The ‘popping’ sound you often hear is called cavitation and it happens when gas bubbles are released from the joint fluid inside the joint as it is stretched. It can happen naturally, for example, when your knees crack as you squat down. It can also happen during treatment to the spine as part of chiropractic or physio treatment.
Creaking joints are common as we grow older. It is different to joint cracking or popping and it is called crepitus. It is caused by two surfaces moving over each other and the rougher the surfaces the louder the grinding or so typically it is a sign of normal wear in a joint. It’s not something to worry about.
The human skeleton is made up of bones, joints, and cartilage. Joints are where two or more bones meet and obviously, they’re designed to allow us to bend and move our bodies as we need to. Joints themselves are made up of two parts: the joint capsule, which is a tough layer that surrounds the joint, and the synovial membrane, which lines the inside of the joint capsule. The synovial membrane produces a lubricating fluid that helps reduce friction between two surfaces in contact with each other.
Here is what a joint crack looks like. Note the formation of the gas bubble appearing as a black space in the joint itself.
The synovial membrane also produces cartilage for the joint capsule to protect it from wear and tear. Cartilage is a type of elastic tissue that cushions and protects bones from rubbing against each other when we move. However, as we age, our joints tend to be a bit noisier because our cartilage wears down. Your daily activities will naturally have an effect on how often your joints crack but, rest assured, everyone will experience this at some point in their life.
Will Cracking Knuckles Cause Arthritis?
You might have been told that cracking your knuckles causes arthritis, but there is actually no scientific study that proves a relationship between these two. However, although a study of 300 knuckle crackers (conducted by the US Anatomy and Physiology Instructors’ Cooperative) found no direct connection between joint cracking and arthritis, those who habitually did crack their knuckles showed soft tissue damage and loss of grip strength.
So if you’re a knuckle-cracker, you might think about getting out of the habit – it’s often a reaction to stress and happens outside conscious awareness. How do you shake off a harmful habit? An effective way is to substitute a harmless (but similar) action every time you catch yourself doing it. Most of all, alleviate the stress which triggers it. Guided deep relaxation, mindfulness (you could try this one of ours: https://youtu.be/fNUdHz-RGzI) and gentle rewarding activities will all bring down your stress levels and help you to re-set old habits.
Seek Advice For Painful Swollen Joints
Occasionally, a cracking sound means you should get professional attention, especially if you notice swelling and pain in the joint affected. If there’s no pain, the noise is simply the sound of gas bubbles popping but if the cracking is accompanied by swelling or pain, make an appointment to see one of our chiropractors or your GP.
In some cases, people like to crack their back and neck but there is a right way to do this and a wrong way to do this. If you crack these too forcefully or too often, it can lead to a painful pinch of the nerves in these areas. In some cases, the pain can be immobilising. In order to prevent any long-term damage, come and visit us here at Sundial. A chiropractor or physiotherapist can help stabilise the joint, which in turn will stop you feeling the need to do the cracking yourself.
Don’t forget to book in for your next appointment with us. We’re always happy to see you.
Further info:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cracking_joints