Should I Be Concerned With Crepitus And Joint Popping?
Written by: Maximilian George, OMS-II
Topic at a Glance
- Crepitus refers to joint popping, cracking, or grinding sounds that can occur during movement and are often harmless.
- Common non-serious causes include air bubbles, tendon or ligament movement, and joint hypermobility.
- Crepitus can sometimes indicate underlying conditions, such as injuries, arthritis, or patellofemoral pain syndrome—especially when accompanied by pain, swelling, or instability.
- Treatment depends on the cause, ranging from stretching and strengthening to medications, RICE therapy, or surgery in more severe cases.
Crepitus, otherwise known as joint popping or cracking, can cause a significant amount of concern. While it isn’t always an indicator of something serious, there are some cases where crepitus can indicate another condition.
In this blog post, we’ll cover the causes and treatments for joint popping so that you have all the information on hand to make informed decisions about whether you need treatment or not.
If you would like to discuss crepitus or any other conditions that are affecting you, book an appointment at OrthoNeuro. Our orthopedic surgeons are serving people throughout Columbus, Ohio.
What is Crepitus?
Crepitus is a general term for joint popping, crunching, crackling, and other noises originating in the body that are either heard or felt. While this term can be associated with various conditions, this article will focus on crepitus associated with joints.
In this context, crepitus is a common condition where cracking, grinding, or popping noises are heard while moving a joint, such as bending at the knees. It can be heard either during normal movement or be induced by popping one’s knuckles. These noises can be heard in every joint of the body, from the ankle to the temporomandibular joint.
Should I Be Concerned with Crepitus?
In most cases, the causes of crepitus are nothing to worry about. The sounds can be due to the accumulation of tiny air bubbles accumulating in the soft tissues of joints. These bubbles then pop when the joint is moved. After this pop, there might be a sensation of a decrease in tension in that joint.
Pops and other noises can also happen when the ligaments or tendons associated with a joint move over bone. Noises are also normal to hear after surgeries or in patients with hypermobile joints.
What Conditions Are Associated with Crepitus?
Certain pathological conditions are known to have joint crepitus as a symptom, where popping and other sounds are a result of the disease process. In these cases, other accompanying symptoms can help to pinpoint the cause of the issue.
It is important to take note if these noises began happening around the same time an injury occurred. This would indicate a mechanical injury is the cause. Noise following traumatic injuries will likely be localized near the site of injury.
Crepitus occurring with pain behind the kneecap can indicate Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome. This condition often occurs due to overuse injuries and is more commonly seen in women and athletes.
Pain in the knee that accompanies noises may also be due to injuries to the meniscus. This is a small disc of cartilage sitting between your tibia and femur.
Crepitus and pain in joints may also appear in situations where there is no clear instance or history of injury. In this situation, the cause could be an autoimmune issue or some other disease process.
Cartilage breakdown, as seen in conditions like arthritis, will lead to these grinding and popping noises as joint surfaces begin to rub together. Rheumatoid arthritis is the result of an autoimmune dysfunction, while osteoarthritis is the result of long-term wear and tear of cartilage that occurs with age.
A common misconception is that cracking your own knuckles will lead to arthritis. While this is not the case, a study has shown that habitual knuckle crackers can develop reduced grip strength compared to non-habitual knuckle crackers.
In general, conditions which lead to joint inflammation have the potential to have joint crepitus as a symptom.
How is Crepitus Treated?
In the absence of pain or underlying conditions, this condition likely does not need to be treated.
Stretching may help to reduce noise when tight ligaments are causing the noise. Strengthening of muscles associated with the joint is also important. Pathological noises need to be treated according to the underlying cause. The most important signs of a more serious underlying issue behind the noise are if there is swelling, pain, or instability in the joint.
Initial management will utilize methods such as RICE: Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation – to reduce inflammation and swelling. Anti-inflammatory medications may be used when appropriate.
In the case of rheumatoid arthritis, a class of medications called DMARDS may be used to treat the condition.
If conservative measures at managing the noise and condition ultimately fail, surgery can be considered to correct the problem. Some possibilities for this range from arthroscopy to joint replacement.
Book Your Appointment Today
Book an appointment with OrthoNeuro today! Our orthopedic surgeons can provide an accurate diagnosis of symptoms along with a tailored treatment plan to help address any issues. We can be found throughout Columbus, Ohio. Contact us now!
References
Bone Cracking & Joint popping (crepitus). Aurora Health Care. (n.d.).
https://www.aurorahealthcare.org/services/orthopedics/conditions/crepitus
Castellanos J, Axelrod D. Effect of habitual knuckle cracking on hand function. Ann Rheum Dis. 1990 May;49(5):308-9. doi: 10.1136/ard.49.5.308. PMID: 2344210; PMCID: PMC1004074.
MediLexicon International. (n.d.). Crepitus of the knee: Structure, causes, and protection.
Medical NewsToday. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/310547#managing_crepitus
Song SJ, Park CH, Liang H, Kim SJ. Noise around the Knee. Clin Orthop Surg. 2018 Mar;10(1):1-8. Doi: 10.4055/cios.2018.10.1.1. Epub 2018 Feb 27. PMID: 29564040; PMCID: PMC5851845.
Medically Reviewed by Nick Cheney, DO
FAQs About Crepitus
What is crepitus?
Crepitus is a general term used to describe popping, cracking, grinding, or crunching sounds in joints. These noises can occur during normal movement, such as bending the knee or popping knuckles, and can happen in any joint in the body.
Is joint popping something to worry about?
In most cases, crepitus is harmless and caused by air bubbles in the joint or tendons and ligaments moving over bones. However, if popping occurs with pain, swelling, or instability, it may indicate an underlying condition that should be evaluated.
What conditions are associated with crepitus?
Crepitus can be associated with injuries, patellofemoral pain syndrome, meniscus injuries, arthritis, autoimmune conditions, and cartilage breakdown. Joint inflammation and trauma can also contribute to joint popping and grinding sounds.
Does cracking your knuckles cause arthritis?
No, cracking your knuckles does not cause arthritis. However, habitual knuckle cracking may lead to reduced grip strength compared to those who do not crack their knuckles.
How is crepitus treated?
If crepitus occurs without pain, treatment may not be necessary. When treatment is needed, options may include stretching, strengthening exercises, RICE therapy, anti-inflammatory medications, or treating the underlying condition. Surgery may be considered if conservative treatments do not provide relief.