Knee Noise: Crepitus And Popping Explained - Healthline
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Medically reviewed by Daniel Wiznia, MD — Written by Leslie Vandever — Updated on April 16, 2024- Symptoms
- When to see a doctor
- Treatment
- Takeaway
Key takeaways
- Knee crepitus, characterized by cracking, popping, or grinding sounds, often doesn’t require treatment unless it causes pain.
- If knee crepitus is accompanied by pain, it may indicate osteoarthritis, a knee injury, or another type of arthritis, warranting a consultation with a doctor.
- Maintaining a moderate weight, engaging in regular exercise, and using pain relief methods can help manage knee joint health and alleviate symptoms.
Share on PinterestYou may hear occasional pops, snaps, and crackles when you bend or straighten your knees or walk up the stairs. Doctors call this crackling sound crepitus (KREP-ih-dus).
One explanation for why this happens is osteoarthritis, but there are many other causes. In most cases, noisy knees aren’t a problem — but if you have pain, it’s a good idea to speak with your doctor.
Read on to learn more about the signs and symptoms of crepitus.
Symptoms
If you have knee crepitus, you’ll hear noises when bending your knee. You might notice:
- cracking
- popping
- clicking
- grating
- grinding
Having these signs doesn’t mean anything is necssariy wrong with your knee. If you have osteoarthritis, you’ll likely experience additional symptoms like:
- swelling
- pain and aching
- stiffness
- limited range of motion
- muscle weakness
- instability or buckling
When to worry about crepitus
Crepitus in the knee is common and usually painless. According to research, the effect on mobility and quality of life is very minimal, and it doesn’t always mean something more serious is going on.
You usually won’t need to contact a doctor or physical therapist if you have knee crepitus symptoms. However, if you have pain as well, there might be something going on.
Crepitus is one of the symptoms of osteoarthritis, so your doctor will want to check whether or not you have any other signs of this condition. It can also indicate that you might have a knee injury or another type of arhritis.
Treating crepitus when it hurts
Crepitus is usually harmless and doesn’t require treatment. If you do have pain alongisde the clicking, your doctor will diagnose the exact cause in order to determine the best course of treatment.
If you have osteoarthritis, a variety of treatments can help you manage symptoms. Experts currently recommend:
- managing your weight
- exercising regularly
- using nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or acetaminophen (Tylenol)
- taking prescription medications
- having steroid injections
- applying heat and ice packs to reduce inflammation
- doing physical therapy and strengthening exercises
Read on to learn more about treatment for osteoarthritis.
The bottom line
Cracking and popping sounds in your knees aren’t usually a sign of anything serious, and most people don’t need treatment.
However, if you have pain or other symptoms with noisy knees, it may be a good idea to see a doctor.
Exercise, diet, and weight management are all ways of keeping your knee joints healthy and preventing future problems. They can also help you manage symptoms and slow the damage to your knees if you have osteoarthritis.
“”””
How we reviewed this article:
SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.- Lo GH, et al. (2017). Subjective crepitus as a risk factor for incident symptomatic knee osteoarthritis: Data from the osteoarthritis initiative.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5671376/
- Osteoarthritis. (n.d.).https://www.arthritis.org/diseases/osteoarthritis
- Pazzinatto MF, et al. (2019). What are the clinical implications of knee crepitus to individuals with knee osteoarthritis? An observational study with data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6849337/
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Medically reviewed by Daniel Wiznia, MD — Written by Leslie Vandever — Updated on April 16, 2024related stories
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