Why do my joints click?

Does cracking joints cause arthritis?

We’re sure you’ve heard people say that cracking your joints will give you arthritis, but how true is this?

Not very it would seem! In fact, Harvard Health have said that ‘the usual painless joint cracking or popping does not represent an early form of arthritis, nor does it cause joint damage’¹.

So, why do your joints crack?

There are a number of things that can cause your joints to crack (among other noises!);

Escaping gases: Your joints contain a sac of Synovial fluid. This is present in synovial joints, a type of joint where bones rub together (knees, shoulders and hips)². The Synovial Fluid present in your joints acts as a lubricant. The fluid contains the gases oxygen, nitrogen and carbon dioxide. When you pop or crack a joint, you stretch the joint capsule causing these gasses to be rapidly released, this is the sound that you hear!^1,3
Movement of joints, tendons and ligaments: When you move a joint, the tendon’s position changes and may move slightly out of place. You may hear a snapping sound as the tendon returns to its original position. Your ligaments may also tighten as you move your joints. This commonly occurs in your knee or ankle³
Rough surfaces: Arthritic joints make sounds caused by the loss of smooth cartilage and the roughness of the joint surface.³

Do I need to worry about clicking joints?

Although the sound may be disconcerting, there doesn’t seem to be evidence to show a link between clicky joints and arthritis. A 2001 study published in the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine found habitual knuckle cracking “does not seem to be a risk factor for hand osteoarthritis”⁴.

When is joint cracking a problem?

You may notice that your joints crack more as you get older, this is because the cartilage between your joints wears down over time, leaving a bigger and rougher surface area to rub together.⁵This in itself isn’t a problem, however if you start to notice pain when your joints crack or click, you should speak to your doctor. Pain, stiffness and swelling in your joints can be a sign of arthritis.^{5, 6}

Flarin 200mg soft capsules. Contains ibuprofen. Relief from rheumatic or muscular pain, also for the relief of pain of non-serious arthritic conditions (caused by swelling, stiffness and inflammation of joints), joint pain, back pain. Always read the label.

Source

https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/are-cracking-joints-a-sign-of-arthritis
https://patient.info/news-and-features/is-cracking-your-joints-dangerous
https://www.loc.gov/everyday-mysteries/biology-and-human-anatomy/item/what-causes-the-noise-when-you-crack-a-joint/#:~:text=Escaping%20gases%3A%20Scientists%20explain%20that,rapidly%20released%2C%20which%20forms%20bubbles.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21383216/
https://orthopedicassociates.org/when-is-joint-popping-a-problem/
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/arthritis/

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