Why joints pop

Dickson J. David Evanich Brady G. Giesler James R. Heerwagen John C. McElroy Aaron D. Schrayer Manuj C. Singhal Ian G. Wilkofsky Michael J. March 19, Blog 0. Eric Turner. Eric Turner is a content writer who has been working with Orthopedic Associates since early Eric started writing the day after he learned to read, and hasn't stopped since.

You may only notice the noise when you do certain movements or in certain joints. Through strengthening muscles around those joints, symptoms can often be relieved. Pinnacle Orthopaedics specializes in treating a range of injuries and ailments, including hip, spine, foot and ankle, and the hand and wrist. We can work with you to strengthen and stretch the muscles so you can find relief from symptoms. Orthopedic Clinic Marietta. Orthopedic Clinic Hiram.

Orthopedic Clinic Woodstock ga. Orthopedic Clinic Canton. Orthopedic Clinic East Cobb. If you have more questions about orthopaedic conditions or therapy, contact us. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your health.

Injury or inflammation to the tendon or the areas around tendons, such as tendinitis or tennis elbow , bursitis , or tenosynovitis, are sometimes accompanied by popping sounds. There is currently no evidence to suggest that regular knuckle cracking causes injury to joints. In some rare cases, knuckle cracking may result in dislocation or thickening over a joint, which is known as a knuckle pad.

In one old study from , 74 participants who regularly cracked their knuckles had a joint injury. There was no difference in cases of arthritis between the knuckle cracking group and the control group. A more recent study assessed the finger joints of 40 people, including 30 who habitually cracked their knuckles. The researchers found no adverse effects of knuckle cracking.

They did find that the habitual knuckle crackers had slightly more range of motion. Loss of knuckle-cracking ability can be a side effect of the condition called hyperparathyroidism, which results from chronic kidney disease , according to one study. While the effectiveness of the chiropractic practice called subluxation is still a matter of study , it is a common technique that chiropractors use. During a chiropractic adjustment, the practitioner uses pressure to help realign joints that may be somewhat out of alignment but not dislocated.

This realignment may or may not involve a popping noise. There is no evidence that a popping joint indicates a more successful alignment. It simply occurs as a side effect of the pressure applied. It is important to differentiate between joint noise with pain and swelling and joint noise without pain. Joint noise without pain is very normal, common in healthy joints, and generally not a cause for concern.

We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Often, joint cracking can be loud — and perhaps a little disconcerting.

Creaking and snapping joints might be annoying, but they usually are nothing to worry about, says orthopedic surgeon Kim L. Stearns, MD. But if the constant cracking is coupled with consistent pain or swelling, that can be a sign that something is wrong.

Stearns says. Many people notice that their joints seem to make more noise as they get older.