Why Are My Knees Popping?
The knee is a complex, very strong, and important joint of the body that links three bones in the leg: the femur, the tibia, and the patella. The main function of this joint includes supporting the body, bending, and straightening. Knees can deteriorate because of age or by other factors that include chronic disorders. Different kinds of arthritis are commonly known to affect the knee.
Despite age being one of the most relevant factors in this regard, it is common to hear knees cracking or popping even at an early age. Should you worry? In many cases, it is not too relevant. A repeated cracking sound when our knees bend does not necessarily indicate the existence of an injury or medical condition. Mostly, this happens due to the gas retained inside the joint. When the knees or other joints “pop” this gas is released. Another “non-harmful” cause of this repeated cracking sound can be the cartilage adjusting and rubbing other tissues when the knee moves. This sound is most likely to be noticed when squatting.
Nevertheless, if this cracking sound does not happen very often, and if it comes together with pain around the knee area, the cause could be different, and medical assessment might be necessary. Here, popping knees could be related to an injury, which could be a tear, a fracture or a strain, or a dislocation of the bone, tendons, or ligaments. Another factor that we should pay attention to is a possible detriment of the meniscus, which is a cartilage cushion that reduces friction in this area. The meniscus can be affected at any age due to aggressive knee movements, accidents, or even daily activities.
Some recommendations to take into consideration to avoid popping knees caused by serious factors include exercising. Even a low-intensity exercise like walking and stretching can prove highly beneficial in supporting our knees since strengthening the muscles around these joints will help balance the weight in this area to avoid that all of it falls on the knees’ cartilage. In this regard, you should also be careful with the amount of weight you carry or how much your body weights since this will significantly affect the functioning of the joint.
Another useful tip is lubricating your joints since fluids help them perform better. A great way to generate them is through exercise and through a simple and easy hack that will not only help the knees: drinking water.
Even though popping knees is not a cause for worry in most cases, studies have shown that people that have them are more likely to develop pain, but it is not a direct sign of osteoarthritis as some believe. People at an old age should definitely pay a visit to an orthopedic doctor to discard the existence of some level of osteoarthritis or any other condition that those noisy knees might be warning about.
Orthopedic Corner | Leon Mead MD Orthopedic Doctor | 730 Goodlette Road North, Suite 201 Naples Florida 34102 | Phone: (239) 262-1119