Sometimes when you get up from a seated position quickly or you move faster than usual, you hear a loud “crack” coming from your hip, knee or some other joint. Most people simply ignore this sound and get on with their day but some folks find this noise scary!
Should you be scared of these sounds that your joints make? Are you headed for chronic injuries or do you need surgery to rectify these issues? Don’t worry because we’ll answer all these questions.
Crepitus and what it means for you
The sound that your joints make is actually very common and happens to all of us, no matter how fit and active the person is. However, the frequency of this sound and where it comes from definitely differs from person to person and that has to do with lifestyle, activity level, ageing and biomechanics. We can see how that happens by understanding the nature of these sounds.
Any sort of grinding, creaking, cracking and popping in the joints is known as “Crepitus”. This sound is usually caused by air bubbles that pop inside your joints, tendons or ligaments and it is mostly harmless. This sound alone even if it is accompanied by slight discomfort isn’t anything to be worried about.
However, if the cracking sound takes place more often and it is really painful, then there are some bigger problems with your joints. It’s ok to ignore crepitus, if it is just a harmless sound but when pain strikes, that’s when you need to pay attention.
Can I prevent clicking and avoid long-term joint issues?
First off, if you have severe pain in your joints especially after these sounds, it is highly advisable that you visit a doctor and then a physiotherapist as you could have joint damage, inflammation or an injury. If you take action quickly against these issues you won’t need surgery and you will stand a much better chance of returning to normal and pain-free movement.
However, we believe prevention is better than cure so the best way to avoid these joint issues is to work on your body mobility regularly. Mobility exercises are often overlooked in fitness routines and without good mobility, your biomechanics will suffer leading to muscular imbalances that put extra pressure on certain joints.
Do some basic mobility drills every day and to keep things fresh, change your routine from time to time. These mobility exercises don’t have to be very intense because all you need to do is go through your natural range of motion and maintain your balance while doing it.
Joint health with Form Physio and Rehab
Mobility sounds good in theory but if you don’t know where to begin, it can seem very intimidating. If you feel that your joints are clicking more than usual and you’ve felt pain in one or more joints occasionally, come visit us at Form Physio and Rehab for expert guidance.
Our team of specialist physiotherapists will identify areas that need strengthening and develop a personalised mobility routine just for you. After working with us, you’ll notice improved coordination and biomechanics and hopefully, reduced crepitus as soon as possible.
Don’t wait for problems to become bigger especially when it comes to your ligaments and joints. With the right approach, you can improve your joint health and biomechanics and live pain-free for decades. If you want to learn more about mobility drills and how to manage your joint health, just contact us for a Free Consultation and we’ll get your started
Author
Kodchakorn (Ked) Tawonsupajalean
Head Therapist at Form Recovery and Wellness
Kodchakorn received a Degree in Physiotherapy from Mae Fah Luang Univeristy in Chiang Rai. Kodchakorn is the Head Therapist at Form Recovery and Wellness and works closely with all the therapists from all departments to ensure that every single client who comes to us has the highest chance of success.
