Snaps, pops and cracks — and what those noises mean

This paid piece is sponsored by Avera Health.

Pops and creaks come with our bodies. They often arise when the ligaments, tendons, muscles and bones in our bodies – especially our joints – move in a way that forces air to move fast or creates friction from moving tissue.

So do they mean anything?

“Sometimes the noises come from air movement, and sometimes it’s friction since we have many tissues and connections that move over bone and joints,” said orthopedic surgeon Dr. Dustin Bechtold, Avera Orthopedics Sioux Falls. “Many noises, like cracking your knuckles, are harmless.”

The noise could be something more than a novelty, Bechtold said, if a noise is accompanied by:

• Pain
• Dysfunction, such as inability to move well
• Inflammation
• Swelling, warmth or discoloration

Understanding when a joint noise means something serious

“Grinding, catching and popping sounds can be a sign of arthritis,” Bechtold said.

“It’s created when rough surfaces in the tissue rub against each other or against bone,” he said.

Crepitus is the formal name for grinding in a joint.

When the cartilage tissue on the surface of the bones in a joint wears out, the creaking “bone on bone” noise is possible. It can come from friction and is something you’ll want to have checked.

Seeing your provider or visiting an orthopedic specialist is the best approach to addressing this condition, which can worsen and lead to further damage and deterioration.

Some noises are pretty normal, so don’t panic if a popping or click comes up.

“Many of the tissues around joints are durable,” Bechtold said. “Some people are more prone to having motion and friction causing noise, but that’s not necessarily harmful.”

If you have a clicking tendon, joint or cartilage location, don’t use it to show off – or gross out – your friends and family because overdoing it can lead to inflammation and more rapid deterioration.

Patients who have had joint replacement procedures sometimes have related noises. When people have a knee replacement, there often can be a distinctive clicking sound.

How orthopedic treatment can cure joint noises – and pain

When patients have noise and pain, specialists can help them with a wide range of treatment options.

“We start with history, examination and imaging,” Bechtold said. “The RICE approach is often best to begin.”

RICE is an acronym that stands for the self-care methods that include:

• Rest
• Ice
• Compression
• Elevation

If that doesn’t work, other options can get patients back on track. That could include physical therapy, over-the-counter pain medications or, further down the treatment spectrum, specific injections. A surgical procedure could be an option too.

Get more wellness tips at AveraBalance.org.