in your joints, pop and will cause a loud cracking noise. Whenyour joints pop, or crackwithaccompanying pain, arthritis is the most common cause. Arthritis is a condition in which the cartilage covering the ends of the bones begins to wear away, exposing the bare bone underneath the cartilage. The bare bone causes a painful grinding sensation and can even lead to “bone on bone” degeneration. According to the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, almost 25 per cent of all adults, roughly 58.5 million people, have arthritis. The older you get, the more likely you are to have arthritis in your joints. Managing arthritis early with lifestyle changes will help protect your joints. Another common cause for a painful and noisy knee joint is an injured meniscus, which is a Why Do My Joints Make Noise? By Franciscan Health Indiana Golf Journal
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